Dawn J. Brown, Complainant,v.Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southeast Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 16, 2012
0120112578 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 16, 2012)

0120112578

02-16-2012

Dawn J. Brown, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southeast Area), Agency.




Dawn J. Brown,

Complainant,

v.

Patrick R. Donahoe,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service

(Southeast Area),

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120112578

Agency No. 4H-335-0054-11

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's

decision dated March 8, 2011, dismissing her complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., Section

501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended,

29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. Upon review, the

Commission finds that Complainant's complaint was properly dismissed

pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2).

BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked

as a Transitional Employee at the Agency’s Northside Post Office in

St. Petersburg, Florida. On February 22, 2011, Complainant filed a formal

complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the

bases of race (African-American), color (Black), disability, age (47),

and in reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when on July 13, 2010,

management declined to renew her temporary assignment. The Agency issued

a final decision dismissing the complaint for untimely EEO Counselor

contact because Complainant did not seek counseling until December 15,

2010, approximately 155 days after Complainant learned that her employment

would not be renewed.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105(a)(1) requires that complaints

of discrimination should be brought to the attention of the Equal

Employment Opportunity Counselor within forty-five (45) days of the

date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a

personnel action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date

of the action. The Commission has adopted a “reasonable suspicion”

standard (as opposed to a “supportive facts” standard) to determine

when the forty-five (45) day limitation period is triggered. See Howard

v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Request No. 05970852 (February 11,

1999). Thus, the time limitation is not triggered until a complainant

reasonably suspects discrimination, but before all the facts that support

a charge of discrimination have become apparent.

The record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred

on July 13, 2010, but Complainant did not initiate contact with an

EEO Counselor until December 15, 2010, which is beyond the forty-five

(45) day limitation period. On appeal, although Complainant submits

documentation in support of the merits of her claim, she presents no

persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time

limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact. Accordingly, the Agency's

final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0610)

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 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

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.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0610)

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 from the Court that

the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also

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 with

the Court 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, Director

Office of Federal Operations

February 16, 2012

__________________

Date

2

0120112578

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013