Cynthia L. Johnson, Appellant,v.Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 14, 1999
01986697_r (E.E.O.C. Sep. 14, 1999)

01986697_r

09-14-1999

Cynthia L. Johnson, Appellant, v. Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.


Cynthia L. Johnson, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01986697

) Agency No. AT-98-03

Andrew M. Cuomo, )

Secretary, )

Department of Housing and )

Urban Development, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On August 31, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission

from a final agency decision (FAD) dated July 22, 1998, pertaining to

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.<1> In her complaint, appellant alleged that she was subjected

to discrimination on the bases of race (Black), sex (female), and in

reprisal for prior EEO activity when:

On December 4, 1997, illustrative of his micro-management style,

appellant's supervisor (S1) reassigned two of appellant's employees to

another Branch without first consulting her; and

On unspecified dates, S1 constantly insulted appellant's intelligence

and questioned her credibility and character.

Appellant further alleged that the foregoing incidents comprised

harassment which created a hostile work environment.

The agency dismissed appellant's complaint pursuant to EEOC Regulation

29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a), for failure to state a claim. Specifically,

the agency determined that appellant failed to show that she suffered

harm to the terms, conditions, or privileges of her employment as a

result of the incidents she identified, and was, therefore, not aggrieved.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) provides, in relevant part, that

an agency shall dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that fails to

state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved

employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been

discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,

sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103;

�1614.106(a). The Commission's federal sector case precedent has long

defined an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm or loss

with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which

there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request

No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).

We find that the agency erred in dismissing allegation (1) for failure

to state a claim. Specifically, we find that allegation (1) properly

alleges harm to the terms, conditions, or privileges of appellant's

employment; i.e., the removal of resources (subordinate employees) from

appellant's supervision. Consequently, appellant is an aggrieved person

as defined by the EEOC regulations.

However, the Commission also finds that allegation (2) is too vague

to state a claim under the EEOC regulations. EEOC Regulation 29

C.F.R. �1614.106(c) provides that a complaint must contain a statement

that is sufficiently precise to describe generally the action(s)

or practice(s) that form the basis of the complaint. In allegation

(2), appellant failed to identify the specific acts which insulted her

intelligence and resulted in the questioning of her credibility and

character, and failed to indicate the dates on which these incidents

occurred. Moreover, appellant's failure to identify the dates and

frequency on which these incidents occurred makes it impossible to

determine if she established a hostile work environment. See James

v. Department of Health and Human Services, EEOC Request No. 05940327

(September 20, 1994)(finding that, unless the conduct is very severe,

a single incident or a group of isolated incidents will not be regarded

as creating a discriminatory work environment); Walker v. Ford Motor

Company, 684 F.2d 1355 (11th Cir. 1982). Consequently, we find that

allegation (2) was properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a),

for failure to state a claim.

Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss allegation (2) is AFFIRMED

for the reasons set forth herein. The agency's decision to dismiss

allegation (1) is hereby REVERSED. Allegation (1) is REMANDED to the

agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and the

Order below.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegation in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant

that it has received the remanded allegation 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 (T0993)

This decision affirms the agency's final decision in part, but it also

requires the agency to continue its administrative processing of a

portion of your complaint. You have the right to file a civil action

in an appropriate United States District Court on both that portion of

your complaint which the Commission has affirmed AND that portion of the

complaint which has been remanded for continued administrative processing.

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. 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:

Sept. 14, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

1The 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.