01A04166_r
08-21-2002
Gerald R. Chambers, Complainant, v. Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.
Gerald R. Chambers v. Department of Transportation
01A04166
August 21, 2002
.
Gerald R. Chambers,
Complainant,
v.
Norman Y. Mineta,
Secretary,
Department of Transportation,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A04166
Agency No. DOT-1-98-1025
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency
decision dated April 28, 2000, 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. In his
complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination
on the basis of age when he was not selected for the position of Air
Traffic Control Specialist, GS-2152, based on the agency's policy of
rehiring ex-PATCO controllers solely under a Notice that restricts grades
and promotional opportunities not restricted for non-PATCO controllers.
On February 6 1998, the agency dismissed the complaint for untimeliness
and failure to state a claim, and complainant appealed to the Commission.
In June 7, 1999 decision, the Commission found complainant had stated
a timely claim and remanded the complaint for processing, specifically
ordering the agency to investigate complainant's claims of both disparate
treatment and disparate impact. EEOC Appeal No. 01983671 (June 7, 1999).
After first accepting the claim for investigation on September 24, 1999,
the agency issued the April 28, 2000 decision here appealed.
In the instant case, the agency again dismissed the complaint pursuant to
29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim. Specifically,
the agency found that the claim raised a general grievance, not an
individual harm suffered by complainant, and that complainant's disparate
impact age claim under the ADEA was not cognizable. The agency reasoned
that, as complainant shared his claim with other ex-PATCO employees barred
from applying under normal vacancy announcements, his claim did not
constitute an individualized harm. Concerning complainant's disparate
impact claim, the agency found that �the majority of Circuit Courts
have concluded that claims of disparate impact in age discrimination
complaints are not cognizable.�
Upon review, we find that the agency improperly dismissed complainant's
complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). In the present case,
complainant asserts that he is personally harmed because he was not
selected for the position of Air Traffic Control Specialist, GS-2152,
under vacancy announcement AEA-AEA-96-074-11006. As complainant
identified a specific injury with respect to a term, condition,
or privilege of employment, he has stated a claim. See Crandall
v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05970508
(September 11, 1997); Coleman v. Department of Transportation, EEOC
Request No. 05A10034 (February 28, 2001). Moreover, the Commission has
ruled that a complainant can state a claim of discrimination using the
disparate impact theory under the ADEA. Parker v. Department of the Navy,
EEOC Request No. 05970486 (March 25, 1999); Mitchell v. Department of the
Interior, EEOC Appeal No. 01990787 (January 10, 2002) (citations omitted).
The agency shall therefore investigate the complaint under both the
disparate treatment and disparate impact theories of discrimination.
Accordingly, the agency's dismissal of complainant's complaint is REVERSED
and the complaint is REMANDED for further investigation in accordance
with this decision and 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
August 21, 2002
__________________
Date