Andrea Cole, Appellant,v.Larry H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 8, 1999
01985521 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 8, 1999)

01985521

11-08-1999

Andrea Cole, Appellant, v. Larry H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.


Andrea Cole, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01985521

) Agency No. 98-3141

Larry H. Summers, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury, )

Agency. )

___________________________________)

DECISION

Appellant filed the instant appeal from the agency's decision dated June

3, 1998 dismissing a portion of appellant's complaint and stating that

the agency was not processing a portion of the complaint. The agency

defined the complaint as alleging that appellant was discriminated

against as follows:

Appellant was discriminated against on the bases of sex and retaliation

when she was rated ineligible for the position of Estate Tax Attorney

under vacancy numbers 06-10-7NEE-172 and 183.

Appellant was subjected to a hostile environment based on sex and

retaliation when:

Appellant's manager gave appellant work that was secretarial between

April and October 1997;

In April 1997 appellant's manager cautioned a fellow employee against

making sexual comments or jokes to appellant;

On November 10, 1997 appellant's manager advised appellant that he could

help appellant repair her reputation.

Appellant was forced to resign effective January 9, 1998.

The agency breached the settlement agreement appellant signed on June

17, 1996.

Allegation 1

The Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed allegation 1 for

failure to state a claim pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a). The agency

claims and appellant does not dispute that the vacancy announcements in

allegation 1 were canceled. Therefore, we find that appellant was not

aggrieved in allegation 1.

Allegations 2 and 3

The agency dismissed allegation 2 as moot. The agency found regarding

allegation 3 that appellant was notified that she had not received EEO

counseling on the constructive discharge issue (allegation 3). The agency

stated that it had instructed appellant to contact an EEO Counselor if

she wished to pursue allegation 3, but that appellant had made no such

contact. The agency did not expressly dismiss allegation 3, but rather

stated that allegation 3 could not be processed as part of the complaint.

The Commission finds that allegation 3 is part of the complaint because

appellant raised the issue in the complaint. The Commission finds that

the agency has effectively dismissed allegation 3 without a reason.

To the extent that the agency is dismissing allegation 3 on the grounds

that appellant did not receive EEO counseling, see �1614.107(b), we

find that allegation 3 is like or related to the harassment allegation

(allegation 2) for which appellant sought counseling. Therefore, we

find that the agency improperly dismissed allegation 3.

The Commission finds that allegation 2 was improperly dismissed

as moot because appellant raised a claim of constructive discharge

in her complaint. The Commission does not find that appellant has

abandoned the constructive discharge issue. Appellant continues to

pursue the constructive discharge issue on appeal and claims that she

raised the issue with the EEO Counselor. The record, however, does not

indicate that appellant ever received EEO counseling on the constructive

discharge issue. Rather than placing the burden on appellant to contact

an EEO Counselor to pursue the constructive discharge allegation, the

agency should have informed appellant that the agency was commencing

counseling on the constructive discharge claim. Therefore, we shall

remand allegations 2 and 3 so that the agency may contact appellant and

inform her that the agency will be providing her with EEO counseling on

the constructive discharge allegation. If appellant does not pursue the

constructive discharge allegation, then allegation 3 can be dismissed for

failure to cooperate, if appropriate, and allegation 2 can be dismissed

as moot, if appropriate.

Allegation 4

The agency found that it had previously informed appellant that her

breach of settlement allegation, as raised in the EEO complaint, could

not be processed as part of a complaint. On appeal appellant requests

that her settlement breach allegation be considered properly raised.

Allegations of settlement breach must be raised in writing with the

EEO Director. 29 C.F.R. �1614.504(a). Appellant has not claimed that

she notified the EEO Director of the alleged noncompliance with the

settlement agreement. Therefore, we find that appellant's breach of

settlement claim has been prematurely appealed to the Commission and

we dismiss the breach of settlement claim. If appellant wishes to

pursue her breach of settlement allegation, then she should follow the

procedures set forth in �1614.504(a) by notifying the EEO Director in

writing of the breach of settlement. The Commission does not address

whether such a breach allegation would be timely raised.

The agency's decision dismissing allegation 1 is AFFIRMED. The agency's

decision dismissing allegations 2 and 3 is REVERSED and we REMAND

allegations 2 and 3 to the agency for further processing in accordance

with this decision and applicable regulations. The appeal of allegation 4

(breach of settlement) is DISMISSED.

ORDER

The agency shall send to appellant, within 30 days of the date this

decision becomes final, a letter informing appellant that the agency

will commence EEO counseling on the constructive discharge claim.

If appellant does not pursue the constructive discharge allegation, then

allegation 3 can be dismissed for failure to cooperate, if appropriate,

and allegation 2 can be dismissed as moot, if appropriate. If the

constructive discharge claim is pursued by appellant, then the agency

shall process allegations 2 and 3 pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.108 et seq.

A copy of the agency's letter to appellant must be sent to the Compliance

Officer referenced herein.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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) (Supp. V 1993). If the

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and be submitted to the Director, Office of

Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box

19848, Washington, D.C. 20036. In the absence of a legible postmark,

the request to reconsider shall be deemed filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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. �l6l4.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (T0993)

This decision affirms the agency's final decision 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 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.

It is the position of the Commission that 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.

You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have

interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that

a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the

date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action

is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)

CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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 your appeal with the

Commission, until such time as the agency issues its final decision

on your complaint. 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 (Z1092)

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:

November 8, 1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations