Annie M. Thomas-Burnett, Appellant,v.Donna A. Tanoue, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 3, 1999
01985500 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 3, 1999)

01985500

11-03-1999

Annie M. Thomas-Burnett, Appellant, v. Donna A. Tanoue, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Agency.


Annie M. Thomas-Burnett v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

01985500

November 3, 1999

Annie M. Thomas-Burnett, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01985500

)

Donna A. Tanoue, )

Chairman, )

Federal Deposit Insurance )

Corporation, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The Commission finds that the agency's May 29, 1998 final decision

dismissing a portion of appellant's complaint on the grounds of untimely

EEO counselor contact, is proper pursuant to the provisions of 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(b).

The record shows that appellant sought EEO counseling on December 16,

1997, alleging that she had been discriminated against on the bases of

race (Black) and reprisal for prior EEO activity when: (1) on September

25, 1997, she was informed by memorandum entitled "Use of Leave" that

future leave would be recorded as AWOL instead of LWOP, even though such

leave was medically related; and, (2) on December 12, 1997, appellant

was issued a performance appraisal for the period ending September 1997,

that contained an overall rating of "marginal" and placed her on a

Performance Improvement Plan, effective January 8, 1998.

The agency issued a final decision accepting allegation (2) for

investigation. Allegation (1) was dismissed on the basis of untimely EEO

counselor contact after the agency found that appellant had contacted

an EEO counselor well beyond the 45-day time limit provided by EEOC

Regulations.

On appeal, appellant contends that the Commission should waive the

45-day time limit because her untimeliness was related to her "husband's

death and taking care of business that proceeds death. Since the union

represented [her], [she] expected them to follow through with expiring

dates without [her] presence".

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R.�1614.605(e) provides that a complainant shall

at all times be responsible for proceeding with the complaint whether

or not he or she has designated a representative. The Commission has

held that where there is an issue of timeliness, the agency always bears

the burden of obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned

determination as to timeliness. Williams v. Department of Defense, EEOC

Request No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992). Based on the foregoing, we find

that the arguments raised by appellant on appeal are not sufficient to

toll the 45-day time limit. Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing

allegation (1) is AFFIRMED.

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 (S0993)

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 consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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:

11/03/1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations