01A22552_r
09-17-2002
James C. Latham, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
James C. Latham v. United States Postal Service
01A22552
September 17, 2002
.
James C. Latham,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A22552
Agency No. 4G-760-0048-02
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(1), on the grounds
of failure to state a claim. In a formal EEO complaint dated November
7, 2001, complainant claimed that he was discriminated against on
the bases of his sex (male), age (49), disability (left foot injury),
and in reprisal for his previous EEO activity under Title VII, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Rehabilitation Act when on
October 22, 2001, the Postmaster brought an agency official back to
the Amarillo, Texas facility with the blessing of the Manager, Post
Office Operations. Complainant stated that the agency official at issue
has a history of alleged sexual harassment and alleged death threats.
Complainant also claimed that the Manager, Post Office Operations
blessed and provoked incidents of harassment and retaliation when he
attended a town hall meeting and took the meeting away from his boss.
Subsequent to the filing of the instant complaint, complainant requested
EEO counseling with regard to an incident where the agency official who
had been brought back to the Amarillo facility interrupted complainant's
conversation with his supervisor, pointed at complainant, and exhibited
a hostile attitude toward complainant. The agency consolidated this
incident with the instant complaint in light of there being a sufficient
relationship between the claims.
We find that the instant complaint fails to state a claim. The
restoration of the agency official to the Amarillo facility did not cause
complainant to suffer personal harm or injury to a term, condition,
or privilege of his employment. The actions taken by the Manager,
Post Office Operations at a town hall meeting also did not adversely
affect complainant with regard to a term, condition, or privilege
of his employment. As for the incident that was raised subsequent
to the filing of the instant complaint, we find that this incident,
albeit an unpleasant encounter for complainant with the agency official,
did not cause complainant to suffer personal harm or injury to a term,
condition, or privilege of his employment. Accordingly, the agency's
decision dismissing complainant's complaint on the grounds of failure
to state a claim was proper and is AFFIRMED.
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 (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
September 17, 2002
__________________
Date