George Wade, Complainant,v.Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 6, 2000
01993858 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 6, 2000)

01993858

07-06-2000

George Wade, Complainant, v. Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.


George Wade v. Department of the Navy

01993858

July 6, 2000

George Wade, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01993858

Richard J. Danzig, ) Agency No. DON 99-63387-001

Secretary, )

Department of the Navy, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

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

decision dated March 19, 1999, dismissing his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.<1> In his complaint,

complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on the bases

of race (Black) and color (brown) when:

Complainant was not selected for the temporary position of Zone Manager

(Supervisory Supply Management Specialist), GS-2003-12 in 1997 and 1998.

The agency dismissed complainant's complaint pursuant to the regulation

set forth at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999) (to be codified and

hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)), for untimely EEO

Counselor contact. Specifically, the agency stated that the initial

selection for the Zone Manager was effective September 29, 1996, the

temporary promotion was extended on January 11, 1997 and November 24,

1997, and the position was abolished on September 27, 1998. The agency

stated that complainant did not contact an EEO Counselor until January

of 1999, more than two years after the applicable limitations period.

On appeal, complainant states that he did not know until January 1999,

that the Supervisory Management Specialist position was abolished and

states that this is the reason he waited until January 1999, to initiate

an EEO complaint.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1) requires that complaints of

discrimination should be brought to the attention of the Equal Employment

Opportunity Counselor within forty-five (45) days of the date of the

matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel

action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of the action.

The Commission has adopted a "reasonable suspicion" standard (as opposed

to a "supportive facts" standard) to determine when the forty-five (45)

day limitation period is triggered. See Howard v. Department of the Navy,

EEOC Request No. 05970852 (February 11, 1999). Thus, the time limitation

is not triggered until a complainant reasonably suspects discrimination,

but before all the facts that support a charge of discrimination have

become apparent.

EEOC Regulations provide that the agency or the Commission shall extend

the time limits when the individual shows that he was not notified of the

time limits and was not otherwise aware of them, that he did not know

and reasonably should not have known that the discriminatory matter or

personnel action occurred, that despite due diligence he was prevented

by circumstances beyond his control from contacting the Counselor within

the time limits, or for other reasons considered sufficient by the agency

or the Commission.

Based on a thorough review of the record, the Commission finds that

the agency properly dismissed complainant's complaint on the grounds

of untimely counselor contact. We find that complainant failed to take

such steps as would have protected his rights and failed to exhibit due

diligence or prudent regard for his rights. The record shows that the

initial selection for the Zone Manager position was effective September

29, 1996. Complainant has not submitted persuasive evidence explaining

why he did not seek counseling when the position was initially filled.

Although complainant states that he did not know of the abolishment

of the Zone Manager position until January 1999, we note that he is

challenging his non-selection to this position and not the abolishment

of the position. We find that complainant should have had a reasonable

suspicion of discrimination more than 45 days prior to his counselor

contact. Thus, we find that complainant has submitted insufficient

evidence which would justify an extension of the applicable time

limitation to contact a Counselor.

Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss complainant's complaint

was proper and is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)

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:

July 6, 2000

____________________________

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

_______________ __________________________

Date

1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's

federal sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations

apply to all federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in

the administrative process. Consequently, the Commission will apply

the revised regulations found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where

applicable, in deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended,

may also be found at the Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.