Cleora W., Complainant,v.Robert McDonald, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Feb 25, 2016

0120160175 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 25, 2016)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Cleora W.,
Complainant,

v.

Robert McDonald,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.

Appeal No. 0120160175

Agency No. 2004-0558-2013103863

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the Agency’s final decision dated
January 16, 2015, concerning her complaint of unlawful employment discrimination. In her
complaint, Complainant alleged discrimination in reprisal for prior EEO activity concerning her
nonselections in June and July 2013; her being moved from “office-to-office;” her fully
successful performance rating on December 2013; and her reasonable accommodation request.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.402 provides that appeals to the Commission must be filed
within 30 calendar days after complainants receive notice of the Agency’s decision.

Complainant acknowledged that her then attorney of record received the Agency’s final decision
on July 14, 2015. The appeal was filed via facsimile on October 11, 2015, which was beyond the
30-day time limit set by the regulations. The record reveals that the Agency’s decision explicitly
informed Complainant of the time limits on her right to appeal. On appeal, Complainant
indicates that after she and her then attorney received the final Agency decision, they
corresponded with the Agency concerning the report of investigation of her complaint which she
believed was done improperly. Complainant also states that she recently found out
“approximately three months ago,” that her then attorney was barred from practicing law in her
state. We find that Complainant’s waiting until she resolved her concerns regarding the
improper investigation of her complaint and her discovery concerning her then attorney do not
1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.

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constitute adequate justification to invoke waiver or equitable tolling for filing the appeal. At all
times Complainant is responsible for the timely processing of her appeal.

Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED as untimely pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(c).

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0815)

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
29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part
1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be
submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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 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 (S0610)

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.

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RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)

If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may
request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of
court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The
court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter
the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to
File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).

FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

February 25, 2016
Date