Jerry V.,1 Petitioner,v.Matthew G. Whitaker, Acting Attorney General, Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Dec 4, 2018

2019001006 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 4, 2018)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Jerry V.,1
Petitioner,

v.

Matthew G. Whitaker,
Acting Attorney General,
Department of Justice
(Federal Bureau of Prisons),
Agency.

Petition No. 2019001006

MSPB No. NY-0752-18-0109-I-1

DECISION

On October 31, 2018, Petitioner filed a petition with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission seeking review of a Final Order issued by the Merit Systems Protection Board
(MSPB) regarding MSPB No. NY-0752-18-0109-I-1. For the reasons that follow, we DENY
consideration of Petitioner’s petition, and REMAND this matter to the Agency for further
processing.
BACKGROUND

In pertinent part, the record indicates that, on August 29, 2018, an MSPB Administrative Judge
issued an initial decision that dismissed Petitioner’s appeal regarding his claim that the Agency
constructively removed him from his position as a Corrections Officer in November 2016,
because the MSPB lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission has jurisdiction over mixed case appeals and
complaints on which the MSPB has issued a decision that makes determinations on allegations of
discrimination. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.303 et seq. However, when the MSPB, as it did here, denies
jurisdiction, the Commission has held that there is little point in continuing to view the matter as
a “mixed case” as defined by 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(a), because the MSPB did not address any

1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Petitioner’s name when
the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.
2019001006

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matters within the Commission’s jurisdiction. Therefore, the Commission finds that it has no
jurisdiction to review Petitioner’s petition. This matter will be considered a “non-mixed” case
and processed accordingly. See generally Schmitt v. Dept. of Transportation, EEOC Appeal No.
01902126 (July 9, 1990); Phillips v. Dept. of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05900883 (October
12, 1990); 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(c)(2)(i) and (ii). In accordance with these principles,
Petitioner’s request for review is DENIED and Petition No. 2019001006 is hereby closed. MSPB
No. NY-0752-18-0109-I-1 is referred to the Agency for further processing as outlined below.

ORDER

Petitioner is advised by operation of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(b) that the Agency, if it has not
already done so, is required to process his allegation of discrimination. If Petitioner filed a
mixed case appeal with the MSPB then the Agency, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105 et seq,
shall notify Petitioner of the right to contact an EEO counselor within forty-five (45) days of
receipt of this decision, and to file an EEO complaint, subject to 29 C.F.R § 1614.107. The date
on which the Petitioner filed the appeal with the MSPB shall be deemed the date of initial
contact with the EEO counselor. If, however, Petitioner filed a mixed case complaint with the
Agency then the Agency, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.108(f), shall, within 30 calendar days of
its receipt of this decision, notify Petitioner of the right to elect between a hearing before an
EEOC Administrative Judge or an immediate final decision on his discrimination claim pursuant
to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.110.

A copy of the notification shall be provided to the Compliance Officer listed below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION’S DECISION (K0618)

Under 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c) and §1614.502, compliance with the Commission’s corrective
action is mandatory. Within seven (7) calendar days of the completion of each ordered
corrective action, the Agency shall submit via the Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP)
supporting documents in the digital format required by the Commission, referencing the
compliance docket number under which compliance was being monitored. Once all compliance
is complete, the Agency shall submit via FedSEP a final compliance report in the digital format
required by the Commission. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). The Agency’s final report must
contain supporting documentation when previously not uploaded, and the Agency must send a
copy of all submissions to the Complainant and his/her representative.

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.
2019001006

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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) (1994 & Supp. IV 1999). 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.

PETITIONER’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (W0610)

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, based on the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board,
within thirty (30) calendar days of 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 (Z0815)

If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may
request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or
costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may
request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of
court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The
court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter
the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to
File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).

FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations

December 4, 2018
Date