James Schroeder, Complainant,v.Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 29, 2000
01996998 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 29, 2000)

01996998

11-29-2000

James Schroeder, Complainant, v. Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.


James Schroeder v. Department of Transportation

01996998

11-29-00

.

James Schroeder,

Complainant,

v.

Rodney E. Slater,

Secretary,

Department of Transportation,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01996998

Agency No. DOT1991072

DECISION

INTRODUCTION

Complainant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from the final

agency decision. This case pertains 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. � 633a(b).

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

improperly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7).<1>

ISSUE PRESENTED

The issue presented herein is whether the agency properly dismissed

complainant's formal EEO complaint for failure to cooperate.

BACKGROUND

On July 1, 1999, complainant filed a formal EEO complaint alleging

that he was discriminated against based on his age (49) when he was

subjected to disparate treatment in the administration of training to

recertify as an Air Traffic Controller.<2> Complainant alleged that he

was subjected to derogatory remarks such as being called �Geritol Jim�

by his co-workers, and pranks such as a betting pool based on whether

complainant would leave early on sick leave if his performance went

poorly during training. In a letter dated August 2, 1999, the agency

requested additional information in order to identify and clarify the

complainant's allegations. The letter warned complainant, stating:

If, we do not hear from you within five calendar days of receipt of this

letter,

we will assume that you do not wish us to consider those allegations.�

Twenty days after the request was received by the complainant, the

agency, on August 24, 1999, dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29

C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7) for failure to cooperate.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7) requires an agency to dismiss

a complaint or a portion of a complaint for failure to cooperate, or

alternatively, to adjudicate the complaint if sufficient information for

that purpose is available. The regulation applies under the following

circumstances: (1) the agency has provided the complainant with a written

request to provide relevant information or to otherwise proceed with the

complaint; (2) the request included a notice of the proposed dismissal

for failure to respond within 15 days of receipt of the request; and (3)

the complainant either fails to respond to the request within 15 days

of receipt or the complainant's response does not address the agency's

request. The Commission has further held that the regulation is applicable

only in cases where there is a clear record of delay or contumacious

conduct by the complainant. See Card v. United States Postal Service,

EEOC Request No. 05970095 (April 23, 1998); Anderson v. United States

Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940850 (February 24, 1995).

We disagree with the agency that complainant's ADEA claim should be

dismissed for failure to cooperate. Although the agency contends that

complainant failed to provide the additional information requested by

its letter dated August 2, 1999, the agency was in violation of EEOC

Regulations when it failed to provide the complainant with 15 days to

respond to its request and with sufficient notice as to the possibility

of dismissal. We find, therefore, that 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7) is not

applicable to the claim at hand because the complainant was not given

15 days to respond to the agency's inquiry, sufficient notice was not

given as to the possibility of dismissal, and there is no clear record

of delay or contumacious conduct by complainant. The agency should not

have dismissed complainant's claim for failure to cooperate.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the decision of the agency is REVERSED and REMANDED for

further processing in accordance with this decision and the proper

regulations. The parties are advised that this decision is not a decision

on the merits of complainant's complaint. The agency shall comply with

the Commission's Order set forth below.

ORDER (E0900)

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

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 a

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 (K0900)

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 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 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

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

(R0900)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

__11-29-00________________

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 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 in deciding the

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

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.

2A reading of the record indicates that the complainant is raising a

claim of harassment due to a hostile work environment based on his age

that occurred during his training for recertification as an Air Traffic

Controller.