01992390
12-07-2001
Jeffery L. Gaines, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Southeastern Area), Agency.
Jeffery L. Gaines v. United States Postal Service (Southeastern Area)
01992390
December 7, 2001
.
Jeffery L. Gaines,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
(Southeastern Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 01992390
Agency No. 4H-370-1115-95
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision, dated December 9, 1998, concerning his complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination. Complainant's appeal was received by
the Commission on February 8, 1999, postmarked February 2, 1999.
By regulation, appeals to the Commission must be filed within thirty (30)
days after a complainant receives notice of the final agency decision
(FAD). Appeals are deemed filed on the date received by the Commission,
unless postmarked earlier. 29 C.F.R. 1614.604 (b).
A copy of the certified mail return receipt card reveals that the FAD
was received at complainant's address of record on December 11, 1998.
A review of the FAD reveals that the agency properly advised complainant
that he had thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of its final decision
to file his appeal with the Commission. Therefore, in order to be
considered timely, complainant had to file his appeal no later than
January 11, 1999. Complainant states that there were various extenuating
circumstances which prevented him from timely filing his appeal, including
difficulty in coordinating with an attorney. We find that complainant has
not offered sufficient justification for an extension of the applicable
time limit for filing an appeal. Accordingly, complainant's February 2,
1999 appeal is hereby DISMISSED. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.403(c).
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0701)
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 (S0900)
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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
December 7, 2001
__________________
Date