Hershel D. Goar, Complainant,v.Ann M. Veneman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 28, 2001
01A04930 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 28, 2001)

01A04930

02-28-2001

Hershel D. Goar, Complainant, v. Ann M. Veneman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.


Hershel D. Goar v. Department of Agriculture

01A04930

February 28, 2001

.

Hershel D. Goar,

Complainant,

v.

Ann M. Veneman,

Secretary,

Department of Agriculture,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A04930

Agency No. 980988

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was

properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely

EEO Counselor contact.

The record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event (non selection

for an agency position) occurred in 1991, but that complainant did not

initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until April 22, 1998, which is

beyond the forty-five (45) day limitation period.<1>

In his complaint, complainant stated that in 1998, he became aware that

another applicant filed a complaint of discrimination over the 1991

selection and had entered into a settlement with the agency. Complainant

believes the settlement constitutes evidence of discrimination,

and as a similarly situated applicant he should also get a financial

settlement. He claims that he timely contacted after he became aware

of the discrimination in April 1998.

On appeal, no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented

to warrant an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO contact.

Moreover, the Commission notes that complainant waited approximately nine

years after the non-selection to contact an EEO Counselor. Complainant's

claim is therefore barred by the doctrine of laches. Accordingly, the

agency's final decision dismissing complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0900)

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 (S0900)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

February 28, 2001

__________________

Date

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify

that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

__________________

Date

______________________________

1The record in this case does not contain a copy of the EEO Counselor's

Report. However, complainant states on appeal that on April 22,

1998, he initiated EEO Counselor contact regarding the matter raised

in the instant complaint. Moreover, in its final decision, the agency

acknowledged that complainant contacted an EEO Counselor in April 1998.

The Commission therefore determines that there is sufficient evidence

to review the appeal, despite the absence of the EEO Counselor's Report.