Deon L.,1 Complainant,v.Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southern Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Mar 20, 2019

2019000925 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 20, 2019)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Deon L.,1
Complainant,

v.

Megan J. Brennan,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southern Area),
Agency.

Appeal No. 2019000925

Agency No. 4G700013118

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC
or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated October 25, 2018, dismissing his 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., and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.

BACKGROUND

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a former City carrier
at the Agency’s facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On September 24, 2018, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency
subjected him to discrimination on the bases of race (African-American), national origin
(American), sex (male), and disability when, on October 17, 1994, he was forced to retire on
disability retirement.

The Agency dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely EEO
Counselor contact.

1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
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The instant appeal followed. In his appeal, Complainant states that he was hired as a disabled
veteran.

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 record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred on October 17, 1994, but
Complainant did not initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until June 22, 2018, which is
beyond the forty-five (45) day limitation period. On appeal, Complainant has presented no
persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO
Counselor contact. Complainant explained that he decided to pursue the matter in 2018 based on
his belief that a June 2018 EEOC decision regarding the National Reassessment Process (NRP)
was applicable to his complaint.

The Commission has consistently held that a complainant must act with due diligence in the
pursuit of his claim or the doctrine of laches may apply. See Becker v. United States Postal
Serv., EEOC Appeal No. 01A45028 (November 18, 2004) (finding that the doctrine of laches
applied when complainant waited over two years from the date of the alleged discriminatory
events before contacting an EEO Counselor); O'Dell v. Department of Health and Human Serv.,
EEOC Request No. 05901130 (December 27, 1990). The doctrine of laches is an equitable
remedy under which an individual's failure to pursue diligently his course of action could bar his
claim. Complainant waited almost 24 years from the date of the alleged discriminatory event
before he contacted an EEO Counselor in June 2018. Complainant has failed to provide
sufficient justification for extending or tolling the time limit. The National Reassessment
Process was not in effect at the time of Complainant’s retirement, and was not implemented over
a decade later.

Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0617)
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:
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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. A party
shall have twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for
reconsideration in which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405;
Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110),
at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the
Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Complainant’s request may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC
20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 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
agency’s request must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal
(FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). 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 (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs.
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Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request
the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court
costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has
the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time
limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil
Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

March 20, 2019
Date