01974336
01-07-1999
Sonia Drouillard, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Sonia Drouillard v. United States Postal Service
01974336
January 7, 1999
Sonia Drouillard, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01974336
) Agency No. 5-P-1329-92
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
The Commission sets aside the agency's April 11, 1997 final decision
(FAD) declaring that the agency had not breached an April 26, 1993
settlement agreement (SA, or the agreement) with appellant. We find
the agency has admitted in the FAD that it had not purged appellant's
"prior discipline," as required by provision (2), in pertinent part,
in the SA. The FAD attributed its noncompliance with provision (2),
the only portion of the SA appellant had alleged the agency breached,
to "an administrative oversight."
The agency has represented in the FAD that the "oversight has now been
corrected and the Official Personnel Folder (OPF) has been purged of
all corrective action." Nonetheless, appellant, who claims she learned
of the breach when she reviewed her OPF in 1996, is seeking to have
her 1992 formal EEO complaint reinstated. We decline to issue such an
order; instead, in accordance with 29 C.F.R. �1614.504(c), we direct the
agency to comply with provision (2), if it has not already done so, and,
in the event the agency has effected compliance, as it has represented,
to provide evidence of compliance. Appellant has offered no argument in
her May 2, 1997 appeal, by her representative, to persuade us to reach
a contrary conclusion.
The FAD is hereby VACATED, and the agency is directed to comply with
the Commission's ORDER set forth below.
ORDER
Within thirty (30) calendar days from the date this decision becomes
final, the agency shall provide appellant, her representative, and
the Commission, with evidence that appellant's OPF has been "purged of
all disciplinary actions," in accordance with provision (2) of the SA.
Included, but not limited to, the purging of all disciplinary actions
shall be the May 5, 1993 memorandum by the agency's Labor Relations
Specialist, Customer Service, which memorandum formed the basis
of appellant's allegation of noncompliance in the present matter.
Proof of compliance with the Commission's ORDER shall include, but need
not be limited to a statement, confirming agency compliance, under oath
or affirmation, by the Custodian of the Official Personnel Folder,
Personnel Office, Santa Ana District, City of Industry, California.
The agency may designate another official to review appellant's OPF
and provide a statement under oath or affirmation that all references
to disciplinary actions against appellant by the agency, including the
May 5, 1993 memorandum, have been purged from appellant's OPF.
Proof of compliance with the Commission's ORDER must be submitted to
the Commission's Compliance Officer, as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant also has the right
to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,
the appellant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying
complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File
A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. A civil action for
enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to
the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �2000e-16(c) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request
containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and be submitted to the Director, Office of
Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box
19848, Washington, D.C. 20036. In the absence of a legible postmark,
the request to reconsider shall be deemed filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and any supporting documentation must be submitted with your
request for reconsideration. The Commission will consider requests
for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very limited
circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. �l6l4.604(c).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court. It is the position of the Commission that you
have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States
District Court WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you
receive this decision. You should be aware, however, that courts in some
jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner
suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your
civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN
THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision
or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the
jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. In the alternative,
you may file a civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR
DAYS of the date you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your
appeal with the Commission. If you file a civil action, YOU MUST NAME
AS THE DEFENDANT IN THE COMPLAINT THE PERSON WHO IS THE OFFICIAL AGENCY
HEAD OR DEPARTMENT HEAD, IDENTIFYING THAT PERSON BY HIS OR HER FULL NAME
AND OFFICIAL TITLE. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your
case in court. "Agency" or "department" means the national organization,
and not the local office, facility or department in which you work.
Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of
your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1092)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. �2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ��791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
January 7, 1999
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations