0120090142_rdoc
01-14-2009
Eric O. Anderson, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Eric O. Anderson,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120090142
Agency No. 4E-980-0083-08
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated September 26, 2008, dismissing his formal 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.
On May 28, 2008, complainant, a Supervisor at the time of the alleged
discrimination contacted an EEO Counselor. Complainant claimed that
he was discriminated against based on his race (African American)
when since April 7, 2008, he was not selected for training in Labor
Relations. Informal efforts to resolve the matter were unsuccessful and
complainant filed a formal complaint on September 8, 2008.
In its final decision, the agency dismissed complainant's complaint
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a) (2), on the grounds of untimely EEO
Counselor contact.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105 (a) (1) provides that an aggrieved
person who believes that he has been discriminated against on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap must
consult an EEO Counselor prior to filing a complaint in order to try to
informally resolve the matter. SEEO Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107 (a)
(2) provides that the agency shall dismiss an entire complaint that
fails to comply with the applicable time limits contained in 29 C.F.R.
� 1614.105.
The record discloses that complainant became aware of the alleged
discriminatory event on April 7, 2008, but that complainant did not
initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until May 28, 2008, which is beyond
the forty-five (45) day limitation period.1 On appeal, complainant has
presented no persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension
of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact.
The agency's final decision dismissing complainant's complaint on the
grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0408)
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 (S0408)
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 (Z1008)
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
January 14, 2009
__________________
Date
1 The Commission notes that on his formal complaint form, complainant
identifies the date of the alleged discriminatory event as "April 13,
2008." However, the record supports a finding that this event occurred
instead on April 7, 2008.
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0120090142
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
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0120090142