Charles D. Kendricks, Appellant, Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionOct 28, 1999
01994424 (E.E.O.C. Oct. 28, 1999)

01994424

10-28-1999

Charles D. Kendricks, Appellant, Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Charles D. Kendricks v. Department of Veterans Affairs

01994424

October 28, 1999

Charles D. Kendricks, )

Appellant, )

)

)

)

Togo D. West, Jr., ) Appeal No. 01994424

Secretary, ) Agency No. 97-0723

Department of Veterans )

Affairs, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final agency

decision (FAD) concerning his 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 Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as amended, 29 U.S.C. �791 et seq. The FAD was issued on February 9,

1999. The appeal was postmarked May 7, 1999. The agency was unable to

supply a copy of a certified mail return receipt or any other material

capable of establishing the date appellant received the agency's final

decision. Accordingly, since the agency failed to submit evidence of

the date of receipt, the Commission presumes that appellant's appeal was

filed within thirty (30) days of receipt of the agency's final decision.

See, 29 C.F.R. �1614.402.

The record indicates that on February 20, 1996 appellant contacted an

EEO Counselor alleging that he had been subjected to discrimination when:

(1) he was not allowed to work with White co-workers, and was assigned

to work alone while others worked in teams;

(2) the agency allowed him to be criticized, belittled and subjected to

racial remarks by co-workers;

(3) he was not allowed to complete the apprenticeship program;

(4) the agency condoned and allowed his co-workers to treat him with

disrespect;

(5) the agency allowed co-workers to meet and discuss what was to be

done about appellant;

(6) the agency refused to hire other Black employees; and

(7) on October 4, 1996 he was removed from the agency.

Informal efforts to resolve appellant's concerns were unsuccessful.

Accordingly, on April 1, 1996, appellant filed a formal complaint

alleging that he was the victim of unlawful employment discrimination

on the bases of race (Black), disability (unspecified) and reprisal

(prior EEO activity).

In the agency's February 9, 1999 FAD<1>, it accepted for investigation

allegations (1), (3), (5) and (6) of appellant's complaint, but dismissed

allegations (2), (4) and (7) on the grounds that the matters raised

therein were the subject of a grievance filed by appellant. The agency

determined that allegations (2), (4) and (7) were properly dismissed

pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(d).

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.301(a) states that when a person is

employed by an agency subject to 5 U.S.C. �7121(d) and is covered

by a collective bargaining agreement that permits allegations of

discrimination to be raised in a negotiated grievance procedure, a

person wishing to file a complaint or grievance on a matter of alleged

employment discrimination must elect to raise the matter under either part

1614 or the negotiated grievance procedure, but not both. An aggrieved

employee who files a grievance with an agency whose negotiated agreement

permits the acceptance of grievances which allege discrimination may not

thereafter file a complaint on the same matter under 1614 irrespective

of whether the agency has informed the individual of the need to elect

or whether the grievance has raised an issue of discrimination.

A copy of the National Agreement between appellant's union and the

agency is not in the record. The agency dismissed allegations (2), (4)

and (7) on the grounds that appellant had raised them in a grievance.

The Commission finds, however, that there is no evidence of record to show

whether the National Agreement provides for allegations of discrimination

to be raised in the grievance process. In addition, the record does not

indicate the date appellant filed a grievance on the matters at issue,

and the Commission is therefore unable to determine which proceeding was

initiated first by appellant. Clearly, it is the burden of the agency

to have evidence or proof to support is final decision. See Marshall

v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Request No. 05910685 (September 6, 1991).

We find therefore, that the agency's decision dismissing allegations (2),

(4) and (7) was improper.

Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss allegations (2), (4)

and (7) of appellant's complaint was improper and is hereby REVERSED.

The allegations are REMANDED to the agency for processing in accordance

with this decision and the Order below.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations 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. 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:

10/28/1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

1 The record indicates that the instant complaint initially came before the

Commission in the matter of Kendricks v. Department of Veterans Affairs,

EEOC Appeal No. 01980633 (September 3, 1998). Therein, the Commission

remanded appellant's complaint to the agency for processing, thereby

reversing the agency's September 23, 1997 decision that appellant had

failed to cooperate in the processing of his complaint.