Randal J. Thompson, Complainant,v.Henrietta H. Fore, Acting Administrator, Agency for International Development, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 29, 2008
0520080487 (E.E.O.C. May. 29, 2008)

0520080487

05-29-2008

Randal J. Thompson, Complainant, v. Henrietta H. Fore, Acting Administrator, Agency for International Development, Agency.


Randal J. Thompson,

Complainant,

v.

Henrietta H. Fore,

Acting Administrator,

Agency for International Development,

Agency.

Request No. 0520080487

Appeal No. 0120080328

Agency No. EOP0706

DENIAL

The agency timely requested reconsideration of the decision in Randal

J. Thompson v. Agency for International Development, EEOC Appeal

No. 0120080328 (March 27, 2008). EEOC regulations provide that the

Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to 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).

In its request, the agency argues that complainant did not intend to

raise a claim of constructive discharge as set forth in the previous

decision. The agency submits various documents to support its position.

Nonetheless, the Commission finds that there is sufficient information in

the record to show that, both during EEO counseling and in her formal

complaint, complainant alleged that because of the discriminatory

actions by the agency when she was not placed in a suitable position,

demoted from her supervisory position, and regarded as mentally ill, she

was forced to retire two years earlier than planned. While the agency

has argued in its reconsideration request that complainant will not be

able to establish the elements of a constructive discharge, we find this

determination to prematurely address the merits of complainant's claim

without a proper investigation as required by the regulations.

After reconsidering the previous decision and the entire record, the

Commission finds that the request fails to meet the criteria of 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny

the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120080328 remains the

Commission's final decision. There is no further right of administrative

appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request. The agency

shall comply with the Order as set forth below.

ORDER (E0408)

The agency is ordered to process the remanded claim in accordance with 29

C.F.R. � 1614.108 et seq. 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 (K0408)

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)

(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). 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 (Q0408)

This decision affirms the agency's final decision/action in part, but it

also requires the agency to continue its administrative processing of a

portion of your complaint. 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 on both that portion

of your complaint which the Commission has affirmed and that portion

of the complaint which has been remanded for continued administrative

processing. 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 (Z0408)

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

May 29, 2008

__________________

Date

3

0520080487

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P. O. Box 19848

Washington, D.C. 20036