James E. Fuccillo, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 16, 2000
01992281 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 16, 2000)

01992281

03-16-2000

James E. Fuccillo, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


James E. Fuccillo, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01992281

) Agency No. 4-B-028-0002-99

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

We find that the agency's December 29, 1998 decision dismissing

Complainant's complaint on the grounds of failure to state a claim

is proper pursuant to the provisions of 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656

(1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(1)). <1>

The record shows that complainant filed a formal complaint of

discrimination alleging that he had been discriminated against on the

bases of sex and reprisal when on September 17, 1998:

(a) he became aware that an unwarranted, unjustified and non-factual

sexual harassment investigation was conducted which threatened his

livelihood; and

(b) the Acting Manager, threatened to take action against him on the

basis of the investigative report and Complainant's so-called prior

history.

The agency issued a final decision dismissing the complaint for failure

to state a claim after finding that the agency was �legally obligated

to investigate a complaint of sexual harassment�. The agency further

found that no action was taken against the Complainant as a result of

the investigation.

On appeal, complainant for the first time addresses the matter of his

not receiving a higher merit performance evaluation, as a result of a

�people problem� in his office.

A review of the complaint and the appeal shows that Complainant alleged

that he was discriminated against when: (a) the agency investigated

claims of sexual harassment raised by a coworker of the Complainant;

(b) the Acting Manager threatened to take action against the Complainant

The Commission has held that the complaint by another individual does

not constitute an injury by the agency to a term, condition or privilege

of employment. The Commission has also held that to allow the processing

of a complaint by an employee, wherein the employee challenges the filing

of an EEO complaint by a co-worker or other agency employee, would have

a chilling effect on the filing of EEO complaints by aggrieved persons.

Blinco v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05940194 (May

25, 1994). Therefore, claim (a) was properly dismissed by the agency

on the grounds of failure to state a claim.

Regarding claim (b), the Commission has consistently held that a remark

or comment unaccompanied by any concrete effect does not render the

complainant aggrieved. Fuller v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05910324

(May 2, 1991). Accordingly, claim (b) was also properly dismissed for

failure to state a claim.

Finally, we note that on appeal, complainant has alleged an incident of

unlawful employment discrimination that was not raised in the instant

complaint. Appellant is advised that if he chooses to pursue this claim,

he should initiate contact with an EEO Counselor thereon if he has not

yet done so.<2>

Accordingly, the final agency decision was proper and is hereby AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1199)

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

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405). 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 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 (S1199)

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:

March 16, 2000

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

____________

_________________________________

1 On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

Federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at WWW.EEOC.GOV.

2 The Commission notes that on appeal, the agency argues that

this matter is the subject of a separate EEO complaint, (Complaint

No. 4B-028-0023-99), that is not presently before the Commission.