James Killion, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (S.E./S.W. Areas), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 24, 2000
01a00720 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 24, 2000)

01a00720

03-24-2000

James Killion, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (S.E./S.W. Areas), Agency.


James Killion, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A00720

) Agency No. 1H-328-0068-99

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

(S.E./S.W. Areas), )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

On October 27, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal with this

Commission from a final agency decision (FAD) received by him on

October 25, 1999, pertaining to his complaint of unlawful employment

discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.<1> In his complaint,

complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on the basis

of age (DOB: 7/21/25) when, on October 29, 1998, he was informed by

letter from the Human Resources Specialist that he would not be rehired

based on his supervisor's evaluation.

On October 20, 1999, the agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to

as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7), for failure to cooperate.

Specifically, the agency found that on August 9, 1999, an affidavit

was mailed via certified mail to complainant's attorney of record.

The affidavit was received by complainant's attorney on August 10,

1999, but the attorney failed to respond to the request. On August 25,

1999, a second affidavit was mailed to complainant's attorney of record.

The affidavit was received by complainant's attorney on August 26, 1999,

but the attorney failed to respond.

Therefore, in light of complainant's failure to respond to requests for

information, the agency

dismissed the complaint for failure to cooperate. Complainant makes no

new contentions on appeal.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7)) provides that the agency

shall dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint when the agency

has provided the complainant with written request to provide relevant

information or otherwise proceed with the complaint, and the complainant

has failed to respond to the request within fifteen days of its receipt

or the complainant's response does not address the agency's request,

provided that the request included a notice of the proposed dismissal.

Furthermore, the Commission has held that, as a general rule, an agency

should not dismiss a complaint when it has sufficient information on

which to base an adjudication. See Ross v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC

Request No. 05900693 (August 17, 1990); Brinson v. U.S. Postal Service,

EEOC Request No. 05900193 (April 12, 1990).

While the agency has been unable to obtain an affidavit from complainant,

the record in complainant's case contains enough information to proceed

with the complaint. The formal complaint, a statement dated October

26, 1998, and the Counselor's Report contain information regarding

the denial of re-hire, including the date of the alleged incident of

discrimination and the names of the alleged discriminating official. The

Commission observes, as well, that the agency failed to state why an

affidavit from complainant is necessary to proceed with his complaint.

See Jackson v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01961383 (July 12,

1996). Accordingly, the Commission finds that there appears to be enough

information to proceed with complainant's complaint and that the agency,

therefore, improperly dismissed the complaint for failure to cooperate. We

caution complainant, however, that he should make efforts to cooperate

with the agency as it investigates his complaint as failure to make such

efforts might, at some future point, result in the dismissal of his case.

Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss complainant's complaint

for failure to cooperate was

improper and is REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED to the agency for

further processing in accordance with this decision and the Order below.

ORDER (E1199)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claims in accordance with

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656-7 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108). The agency shall acknowledge to

the complainant that it has received the remanded claims within thirty

(30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency

shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty

(150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the

matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant

requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue

a final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's

request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and an

copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of

rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the

complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order,

the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right to file a

civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's order prior

to or following an administrative petition for enforcement. See 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408), and 29 C.F.R. �

1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a

civil action on the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph

below entitled "Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407

and 1614.408. A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the

underlying complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �

2000e-16(c)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

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

(R1199)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date

that you receive this decision. 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 (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 24, 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:

_______________ __________________________

Date Equal Employment Assistant 1On 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.