James Mercado, Complainant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (National Imagery and Mapping Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 30, 2000
05990632 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 30, 2000)

05990632

03-30-2000

James Mercado, Complainant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (National Imagery and Mapping Agency), Agency.


James Mercado v. Department of Defense

05990632

March 30, 2000

James Mercado, )

Complainant, ) Request No. 05990632

) Appeal No. 01962733

v. ) Agency No. HR 95-02

)

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(National Imagery and Mapping Agency), )

Agency. )

_______________________________________)

DENYING REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

On April 19, 1999, James Mercado initiated a request to the Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission to reconsider the decision in James

Mercado v. Department of Defense, EEOC Appeal No. 01962733 (March

10, 1998).<1> EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in

its discretion, reconsider any previous Commission decision where the

requesting party demonstrates 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. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,

37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �

1614.405(b)). The request must be made within thirty days of receipt of

the prior decision. Id. On May 21, 1999, the agency filed a response

arguing that the Commission should dismiss complainant's request as

untimely filed and as having been the basis of a civil action decided

by a United States District Court.

After receipt of the Commission's prior decision, complainant filed suit

in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

(Civil Action No. 98-521-A). On August 7, 1998, the District Court

granted the agency's motion to dismiss the suit for failure to state

a claim on which relief could be granted. However, the District Court

granted complainant the opportunity to amend his suit on or before August

14, 1998. Complainant failed to do so and the District Court's dismissal

became effective as of August 7, 1998. Complainant appealed the Court's

decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit,

which ultimately dismissed the appeal. The record further reflects

that although complainant was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis,

his requests for court appointed counsel were denied.

Complainant acknowledges that his instant request was filed beyond the

applicable time period. However, complainant argues that the request

should be granted on the basis that the dismissal of his civil suit and

the denial of his requests for court appointed counsel excuse the delay

in filing the instant request.

After a careful review of the record, the Commission finds that

complainant has not offered adequate justification for an extension of

the applicable time limit for filing his request for reconsideration.

Therefore, it is the decision of the Commission to DISMISS the Request to

Reconsider, both as concerning a complaint that was the basis of a civil

action decided by a United States District Court and as being untimely

filed inasmuch as the unsuccessful pursuit of a civil action does not

constitute extenuating circumstances which prevent the timely filing of

the request. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999) (to be codified and at

29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(3)); 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b).

Accordingly, the Commission's decision in James Mercado v. Department

of Defense, EEOC Appeal No. 01962733 (March 10, 1998) remains the

Commission's final decision. There is no further right of administrative

appeal from a decision of the Commission on this request to reconsider.

Complainant is advised that while complainants generally have the right

to file a civil action following the issuance of a Commission decision

on a request to reconsider, as set forth below, such a right may not be

available to complainant under the circumstances of this matter.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P1199)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right

of administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. 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.

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 30, 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 after it was mailed. I certify

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

(if applicable), and the agency on:

Date

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.