Gregory J. Gonzales, Appellant,v.F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary, Department of the Air Force, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 3, 1999
01986719_r (E.E.O.C. Sep. 3, 1999)

01986719_r

09-03-1999

Gregory J. Gonzales, Appellant, v. F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary, Department of the Air Force, Agency.


Gregory J. Gonzales, )

Appellant, )

)

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01986719

) Agency No. KHOF98081

)

F. Whitten Peters, )

Acting Secretary, )

Department of the Air Force, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On September 8, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission

from a final agency decision (FAD) received by him on August 17, 1998,

pertaining to 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., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of

1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �621 et seq. In his formal complaint,

appellant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on the bases

of race (Mexican-American), national origin (Hispanic), and age (43) when:

In July 1997, appellant was denied consideration for a detail to an

Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic Supervisor (Supervisor Position),

WS-2610-12 position in LDALA; and

In July 1997, appellant was denied consideration for a detail to

an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic Leader (Leader Position),

WL-2620-12 position in LDALA.

The agency dismissed appellant's complaint pursuant to EEOC Regulation

29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b), for failure to initiate contact with an EEO

Counselor in a timely manner. Specifically, the agency determined that

because appellant's November 25, 1997 initial EEO Counselor contact

occurred more than forty-five (45) days from the dates on which he was

not considered for the detail positions, it was untimely.

On appeal, appellant asserts that the agency erred in finding that his

complaint was untimely because the effective date on which he would have

been selected for one of the Supervisor Positions was October 26, 1997,

thereby making his November 25, 1997 initial EEO Counselor contact timely.

In support of his assertion, appellant provided a copy of a memorandum

from the agency's Chief, Complaints Activity Office, which indicates

that had appellant been considered, he would have been selected for the

Supervisor Position detail on October 26, 1997.

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.

In the present case, appellant alleged that he was discriminated against

when the agency failed to consider him for details to the Supervisor and

Leader Positions. The harm which appellant suffered, i.e., his not being

considered for the details, occurred in July 1997. The fact that had

he been considered, appellant would have served on one of the details

beginning October 26, 1997, is irrelevant in making the determination

of whether he timely sought EEO counseling on the matter. As appellant

did not contact an EEO Counselor within forty-five (45) days of the date

on which he was aggrieved, and he provided no justification sufficient

to extend the applicable limitation period, we find that the agency's

decision to dismiss his complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b),

was proper, and is therefore AFFIRMED.

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:

Sept. 3, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations