* * * MARLIN K., COMPLAINANT, v. JEH JOHNSON,..., EEOC DOC...

EEOC DOC 0120132637 (E.E.O.C.), 2015 WL 6957093

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.)
Office of Federal Operations
* * * MARLIN K.,1 COMPLAINANT,
v.
JEH JOHNSON, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY), AGENCY.
Appeal No. 0120132637
Agency No. HS09FEMA0050
October 30, 2015
DECISION

*1 On May 8, 2013, Complainant timely filed an appeal from the Agency's January 19, 2012, final action
concerning his equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging employment discrimination in violation
of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. The Commission
accepts it pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1614.405(a). For the following reasons, the Commission AFFIRMS the Agency's
final order and MODIFIES the relief.
ISSUES PRESENTED

Whether Complainant is entitled to additional back pay due to incurred tax consequences from his lump sum back
pay award.
BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Training Specialist at the Agency's
Hyattsville, Maryland facility. On September 30, 2009, Complainant filed an EEO complaint alleging that the
Agency discriminated against him on the basis of reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when:
1. In June 2009, Complainant was not selected for the position of Two-Year CORE Training Specialist
(Announcement # WN-09-2C-0179-KTHI);
2. In June 2009, Complainant was not selected for the position of PFT Training Specialist (Announcement #
DE-09-329-SSM2).

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Agency provided Complainant with a copy of the report of investigation
and notice of his right to request a hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative
Judge (AJ). The AJ assigned to the case held a hearing, and on December 23, 2011, issued a decision finding that
Complainant established he had been subjected to retaliation as alleged. As relief, the AJ ordered the Agency to
reinstate Complainant into the GS-11 Training Specialist position, pay back pay and $15,000.00 in compensatory
damages, and provide other remedial relief. On January 12, 2012, the Agency issued a final order implementing
the AJ's decision.

The record reveals on February 10, 2012, Complainant contacted the AJ and expressed concerns about the Order.
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Specifically, Complainant raised the issue of his increased tax liability which would result from having been
awarded a lump sum back pay award. As requested by the AJ, Complainant presented alternate language to account
for his increased tax liability, but the AJ did not amend the order.

On or about May 9, 2013, Complainant filed the instant appeal.

CONTENTIONS ON APPEAL

On appeal, Complainant's sole argument on appeal is that he has suffered undue and negative tax consequences
as a result of his back pay award, which was declared for tax purposes in one year, and not in the years during
which the pay had been received, but for the discrimination. He asserts that this has resulted in less than make
whole relief. Complainant maintains that case law supports awarding additional back pay to compensate
Complainants for tax liability stemming from a lump sum back pay award.

*2 The Agency did not respond to Complainant's appeal.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

On appeal, Complainant states he incurred tax consequence for his lump sum award in the year 2012 instead of
receiving the money during the actual year had he not been subjected to discrimination. The Commission has held
that where an Agency pays back pay and other income payments in a lump sum payment the Agency is responsible
for a petitioner's proven increased income tax burden. See Goetze v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Appeal No.
01991530 (August 22, 2001); Holler v Department of the Navy, EEOC Appeal Nos. 01982627 & 01990407
(August 22, 2001); Lorenzo v. Dept. of Defense, EEOC Petition No. 04A40035 (September 29, 2005). In these
cases, the Commission held that an award to cover additional tax liability for receipt of back pay in a lump sum
is available and that Complainant bears the burden to prove the amount to which s/he claims entitlement. We find,
therefore, that the Agency is liable to Complainant for proven adverse federal income tax consequences as a result
of its lump sum payments to petitioner from 2009 until his reinstatement.

Complainant will have the burden of establishing the amount of his increased federal income tax liability to the
Agency. Courts that have discussed claims for compensation for additional tax liability stemming from a lump sum
payment have demanded probative calculations. Barbour v. Medlantic Management Corp., 952 F.Supp. 857, 865
(D.C. 1997) (denied award due to failure to provide evidence on difference between taxes paid on lump sum front
pay award and amount of taxes that would have been paid had the salary been earned over time). After a review
of Complainant's calculations submitted on appeal, we find Complainant has not had the opportunity to prove his
entitlement to money for increased tax consequences. The Agency shall request such information from Complainant
and provide a decision with appeal rights to the Commission.
CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the Agency's final order finding discrimination is AFFIRMED; however the relief is MODIFIED.
The complaint is REMANDED in accordance with the ORDER below.
ORDER (D0610)

To the extent the agency has not yet done so, the Agency is ordered to take the following remedial action:
1. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date this decision becomes final, the agency shall offer
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reinstatement to complainant into the PFT GS-11 Training Specialist, or equivalent position.
2. The Agency shall determine the appropriate amount of back pay, with interest, and other benefits due
Complainant, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1614.501, no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date this decision
becomes final. The Complainant shall cooperate in the Agency's efforts to compute the amount of back pay and
benefits due, and shall provide all relevant information requested by the Agency. If there is a dispute regarding the
exact amount of back pay and/or benefits, the Agency shall issue a check to the Complainant for the undisputed
amount within sixty (60) calendar days of the date the Agency determines the amount it believes to be due. The
Complainant may petition for enforcement or clarification of the amount in dispute. The petition for clarification
or enforcement must be filed with the Compliance Officer, at the address referenced in the statement entitled
Implementation of the Commission's Decision.
*3 3. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date this decision becomes final, the Agency shall request
that Complainant submit his claim for compensation for all additional federal income tax liability. The Agency
shall afford Complainant ninety (90) calendar days to submit his claim and supporting documents. Thereafter, the
Agency shall issue a decision on this matter within forty (40) days in accordance with 29 C.F.R. 1614.110(b).
The burden of proof to establish the amount of additional tax liability, if any, is on Complainant. The calculation
of additional tax liability must be based on the taxes Complainant would have paid had he received the back pay
in the form of regular salary during the back pay period, versus the additional taxes he paid due to receiving the
back pay lump sum award in 2012.
4. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date this decision becomes final, the agency shall pay
complainant $15,000.00 in non-pecuniary compensatory damages.
5. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date this decision becomes final, the agency shall conduct
at least sixteen (16) hours of training for the responsible management officials regarding their duties and
obligations with respect to eliminating discrimination in the federal workplace, paying particular attention to
retaliation. Training shall also include their obligations during the EEO complaint process, paying particular
attention to the agency's Record Management obligations.
6. The agency shall post a notice in accordance with the paragraph below.
7. The Agency is further directed to submit a report of compliance, as provided in the statement entitled
Implementation of the Commission's Decision. The report shall include supporting documentation of the
Agency's calculation of backpay and other benefits due Complainant, including evidence that the corrective action
has been implemented.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0610)

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
77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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.

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POSTING ORDER (G0914)

*4 The Agency is ordered to post at its Hyattsville, Maryland facility copies of the attached notice. Copies of the
notice, after being signed by the Agency's duly authorized representative, shall be posted both in hard copy and
electronic format by the Agency within 30 calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, and shall remain
posted for 60 consecutive days, in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to employees are
customarily posted. The Agency shall take reasonable steps to ensure that said notices are not altered, defaced, or
covered by any other material. The original signed notice is to be submitted to the Compliance Officer at the
address cited in the paragraph entitled Implementation of the Commission's Decision, within 10 calendar days
of the expiration of the posting period.
ATTORNEY'S FEES (H0610)

If Complainant has been represented by an attorney (as defined by 29 C.F.R. 1614.501(e)(1)(iii)), he is entitled
to an award of reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the processing of the complaint. 29 C.F.R. 1614.501(e). The
award of attorney's fees shall be paid by the Agency. The attorney shall submit a verified statement of fees to the
Agency -- not to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Federal Operations -- within thirty
(30) calendar days of this decision becoming final. The Agency shall then process the claim for attorney's fees in
accordance with 29 C.F.R. 1614.501.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0815)

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 or within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt
of another party's timely request for reconsideration. 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, P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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 request or opposition must also include proof of service on the other
party.

*5 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. 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 (R0610)

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
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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 (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
Director
Office of Federal Operations
Footnotes
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.

EEOC DOC 0120132637 (E.E.O.C.), 2015 WL 6957093

End of Document

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2015 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.