Complainants,v.William A. Halter, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 18, 2001
05A10298_et_al_r (E.E.O.C. Apr. 18, 2001)

05A10298_et_al_r

04-18-2001

Complainants, v. William A. Halter, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.


Rosalie T. Hines, et al. v. Social Security Administration

05A10298, et al.

April 18, 2001

.

Rosalie T. Hines

Estate of Emanual Rubenstein,

Lawrence E. Dreier,

Rita F. McDermott,

Larry Carton, et al.,

William J. Toedt,

Robert A. Volkmar,

Gratha L. Dennis,

Donald Hulsey,

Robert C. Tag,

Sylvia Merz,

Julianne B. Zona,

Joseph J. Ricci,

Nancy S. Murtaugh,

Barbara A. Linduska,

Stephen H. Speers,

William F. Boyle,

Gerald H. Wentland,

Complainants,

v.

William A. Halter,

Acting Commissioner,

Social Security Administration,

Agency.

Request Nos. 05A10298, 05A10307,

05A10299, 05A10309

05A10300, 05A10310,

05A10301, 05A10311,

05A10302, 05A10312,

05A10303, 05A10313,

05A10304, 05A10314,

05A10305, 05A10315,

05A10306, 05A10316,

Appeal Nos. 01996756, 01996646, 01996645, 01996644, 01996643, 01996584,

01996571, 01996540, 01996520, 01996503, 01996494, 01996488, 01996487,

01996836, 01997041, 01997077, 01997127, 01997128

Agency Nos. 95-0435-SSA, et al.

DENIAL OF REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION

The agency initiated 18 separate requests to the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider the decision

in Ricci, et al. v. Social Security Administration, EEOC Appeal

No. 01996487, et al. (December 13, 2000). The prior decision concerned

19 complainants. The instant request only concerns the 18 complainants

listed in the caption of this decision. The request for reconsideration

for Richard Duffy (a complainant who was part of the December 13, 2000

decision) is being separately adjudicated in EEOC Request No. 05A10308.

EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion,

reconsider any previous Commission decision where the requesting party

demonstrates that: (1) the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous

interpretation of material fact or law; or (2) the appellate decision

will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations

of the agency. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b).

After a review of the agency's requests for reconsideration, the

previous decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that the

requests fail to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it

is the decision of the Commission to deny the requests. The decision

in EEOC Appeal Nos. 01996487, 01996756, 01996646, 01996645, 01996644,

01996643, 01996584, 01996571, 01996540, 01996520, 01996503, 01996494,

01996488, 01996836, 01997041, 01997077, 01997127, and 01997128,

remains the Commission's final decision. A copy of the order for the

previous decision is reprinted below. There is no further right of

administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on these requests

for reconsideration.

ORDER (E0900)

The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with

29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant

that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar

days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue

to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify

complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)

calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter

is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant requests a

final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision

within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a

copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of

rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0900)

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 complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant 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. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g). Alternatively,

the complainant 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. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408. 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

complainant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0900)

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 within ninety (90) calendar days from the date

that you receive this decision. 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 (Z1199)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

April 18, 2001

__________________

Date