01992315
10-21-1999
Janice M. Hester, Appellant, v. F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary, Department of the Air Force, Agency.
Janice M. Hester v. Department of the Air Force
01992315
October 21, 1999
Janice M. Hester, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01992315
) Agency No. AL900990347
F. Whitten Peters, )
Acting Secretary, )
Department of the Air Force, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
Upon review, we find that allegations 1-2 and 4 of appellant's complaint
were properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b), on the
grounds that appellant failed to contact an EEO Counselor in a timely
manner. The record reveals that appellant was downgraded from a GS-11
to a GS-05 as a result of a reduction-in-force action in the Spring
of 1996; appellant suffered a loss of pay beginning on April 1, 1998,
as a result of the reduction-in-force; and appellant was not selected
for Construction Inspector positions in the Summer of 1997 and April
of 1998. Appellant initiated contact with an EEO Counselor on August
5, 1998. We find that appellant failed to contact an EEO Counselor
with regard to allegations 1-2 and 4 within the 45-day limitation
period. Appellant failed to act with due diligence or prudent regard
for her rights. O'Dell v. Department of Health and Human Services,
EEOC Request No. 05901130 (December 27, 1990); Baldwin County Welcome
Center v. Brown, 466 U.S. 147, 151 (1984) (per curiam). We find that
appellant failed to submit adequate justification for an extension of
the 45-day limitation period. Appellant claimed that she did not suspect
discrimination with regard to the dismissed allegations until after the
investigation of a grievance filed against her supervisor on August 6,
1998; however, appellant failed to explain how this incident triggered
her suspicion of discrimination. We find that the incidents in question
were discrete actions, which should have triggered appellant's suspicion
of discrimination at the time they occurred. See Anvari v. Department
of Health and Human Services, EEOC Request No. 05930157 (June 17, 1993);
Jackson v. U.S. Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05950780 (June 27, 1997).
Appellant failed to present adequate justification to warrant an extension
of the 45-day time limit for initiating EEO contact. Accordingly, the
final agency decision dismissing allegations 1-2 and 4 of appellant's
complaint is hereby AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)
It is the position of the Commission that 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.
You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have
interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that
a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the
date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action
is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)
CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult
an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction
in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)
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:
October 21, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations