Frank A. Licari, Complainant,v.Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 17, 2009
0120093405 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 17, 2009)

0120093405

11-17-2009

Frank A. Licari, Complainant, v. Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.


Frank A. Licari,

Complainant,

v.

Ray H. LaHood,

Secretary,

Department of Transportation,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120093405

Agency No. 2009-22692-PHMSA-02

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's

final decision dated July 22, 2009, dismissing his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in

Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.

On May 27, 2009, complainant filed the instant formal complaint. Therein,

complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on the basis

of age when:

on or about February 5, 2009, he received a less favorable assessment

during his mid-year review.

On July 22, 2009, the agency issued a final decision dismissing the

instant complaint for failure to state a claim, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(1) and on the alternative grounds pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(5) that the mid-year review was only a preliminary action.

Upon review, the Commission finds that the instant complaint is more

appropriately analyzed to determine whether or not it states a claim in

accordance with EEOC regulations.

The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in

relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint that fails to

state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved

employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been

discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,

sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.103,

.106(a). The Commission's federal sector case precedent has long defined

an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm or loss with

respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which

there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request

No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).

The Commission has held that periodic performance reviews which are not

recorded in the employee's official personnel folder do not constitute

adverse actions. See Jackson v. Central Intelligence Agency, EEOC

Request No. 05931177 (June 23, 1994). Since there is no evidence in

the record that complainant's mid-year performance review was recorded

in complainant's official personnel folder, the Commission finds that

the alleged claims fail to state a claim. Moreover, the Commission

finds that the agency's alleged conduct was not sufficiently severe or

pervasive to alter the conditions of complainant's employment in order

to establish a claim of harassment. See Harris v. Forklift Systems,

Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993); Cobb v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC

Request No. 05970077 (March 13, 1997).

Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing complainant's complaint

is hereby AFFIRMED for the reasons set forth herein.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1208)

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 77960,

Washington, DC 20013. 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

November 17, 2009

__________________

Date

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U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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