David E. Durga, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Great Lakes/ Mid West Areas) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 1, 1999
01972294 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 1, 1999)

01972294

02-01-1999

David E. Durga, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Great Lakes/ Mid West Areas) Agency.


David E. Durga v. United States Postal Service

01972294

February 1, 1999

David E. Durga, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. #01972294

) Agency No. 4-J-493-1250-95

William J. Henderson, ) Hearing No. 230-96-4089X

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

(Great Lakes/ Mid West Areas) )

Agency. )

________________________________)

DECISION

On January 15, 1997, David E. Durga (hereinafter referred to as the

appellant), filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (Commission) from the final decision of the United States

Postal Service, (hereinafter referred to as the agency) concerning his

allegation that the agency violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of

1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. In his complaint, appellant

alleged that the agency discriminated against him on the basis of his sex

(male), when on August 8, 1995, he was terminated during his probationary

period. This appeal is accepted by the Commission in accordance with

EEOC Order No. 960.001.

Following an investigation of this complaint, appellant requested a

hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission administrative

judge (AJ). A hearing was conducted on August 27, 1996. On December

18, 1996, the AJ issued a Recommended Decision (RD) finding no

discrimination.

The AJ found that appellant failed to establish a prima facie case of

sex discrimination. Assuming that appellant had established a prima

facie case of sex discrimination, the AJ found that appellant failed

to establish that the agency's legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons

for terminating him were pretextual. On January 9, 1997, the agency

issued a final decision, adopting the AJ's finding of no discrimination.

It is from this decision that appellant now appeals.

After a careful review of the entire record, including arguments and

evidence not specifically addressed in this decision, the Commission finds

that the AJ's RD sets forth the relevant facts, and properly analyzes the

appropriate regulations, policies, and laws applicable to appellant's

complaint as a disparate treatment claim. Therefore, the Commission

discerns no basis to disturb the agency's finding of no discrimination.

Accordingly, it is the decision of the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission to AFFIRM the agency's final decision.

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 (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 to 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:

2/1/99

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations