[blindlaw] DVADisputeResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality

Cathryn Bonnette cathrynisfinally at verizon.net
Mon Dec 21 00:04:49 UTC 2009


Hi, Dan
Something to consider in the future, though I do not expect it to be misused
in this group.
Thanks


-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of John Ramsey
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:05 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re:
[blindlaw]DVADisputeResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality

Hi Dan,
No problem and it is not bothersome.

John A. Ramsey Jr., Esq.

Gainesville, FL 32609

(352) 505-6642

 

This communication contains information that may be confidential and/or
legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the individual or
entity to which it is addressed. If you have received this communication in
error, please call us at (352) 505-6642 and destroy any associated printed
materials and delete the electronic material from any computer. Please be
aware that any unauthorized disclosure, use or publication of this
communication or the information it contains may result in criminal and/or
civil liability. Due to this message being transmitted over the Internet,
John Ramsey cannot assure that the messages are secure.  If you are
uncomfortable with such risks, you may decide not to use email to
communicate with John Ramsey.  Please contact us immediately at (352)
505-6642 if you decide not to use email.  You must also be aware that email
messages may be delayed or undelivered through circumstances beyond our
control.  Thank you.  

 

 



-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Dan Frye
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 2:16 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw]
DVADisputeResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality


John:

I have no problem with my contact details being posted to this 
list.  Most on this list are friends or acquaintances, all 
interested in promoting the practice of law with blind attorneys, 
helping blind people with blindness-related legal challenges, or 
circulating information of interest to the NFB.  So, I have no 
problem with posting my data to the list? If I didn't want it 
posted, I'd not include it in my email.  Is it proving bothersome 
or representing too much traffic?

Daniel B.  Frye
Office: (410) 659-9314, Ext 2208
Mobile: (410) 241-7006
Note: This message has been issued remotely from the BrailleNote.

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Ramsey" <joramsey at cox.net
>To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org Date sent: 
>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:08:05 -0500
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] DVA
DisputeResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality

>Dan and Katherine,
>Do you want your personal contact information posted to this
list?

>John A.  Ramsey Jr., Esq.

>Gainesville, FL 32609

>(352) 505-6642



>This communication contains information that may be confidential 
and/or
>legally privileged.  It is intended only for the use of the 
individual or
>entity to which it is addressed.  If you have received this 
communication in
>error, please call us at (352) 505-6642 and destroy any 
associated printed
>materials and delete the electronic material from any computer.  
Please be
>aware that any unauthorized disclosure, use or publication of 
this
>communication or the information it contains may result in 
criminal and/or
>civil liability.  Due to this message being transmitted over the 
Internet,
>John Ramsey cannot assure that the messages are secure.  If you 
are
>uncomfortable with such risks, you may decide not to use email to
>communicate with John Ramsey.  Please contact us immediately at 
(352)
>505-6642 if you decide not to use email.  You must also be aware 
that email
>messages may be delayed or undelivered through circumstances 
beyond our
>control.  Thank you.







>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Cathryn Bonnette
>Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 10:52 AM
>To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] DVA Dispute
>ResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality


>Dan:

>I thoroughly enjoyed talking with you today.  Thanks much for 
your time and
>listening ear.  My contact details follow.

>Please use home contacts first:
>Home e-mail: cathrynisfinally at verizon.net
>Hone phone: 703-553-0477
>Work contacts are not preferred at present, but here's the info: 
Office
>e-mail: Cathryn.bonnette at va.gov Office phone: 202-461-0513 Feel 
free to
>share with Fred S.  as we discussed.

>Also, my plan is to e-mail my atty re: 1) contacting Jim Moran, 
and 2)
>trying other political moves such as Christine Griffin, NFB, 
and/or the
>media.

>OK, Dan, be well, and enjoy the blizzard!!!!!!

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf of Dan Frye
>Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 9:27 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] DVA Dispute
>ResolutionProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality

>Kathryn:

>My contact details are below.  Please call over the weekend.
>Reaching me on my mobile will be easiest, but my home number is
>also (410) 243-1818.  I have a chapter meeting in the morning,
>but I will be otherwise free.

>Daniel B.  Frye
>Office: (410) 659-9314, Ext 2208
>Mobile: (410) 241-7006
>Note: This message has been issued remotely from the BrailleNote.

>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Cathryn Bonnette" <cathrynisfinally at verizon.net
>>To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org Date 
sent:
>>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:50:04 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] DVA Dispute Resolution
>ProgramManagerBreachesConfidentiality

>>Dan:
>>Thanks for responding.  I found your e-mail, but not a phone #.
>If you are
>>open to discussing- my # is 703-553-0477.  Interested to hear
>your input.
>>Cathryn


>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Frye, Dan
>>Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 8:58 AM
>>To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] DVA Dispute Resolution Program
>>ManagerBreachesConfidentiality

>>Cathryn:

>>During my years as a Federal employee (I'm no longer serving in
>this
>>capacity), I served as a union representative.  Consequently, I
>have a
>>variety of experiences that I can share with you that could prove
>>helpful in resolving your situation.  Give me a call or write
>privately
>>(my contact details are below) if you wish to communicate.  In
>the
>>interim, follow your current course of action.  Get your appeal
>filed,
>>continue doing your job, document your efforts at resolution, and
>>minimize your verbal, undocumented communication with your
>manager to
>>instances of absolute necessity and preferably limit conversation
>with
>>her to circumstances in the presence of reliable others.  Stay
>strong
>>while you're fighting the system because you're always at a
>disadvantage
>>if somebody with authority over you has decided to target your
>>performance.  You either have to make your way through the
>process of
>>acquitting yourself or decide to leave.  If you've chosen to try
>and
>>stay, you seem to be doing what you must.  Finally, begin
>discretely
>>looking for other employment opportunities so that you have
>options if
>>matters become intolerable or a decision on the merits of your
>EEO and
>>other complaints are not favorable.  I know nothing about the
>substantive
>>merits of your case, but these are my superficial first thoughts.
>Write
>>or call if You'd like to discuss this further.

>>Dan Frye

>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>On Behalf Of Cathryn Bonnette
>>Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 4:05 AM
>>To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>>Subject: [blindlaw] DVA Dispute Resolution Program Manager
>>BreachesConfidentiality

>>All:

>>A sum of events follows in my federal employment.  I will be very
>>appreciative of ideas you may wish to offer.  Thanks in advance
>for your
>>time.



>>I've been an Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, Specialist at
>the
>>Department of Veterans Affairs, DVA for 3 years next March.  I'm
>>experiencing ongoing retaliation in a hostile environment, and
>trying to
>>tolerate it to remain employed and achieve career status.  The
>situation
>>is now intolerable

>>I was recruited into a Schedule A, (disability related hiring
>>authority), and moved from California to Washington DC 3/07.  I
>was
>>given opportunities above my grade level, GS-11, within the first
>6
>>months, completed assignments successfully and promoted to GS-12
>in
>>3/08.  In 5/08 a manager was promoted to become my direct
>supervisor.
>>Days before her promotion was finalized, I asked my current boss,
>the
>>Deputy Assistant Secretary, DAS for a transfer since I had
>experienced
>>this manager's verbal abuse and discriminatory treatment from the
>start
>>of the application process.  The DAS assured me the manager would
>not
>>bother me but denied my request.  In the next rating period after
>my
>>promotion, the manager rated me as "needs improvement'".  In
>12/08 the
>>oral threats of termination at any time began coming from the
>manager
>>with no guidance, counseling, etc.  and I filed an
>>EEO Complaint in 1/09.  The manager terminated me in 2/09.    I
>appealed
>>to
>>the Secretary of VA, and his Chief of Staff, John Gingrage,
>stated "We
>>will make this right." The termination was reversed, but I was
>placed
>>back in the same office under the same manager.  I was given to
>>understand it was a "take it or leave it" proposition.

>>I resumed work but the same pattern continued with the set up for
>>failure
>>becoming more blatant.   I hired Gebhardt and Assoc.  to
>represent me in
>>the
>>EEO process.  As my complaint moved to the formal stage, the
>manager
>>placed me on a Plan to Improve Performance, PIP in 7/09, required
>me to
>>change software from what I had used, and team members continued
>to use,
>>increased my work load and added unfamiliar assignments .  The
>manager
>>also designated an incompetent reader/sighted assistance and has
>ignored
>>all my communications of ineffective reasonable accommodation.
>11/09 she
>>reported I failed the PIP and proposed my removal.

>>We are preparing a response given a deadline of 12/24/09.

>>Yesterday as the manager and I discussed my assignments and I
>asked for
>>clarification on a change to my performance standard she made
>lest week
>>that ensures my failure, the ombudsman walked into the meeting
>and I
>>agreed to spend 15 minutes articulating the issue to him.  At
>that point
>>the manager said, "Well, I don't think I'm speaking out of turn,
>but-
>>"and proceeded to disclose that I was on a PIP, had failed the
>PIP, and
>>she had proposed my removal.  I have never discussed my personnel
>>history with team members or other employees.  I confronted the
>manager
>>with the breach of my confidential records and observed as she
>>rationalized her conduct stating that the ombudsman is acting to
>resolve
>>a dispute, and the information was relevant to him- as though
>discussion
>>of any performance question with this manager must include the
>ombudsman
>>and my agreement to meet with him a few minutes gave the manager
>license
>>to disclose my confidential record.



>>I was unable to concentrate on work due to my own experience of
>shock
>>and the manager's continued oral harassment as she repeatedly
>entered my
>>office through the remainder of the day.  I guess the only way to
>get
>>away from her is  to take sick leave today and Monday to
>determine next
>>steps.  I am very close to achieving career status- March 5 2010.
>I
>>believe this manager intends to ensure I never accomplish it, and
>that
>>her determination to be rid of me is of utmost importance to her.
>>Meanwhile it is difficult for me to decide a best course to take
>at
>>present.



>>Again, thanks for listening.

>>Cathryn Bonnette (cathrynisfinally at verizon.net)

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