01a22584
06-24-2002
Gabriel D. Bruno, Complainant, v. Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.
Gabriel D. Bruno v. Department of Transportation
01A22584
6/24/02
.
Gabriel D. Bruno,
Complainant,
v.
Norman Y. Mineta,
Secretary,
Department of Transportation,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A22584
Agency No. 3-02-3030
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the complaint was improperly
dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) for failure to state
a claim. In a complaint dated April 4, 2002, complainant claims that he
was subjected to discrimination on the bases of sex (male), age (55),
and reprisal for prior EEO activity when on July 30, 2001, an agency
Manager initiated a hostile work environment and sexual harassment
investigation against him. Moreover, complainant asserts that as result
of the investigation, he was placed on administrative leave and ultimately
removed from his position as Aviation Safety Inspector at the agency.
In its final decision, the agency dismissed the complaint on the grounds
of failure to state a claim. Specifically, the agency found that
although complainant contends he was discriminated against because the
Manager violated FAA Accountability Board procedures when she initiated
a harassment investigation against complainant, the FAA procedures were
not covered by EEO statutes. Consequently, complainant was not harmed
in a way that the EEO statutes could provide a remedy, therefore, he
failed to state a claim.
ANALYSIS
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 only questions for an agency to consider in determining whether a
complaint states a claim and within the purview of the EEOC regulations
are: (1) whether the complainant is an aggrieved employee and (2) whether
complainant raises employment discrimination on a basis covered by EEO
statutes. If these questions are affirmed, an agency must accept the
complaint for processing regardless of its judgement of the complaint's
merits. See Odoski v. Department of Energy, EEOC Appeal No. 0190149
(April 16, 1990).
As a result of a harassment investigation initiated by Manager,
complainant asserts that he was �removed from his position despite the
lack of a formal conclusion of the investigation.� Since complainant
was removed from his position, he constitutes an aggrieved employee
that has suffered a harm with respect to the terms and conditions of
his employment. Moreover, complainant claims that he was discriminated
against because he is male and 55 years old. Complainant further
asserts that the Manager has filed investigations against other
employees at the agency that were male and over the age of 40, and
who had otherwise unblemished records. Complainant's claim that he
was discriminated because his sex and age are both bases covered by
the EEO statutes. Moreover, the agency has not provided any evidence
showing that complainant was not removed from his position and did not
suffer a harm with respect to his employment.
After a careful review of the record, the Commission finds that the
complaint states a claim under the EEOC regulations because complainant
showed that he suffered harm or loss with respect to a term, condition,
or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. See Diaz
v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April
21, 1994). Accordingly, the agency's decision is hereby REVERSED.
The complaint is REMANDED for further processing in accordance with the
Order below.
ORDER (E0900)
The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue
to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter
is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a
copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of
rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0501)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement
of the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the
right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g).
Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a civil action on
the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled
"Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408.
A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying
complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)
(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the complainant files a civil action, the
administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for
enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
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 (R0900)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date
that you receive this decision. 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 (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
6/24/02
Date