01982623
03-02-2000
Catharyn E. Funches v. United States Postal Service
01982623
March 2, 2000
Catharyn E. Funches, )
Complainant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01982623
) Agency No. 4C-190-0189-97
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to
be codified and hereinafter referred to as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �
1614.107(a)(2)), due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint.<1>
The record discloses that complainant received the notice of right to
file a formal complaint on July 15, 1997. Although the notice indicated
that complainant had to file a formal complaint within fifteen (15)
calendar days of its receipt, complainant did not file her formal
complaint until November 12, 1997, beyond the limitation period.
On appeal, complainant submits a statement from her physician, who
states that complainant was instructed to be placed on complete bed
rest from July 1997 through October 20, 1997. When a complainant claims
that a physical condition prevents her from meeting a particular filing
deadline, we have held that in order to justify an untimely filing, the
appellant must be so incapacitated by the condition as to render her
physically unable to make a timely filing. See Zelmer v. USPS, EEOC
Request No. 05890164 (March 8, 1989). Although the record indicates
that appellant has been directed to undergo complete bed rest from July
1997, through October 20, 1997, nothing in the statements prepared by
her physician supports her contention that she was so incapacitated
during the applicable fifteen-day period as to prevent her from timely
filing her complaint. Assuming arguendo that complainant was totally
incapacitated during this period, we note that complainant did not
file the formal complaint within fifteen days of the date that the
bed rest restrictions were lifted, on October 20, 1997. Therefore,
no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented to warrant an
extension of the time limit for filing the complaint. Accordingly,
the agency's final decision dismissing appellant's complaint is AFFIRMED.
Because we affirm the agency's decision to dismiss complainant's complaint
for the reason stated herein, we find it unnecessary to address the
agency's decision to dismiss some of the claims raised in the complaint
on alternative grounds.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M1199)
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). 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).
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S1199)
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:
March 2, 2000
____________________________
Date Carlton M. 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.