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    Appeal

    To appeal the Final Agency Decision (FAD) to the EEOC Office of Federal Operations (OFO), you need to send
    the EEOC Form 573, Notice of Appeal/Petition (which should be enclosed with the Final Agency Decision or the
    judge's Order, if applicable) within 30 calendar days of your receipt of the Final Agency Decision (FAD).  

    Final Agency Decision (FAD) and, if applicable, the judge's decision, must accompany your appeal form.  The
    appeal form must be also copied to Agency's EEO Director.

    The appeal request form (EEOC Form 573) (together with supporting brief) should be sent to:

    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
    Office of Federal Operations (OFO)
    PO Box 77960
    Washington, DC  20013

    The appeal may be hand delivered to:

    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
    Office of Federal Operations (OFO)
    One NOMA Station
    131 M Street, NE, Suite 5SW12G
    Washington, D.C. 20507-0004

    You can fax the appeal (and the supporting brief if less than 10 pages) to: 202-663-7022.

    VOICE No. - 202-663-4599
    FAX No. - 202-663-7022
    TTY No. - 202-663-4593

    A brief supporting your appeal may be submitted later and separately but within 30 days of your appeal (unless
    your request for extension is granted).  See below for more on the appeal brief and on the request for extension.

    You may also appeal the Final Agency Decision which is rendered based on an arbitration decision.

    Within a few days (or sometimes more than 25 days) of filing an appeal, you will receive an acknowledgment
    letter from OFO specifying the (appeal) file date and the OFO appeal/file number.  All submissions to OFO
    thereafter must contain the OFO appeal/file number.   

    The file date is the date you mailed or faxed your appeal.

    Appeal Brief

    Within 30 days from the date of filing the appeal, you may send an appeal brief in support of your appeal to OFO at
    the address indicated above.  A copy of the appeal brief should also be sent to the Director of the Agency's EEO
    office.  

    The 30 day deadline within which to file a brief (after the appeal) is usually extended if you request an extension
    by sending an email to: OFO_extensions@eeoc.gov.  

    The appeal brief should contain the facts omitted or misrepresented, attachments of relevant or omitted evidence,
    and, if not already submitted with the appeal, a copy of the Final Agency Decision and the Judge's Decision you
    are appealing.  See a sample of appeal brief.  You can argue any procedural flaws on the part of the
    administrative judge (if you had a hearing) or by the Agency EEO staff and/or omission of evidence you presented
    earlier.  

    In Conclusion section in the brief, you may ask for a determination against Agency for discrimination/retaliation (if
    applicable) and for appropriate remedy.  You may also ask for the case to be remanded back to the Agency for
    further/proper investigation or may ask (if you had a hearing) to re-open the hearing.

    You can also report any valid and relevant complaint (supported by evidence) against the EEOC administrative
    judge or about the EEO Director's mishandling of your case.  

    The response to your appeal may take several months or even up to two years or more sometimes.  If your
    appeal is successful, OFO may remand the case back to the Agency EEO office for further investigation or
    resolution.  Otherwise, OFO will uphold the Final Agency Decision.

    Within 90 days of receipt of OFO's decision, you may appeal it by filing a civil lawsuit at the federal district court.  If
    no decision is rendered by OFO 180 days after your appeal, you may file a civil action at the appropriate federal
    district court.

    For questions, you can call OFO and asked for the Attorney of the Day: 202-663-4519 or 4599.

    EEO 21 can file an appeal brief on your behalf.  Call Mr. Lee for further information at 215-939-5831.

    Request for Reconsideration

    The final step within the federal EEO complaint process is the step to exercise your right to request a
    Reconsideration by OFO (at the same address specified above), if and after OFO decides to uphold the Final
    Agency Decision (FAD) against you despite and after your appeal.  

    The Reconsideration serves a limited purpose, however.  OFO will only reconsider if there were misinterpretation
    of material facts and misapplication of law.  No factual dispute already adjudicated will be reconsidered.  

    The OFO's decision may be contested by filing a civil law suit at a US District Court within 90 days of receipt.  If
    there is no OFO determination 180 days after filing the appeal (which is the case with most appeals), you may file
    at a US district court.  

    In lieu of appealing to Office of Federal Operations (OFO), you can file a civil law suit in a US District Court within
    the 90 days of receipt of the Final Agency Decision (FAD).  

    When filing at the US District Court, you must identify the appropriate department or agency head as the
    defendant, as well as his/her official title.  You will need an attorney to file at the civil courts or you may represent
    yourself (pro se).  EEO 21 can help you file and represent yourself (pro se) at the U.S. District Court in a limited
    capacity.  

    Note on attorneys:  Attorney fees may range anywhere between $10,000 to $100,000 or more.  Their hourly rates
    may vary between $175 to $675 per hour, depending on the location in the country.  They may charge for every
    email issued (even with one sentence) and every phone call you make.   Many attorneys may settle or drop out
    before going to a trial after receiving the fee, contrary to what they may say initially.  The amount of fees the
    attorneys charge does not always correlate with the quality of services they offer.  Be an alert consumer/client.  
    Attorney misconduct or malpractice may be reported to attorney discipline board or attorney ethics board in your
    state.  More on attorneys.



    Disclaimer: All information contained in this page is subject to change and updates.  EEO 21  is not responsible for any errors
    or misrepresentation.
    A federal EEO & mediation specialist
    MSPB & EEOC hearings, OFO appeals, informal and formal discrimination claims
    Non attorney uniquely serving nationwide from Philadelphia
Appealing to Office of Federal Operations (OFO) - EEOC