EEOC Appeal 2020001430

1 	2020001430
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Alene S., 1
Complainant,
v.
Robert Wilkie,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Appeal No. 2020001430
Agency No. 200J-0553-2018102262
DECISION
Complainant filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or
Commission) from the Agency's decision dated April 16, 2018, dismissing her complaint of
unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a former employee of
the Agency.
On March 9, 2019, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her
to discrimination on the basis of disability when, effective September 9, 2005, she was terminated
during her probationary period from the position of Medical Technician.
The Agency dismissed the complaint asserting it was identical to a previously filed complaint (No.
200J-0553-2007101962), which was dismissed for untimeliness. 2
1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
2 Complainant appealed the dismissal, and in EEOC Appeal No. 0120073587 (October 22, 2007),
we affirmed the dismissal. Complainant’s request for reconsideration (Request No. 0520080141)
was denied on February 4, 2008.

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The instant appeal followed. Essentially, in her appeal statement, Complainant is arguing that her
previous complaint concerning her 2005 termination was incorrectly dismissed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1) provides that the Agency shall dismiss a
complaint that states the same claim that is pending before or has been decided by the agency or
Commission. The Agency dismissed the instant complaint, determining it was identical to the
previously filed Agency Complaint No. 4K-200-0046-10
We agree. In the instant complaint, Complainant is challenging her 2005 termination. This is the
same claim that was raised in Agency No. 200J-0553-2007101962, as well as in her previous
appeal and request for reconsideration.
Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0617)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this case if the Complainant or
the Agency submits a written request containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish
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.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed with the Office of Federal
Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. A party shall have
twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for reconsideration in
which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment
Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B
(Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 	Complainant’s request may be
submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131
M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 	In the absence of a legible postmark, the request to
reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail within five days of the expiration
of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. The agency’s request must be submitted
in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). 	See 29 C.F.R. §
1614.403(g). The request or opposition must also include proof of service on the other party.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your request for reconsideration as
untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request.

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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. § 1614.604(c).
COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610)
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. 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. If you file a request to reconsider
and also file a civil action, filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of
your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request
permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs.
Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the
court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or
appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole
discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for
filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for
the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________ 	Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
August 24, 2020
Date