Carol Naughton, Appellant,v.Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 5, 1999
01993673 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 5, 1999)

01993673

11-05-1999

Carol Naughton, Appellant, v. Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.


Carol Naughton v. Department of Justice

01993673

November 5, 1999

Carol Naughton, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01993673

) Agency No. P-98-9485

Janet Reno, )

Attorney General, )

Department of Justice, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On June 19, 1998, the appellant filed a formal 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. In her complaint,

the appellant alleged that she was subjected to sexual harassment on

the basis of sex (female) by her supervisor.

In her complaint the appellant stated that her supervisor started making

sexual comments to her around September 1997. The appellant stated that

the last comment made to her was during the week of April 13, 1998.

The record shows that the appellant initially contacted an EEO counselor

on May 18, 1998. By letter dated September 23, 1998, the agency requested

that the appellant respond with a written explanation for her delay in

contacting an EEO counselor within 45 days of the 1997 and early 1998

alleged incidents. By fax dated October 13, 1998, the appellant responded

to the agency's inquiry. The appellant stated that after three months of

taking the comments from her supervisor, she had enough and approached

her business manager who suggested that she speak to an EEO counselor.

The appellant averred that she met with an EEO counselor on October 30,

1997, and explained that she did not want to get off on the wrong foot

with her new supervisor. The appellant further stated that the harassing

incidents continued and that she finally filed a formal complaint.

On March 31, 1999, the appellant through her attorney, filed an appeal

with this Commission from the agency's letter dated November 19, 1998,

informing the appellant that the agency had accepted one incident of her

complaint for investigation. The letter further informed the appellant

that its EEO Complaints Section had analyzed her complaint and determined

that it did not meet the standard of a continuing violation, however, the

agency stated that the incidents may be used as background information

as they relate to the accepted issue. Additionally, the agency stated

that "[i]f you still wish to pursue these incidents, a recommendation of

dismissal will be sent to the Director of the EEO staff for the Department

of Justice for failure to contact an EEO counselor timely." The letter

further informed the appellant to respond in writing within fifteen (15)

calendar days after receipt if she did not agree that her complaint was

correctly identified. The letter did not give the appellant any appeal

rights which is the appellant's stated reason for the delay in filing

her appeal to this Commission. There is no evidence in the record that

the appellant responded to the agency's November 19, 1998 letter.

We find that the agency's November 19, 1998 letter was tantamount to

a constructive dismissal of certain allegations which comprised the

appellant's sexual harassment claim while failing to provide her with the

regulatory notice of appeal rights. The agency is reminded that it has

an obligation to develop adequate factual records and to issue decisions

that are consistent with acceptable legal standards and to explain the

reasons for its decisions. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.104(b). We further

find that the record shows that the appellant has filed a timely sexual

harassment complaint, and that the incidents which occurred in 1997 and

early 1998 are timely raised as part of her sexual harassment claim.

Accordingly, we REMAND the appellant's entire complaint to the agency for

further processing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process all of the allegations in the remanded

complaint in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall

acknowledge to the appellant that it has received the remanded allegations

within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final.

To the extent it has not already done so, the agency shall consolidate

the remanded allegations with the accepted one, and investigate them as

evidence in support of her sexual harassment claim. The agency shall

issue to appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify appellant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty

(150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless

the matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the appellant

requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a

final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant and a copy

of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of rights

must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

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. � 1614.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court. 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 filed your

appeal with the Commission. 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.

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 5, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations