Charles M. Gryczko, Appellant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Logistics Agency) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 29, 1999
01980183 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 29, 1999)

01980183

01-29-1999

Charles M. Gryczko, Appellant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Logistics Agency) Agency.


Charles M. Gryczko v. Department of Defense

01980183

January 29, 1999

Charles M. Gryczko, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01980183

) Agency No. XL-97-008

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(Defense Logistics Agency) )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The Commission finds that the agency's September 22, 1997 decision

dismissing appellant's complaint on the basis that appellant failed to

contact an EEO counselor within the 45-day time limit provided by 29

C.F.R.�1614.107(b)is proper.

A review of the record shows that appellant sought EEO counseling on June

2, 1997, alleging that he had been discriminated against on the basis

of sex (male), when on January 16, 1997, he was ordered to move from

Saudi Arabia to Eskan for safety reasons, while a female coworker was

allowed to remain in Saudi Arabia. On appeal, appellant contends that his

complaint is timely because the agency engaged in a continuous violation

from the date he was ordered to move, January 16, 1997, until May 1997,

when he returned to the United States. On appeal, however, appellant

acknowledges that "since it was January 17, 1997, and [female coworker]

was still residing at Villa Number 83, [appellant] concluded that she

was being allowed to remain there ... to add credence to [appellant's]

suspicions, on April 14, 1997, [appellant] heard" the female coworker

state "no, I don't have to move".

The Commission applies a "reasonable suspicion" standard to the triggering

date for determining the timeliness of the contact with an EEO counselor.

Cochran v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05920399 (June

18, 1992). Under this standard, the time period for contacting an EEO

counselor is triggered when the complainant should reasonably suspect

discrimination, but before all the facts that would support a charge of

discrimination may have become apparent. Id.; Paredes v. Nagle, 27 FEP

Cases 1345 (D.D.C. 1982). The Commission finds that appellant should have

had a reasonable suspicion of discrimination more than 45 days prior to

his counselor contact. Accordingly, appellant's claim of a continuing

violation is not appropriate. The agency's decision dismissing the

complaint on the basis of untimely EEO counselor contact is AFFIRMED.

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. �l6l4.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)

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 consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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 (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:

January 29, 1999

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations