Heidi D. Whitney, Appellant,v.Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 8, 1999
01982170 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 8, 1999)

01982170

11-08-1999

Heidi D. Whitney, Appellant, v. Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.


Heidi D. Whitney v. Department of the Treasury

01982170

November 8, 1999

Heidi D. Whitney, )

Appellant, )

)

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01982170

) Agency No. 97-4198

)

Lawrence H. Summers, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On July 3, 1997, appellant filed a timely appeal of a final agency

decision, which was dated June 18, 1997, dismissing her complaint,

pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b), for failure to bring the matter to

the attention of an EEO Counselor.

In its final decision, the agency identified the allegation of appellant's

April 26, 1997 complaint as whether appellant was discriminated against

when she was forced to resign from the agency on or about April 11, 1997,

because management failed to furnish her an environment free of sexual

harassment from August 28, 1996 through April 11, 1997. The agency

stated that its records showed no evidence that appellant raised the

subject allegation with an EEO Counselor.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b) provides, in part, that the agency

shall dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint that raises a

matter that has not been brought to the attention of a Counselor and is

not like or related to a matter that has been brought to the attention

of a Counselor.

The record indicates that by letter dated May 5, 1997, the agency,

upon receipt of appellant's formal complaint, informed appellant that

she must contact an EEO Counselor prior to filing a complaint; however,

appellant failed to do so. The record also indicates that by letter

dated November 1, 1996, during the processing of appellant's prior

EEO complaint, she was previously informed that she must contact an

EEO Counselor prior to filing a formal complaint. On appeal, appellant

contends that she contacted an EEO Counselor with regard to the previous

complaint; however, she fails to provide any evidence that she sought

EEO counseling with regard to the instant complaint.

Accordingly, the agency's final decision is hereby 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. 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 (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:

November 8, 1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations