Beverly J. Prawl, Complainant,v.Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury (IRS), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 6, 2000
01a03345 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 6, 2000)

01a03345

07-06-2000

Beverly J. Prawl, Complainant, v. Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury (IRS), Agency.


Beverly J. Prawl v. Department of the Treasury (IRS)

01A03345

July 6, 2000

Beverly J. Prawl, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A03345

) Agency No. 004133

Lawrence H. Summers, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury (IRS), )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

Beverly J. Prawl (hereinafter referred to as complainant) filed a timely

appeal from the February 22, 2000, final decision of the Department of

the Treasury (IRS) (hereinafter referred to as the agency) concerning her

complaint of unlawful employment discrimination 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, as amended, 29

U.S.C. � 621 et seq. The appeal is timely filed (see 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,

37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �

1614.402(a)))<1> and is accepted in accordance with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,

37,659 (to be codified as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405). For the reasons that

follow, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.

The issue presented in this appeal is whether the agency properly

dismissed her complaint for failure to state a claim.

In her complaint, complainant alleged that union officers harassed her

when grievances were filed that identified her as harassing others.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) allows an agency to dismiss

a complaint that fails to state a claim within the meaning of 29

C.F.R. �1614.103. The Commission's federal sector case precedent has

long defined an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm

or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege or employment

for which there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,

EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). Here, we agree with the

agency that complainant is not an aggrieved employee with regard to the

grievances filed by the union. In addition, where a complaint raises a

matter involving internal union operations, it is also properly dismissed.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). Accordingly, we find that the agency's

decision to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim was

proper.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the agency's decision was proper and is AFFIRMED.

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:

07-06-00

Date Carlton Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

__________ ______________________

Date

1On 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.