01990486
10-28-1999
Daniel Morris, Appellant, v. Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.
Daniel Morris v. Department of the Navy
01990486
October 28, 1999
Daniel Morris, )
Appellant, )
)
v. )
) Appeal No. 01990486
Richard J. Danzig, ) Agency No. 97-60258-011
Secretary, )
Department of the Navy, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
Appellant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from a final
agency decision (FAD), dated August 28, 1998, dismissing a portion of
his complaint (allegations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e) on the grounds that
appellant failed to cooperate.
In an EEO complaint dated October 9, 1997 appellant alleged discrimination
on the bases of race (Afro-American), color (Black), religion (Methodist),
sex (male), age (d.o.b. 3/28/45), and reprisal. By letter dated
April 24, 1998, the agency stated that appellant's allegations were
"too vague and general to be processed as a complaint" and requested
additional information. Specifically, the agency requested dates,
names of witnesses, names of the management officials who allegedly
discriminated, names of persons who received better treatment, and any
other relevant evidence or documents that would support appellant's
allegations. The agency also warned that failure to respond to the
request could result in the dismissal of appellant's allegations. In a
letter dated June 11, 1998, appellant responded to the agency's request.
The FAD dismissed a portion of appellant's complaint (allegations 4a, 4b,
4c, 4d, and 4e) pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(g). The agency indicated
that appellant's response did not contain the requested information.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(g) requires an agency to dismiss
a complaint or a portion of a complaint for failure to cooperate, or,
alternatively, to adjudicate the complaint if sufficient information
for that purpose is available. The regulation is applicable under the
following circumstance: (1) the agency has provided the complainant
with a written request to provide relevant information or to otherwise
proceed with the complaint; (2) the request included a notice of the
proposed dismissal for failure to respond within 15 days of receipt of
the request; and (3) the complainant either fails to respond to the
request within 15 days of receipt or the complainant's response does
not address the agency's request. The Commission has held that the
regulation is applicable, however, only in cases where there is a clear
record of delay or contumacious conduct by the complainant. See Anderson
v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940850 (February 24, 1995).
In the instant case, we find that the agency reasonably requested
clarification of the matters raised in appellant's formal complaint.
While the agency may have determined that appellant did not provide all
the information the agency sought, appellant nevertheless attempted
to respond to the agency's request. The agency does not contend that
appellant's response was untimely. Moreover, the Commission finds that
appellant's response is not reflective of delay or contumacious conduct.
Therefore, we find that the agency improperly dismissed allegations
4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e for failure to cooperate. The Commission notes
that the agency may make an additional request for information and that
appellant's failure to comply with such a request may result in dismissal
of certain allegations for failure to cooperate.
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss allegations 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d, and 4e is REVERSED. The allegations are 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 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
Office of Federal Operations