Bert C. Rizzo, Complainant,v.Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 12, 2000
01a02930 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 12, 2000)

01a02930

07-12-2000

Bert C. Rizzo, Complainant, v. Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.


Bert C. Rizzo v. Department of Justice

01A02930

July 12, 2000

Bert C. Rizzo, )

Complainant, )

) Appeal No. 01A02930

v. ) Agency No. I-98-H030

) Hearing No. 100-99-7528X

Janet Reno, )

Attorney General, )

Department of Justice, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

Complainant timely initiated an appeal from the agency's final decision

concerning his equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination on the bases of sex (male), and age (51

years old), in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq., and the Age Discrimination in

Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.<1>

Complainant alleges that he was discriminated against when: (1) on April

10, 1998, he was reassigned to the Office of Field Operations; (2) he

did not receive a performance appraisal for April 1997 or October 1997;

and (3) his Branch was not provided with assistance and support. The

appeal is accepted pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)(to

be codified at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405). For the following reasons, the

Commission AFFIRMS the agency's final action.

The record reveals that during the relevant time, complainant was the

Chief of the Technical Branch, Office of Congressional Relations at

the agency. Believing he was a victim of discrimination, complainant

sought EEO counseling and, subsequently, filed a formal complaint on June

10, 1998. At the conclusion of the investigation, complainant received

a copy of the investigative report(s) and requested a hearing before

an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). The AJ issued a decision without a

hearing, finding no discrimination. The agency then issued a final action

implementing the AJ's decision. This appeal, by complainant, followed.

After a careful review of the record, the Commission finds, initially,

that the AJ correctly concluded that a decision could be issued without

a hearing. We find, further, that the AJ's decision summarized the

relevant facts and referenced the appropriate regulations, policies,

and laws. We note that complainant failed to present evidence that

any of the agency's actions were motivated by discriminatory animus

toward complainant's age or gender. We discern no basis to disturb

the AJ's findings. Therefore, after a careful review of the record,

including complainant's contentions on appeal, the agency's response,

and arguments and evidence not specifically addressed in this decision,

we affirm the agency's final decision.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405); Equal Employment Opportunity Management

Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999).

All requests and arguments must 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 timely filed if it is received by

mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period.

See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604). The request or opposition must

also include proof of service on the other party.

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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)

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. 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 (Z1199)

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:

07-12-00

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

1 On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.