Frances Antonelli, Appellant,v.Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 7, 1999
01981158 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 7, 1999)

01981158

01-07-1999

Frances Antonelli, Appellant, v. Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.


Frances Antonelli v. Department of the Treasury

01981158

January 7, 1999

Frances Antonelli, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01981158

) Agency No. 97-3292

Robert E. Rubin, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency properly

dismissed appellant's complaint, pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(a), for failure to state a claim. Appellant alleged

that she was subjected to discrimination on the bases of sex (female) and

in reprisal for prior EEO activity when on March 17, 1997, a supervisor

instructed a co-worker to break into appellant's file cabinet, and that

documents contained therein were subsequently left on appellant's desk

unsecured. The record indicates that appellant was transferred into

a different workgroup and was instructed to leave her work materials

in a file cabinet in her previous workgroup until space was available

in her new area. While appellant was out of work on disability leave,

her former manager instructed an employee to open appellant's locked

cabinet without first attempting to obtain the key and subsequently left

a box of material, including taxpayers' records, out on appellant's desk.

Upon review, we find that appellant failed to show how she suffered harm

with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of her employment as

a result of the agency's actions. There is no evidence of record that

appellant lost any work material or was otherwise adversely affected by

the actions in question. Consequently, we find that she failed to state

a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Diaz v. Department of

the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). Accordingly,

the agency's decision is AFFIRMED for the reasons set forth herein.

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. In the alternative, you may file a

civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR DAYS of the date

you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the

Commission. 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. 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:

Jan 7, 1999

____________________________

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations