Dennis G. McNab, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 22, 1999
01974318 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 22, 1999)

01974318

01-22-1999

Dennis G. McNab, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Dennis G. McNab v. United States Postal Service

01974318

January 22, 1999

Dennis G. McNab, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01974318

) Agency No. 1E-895-0006-97

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The appellant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from a final

decision, dated April 24, 1997, which the agency issued pursuant to EEOC

Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b). The Commission accepts the appellant's

appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

According to the final agency decision, the appellant alleged in

his January 25, 1997 complaint that the agency discriminated against

him based on his physical disability and age and in retaliation for

his prior EEO activity, when (1) on December 23, 1994, the appellant

received a letter from Postal Inspectors which contained an allegedly

false statement; and (2) on September 14, 1996, Postal headquarters

staff refused to conduct an investigation of an incident that occurred

on January 6, 1994. The decision dismissed the appellant's complaint on

the ground that he did not seek EEO counseling until December 5, 1996,

more than 45 calendar days after the alleged discriminatory acts.

After a review of the entire record, including all appeal submissions,

the Commission finds that the appellant did not timely seek counseling

regarding the alleged discrimination described above. The Commission

also finds that the appellant has not provided any explanation that

would justify extending the time limitation for seeking counseling.

The Commission further finds that neither of the appellant's

allegations state a claim of employment discrimination but instead

involve the appellant's disagreements with the Postal Inspectors.

These disagreements, in turn, concern matters related to the appellant's

worker's compensation claim, a matter that must be decided by the

Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Program, not the

Commission.

In making these findings, the Commission notes the appellant's complaint

references 50 alleged violations of the ELM book and 40 alleged illegal

violations of the United States Code. However, the appellant did not

include these allegations in his request for counseling. There also

is no evidence in the record that he discussed these allegations, or

allegations like or related to these allegations, with the EEO counselor

as required by EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.105(b).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Commission AFFIRMS the agency's

dismissal of the appellant's January 25, 1997 complaint.

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:

January 22, 1999

______________

Date Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations