Colamay L. Faxio, Complainant,v.Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 27, 2000
01a03529 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 27, 2000)

01a03529

07-27-2000

Colamay L. Faxio, Complainant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Colamay L. Faxio v. Department of Veterans Affairs

01A03529

07-27-00

.

Colamay L. Faxio,

Complainant,

v.

Togo D. West, Jr.,

Secretary,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A03529

Agency No. 99-1258

DECISION

On April 17, 2000, Colamay L. Faxio (hereinafter referred to as

complainant) filed a timely appeal from the March 17, 2000, final decision

of the Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the

agency) concerning her 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 Age Discrimination in Employment Act

of 1967, as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. The appeal is timely filed

(see 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.402(a)))<1> and is accepted in accordance

with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (to be codified as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405).

For the reasons that follow, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.

The issue presented in this appeal is whether the agency properly

dismissed the complaint as untimely filed.

Complainant sought EEO counseling on March 11, 1999, following an event

on February 18, 1999, and received her Notice of Final Interview (NOFI)

on May 7, 1999. She filed her formal complaint on February 17, 2000,

alleging discrimination based on race (black) and age (DOB 10-6-41)

claiming her former supervisor physically assaulted her. On March 17,

2000, the agency dismissed the complaint as untimely.

The Commission's regulations require that formal complaints of

discrimination be filed within 15 days of receipt of the NOFI.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(b). The agency may dismiss a complainant that fails

to comply with these time limits. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (to be

codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(2)).

Although complainant asserted that she was under stress and fearful

following the alleged assault, we note that she was able to contact an

EEO counselor and otherwise function between May 1999 and February 2000.

We find that complainant has not offered justification for the eight

months delay in filing her formal complaint. We find therefore that

the agency properly dismissed the complaint as untimely filed.<2>

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the agency's decision was proper and is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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); Equal Employment Opportunity Management

Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999).

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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

__07-27-00________________

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.

2Counsel's request to consolidate other pending complaints is not proper

where they raise different issues and are in different fora.