Earl M. Wohlfrom, Complainant,v.Ann M. Veneman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 24, 2001
01A04419 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 24, 2001)

01A04419

07-24-2001

Earl M. Wohlfrom, Complainant, v. Ann M. Veneman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.


Earl M. Wohlfrom v. United States Department of Agriculture

01A04419

July 24, 2001

.

Earl M. Wohlfrom,

Complainant,

v.

Ann M. Veneman,

Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A04419

Agency No. 990787

DECISION

The agency's final agency decision (FAD) dismissed complainant's complaint

pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely EEO Counselor

contact. In his appeal, complainant refers to an Army investigation

concerning the sexual harassment of a high ranking female officer where

the complainant did not allege sexual harassment until three years after

the events occurred. In reference to the leeway given to the female

officer, the complainant states �we all worked for the same government and

should be afforded the same considerations.� However, complainant fails

to note that the female officer in the referenced case did not submit

her claim to the EEOC, but rather, her investigation was conducted and

resolved through internal procedures within the Department of the Army.

A review of the record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event

occurred in June of 1996, but complainant did not initiate contact with an

EEO Counselor until May 24, 1999, which is beyond the forty-five (45) day

limitation period set forth by 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). On appeal,

no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented to warrant

an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact.

Accordingly, the agency's FAD dismissing complainant's complaint for

untimely EEO Counselor contact is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0701)

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), 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 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. 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 (S0900)

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 (Z1199)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

July 24, 2001

__________________

Date