01970323
01-28-1999
Joanne Reiley, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Joanne Reiley v. United States Postal Service
01970323
January 28, 1999
Joanne Reiley, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01970323
) Agency No. 4C-175-1059-96
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
For the reasons set forth below, the Commission sets aside the agency's
September 10, 1996 final decision (FAD), which dismissed appellant's
July 16, 1996 formal EEO complaint for untimely EEO Counselor contact,
in accordance with 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b), in pertinent part. The agency
has raised no new contentions in response to appellant's appeal to reach
a contrary result.<1>
The FAD defined appellant's complaint as alleging discrimination based
on physical disability (cerebral palsy and hearing impaired), when:
(1) approximately 3-4 years ago, appellant was denied an interpreter
which she requested to help her do her job better, and
(2) appellant was denied conversion to regular (full-time) status through
contract grievance procedure decisions first made in May-June 1995.
The FAD found appellant's February 21, 1996 EEO Counselor contact
to be well beyond the applicable time limitation of 45 days, as set
forth at 29 C.F.R. �1614.105(a)(1). We disagree, and find the agency's
application of the "reasonable suspicion" standard inapplicable to the
present case. Under this standard, the time period for contacting an EEO
Counselor is triggered when the complainant should reasonably suspect
discrimination, but before all the facts that would support a charge of
discrimination may have become apparent. Cochran v. U.S. Postal Service,
EEOC Request No. 05920399 (June 18, 1992).
We find that the agency has too narrowly defined appellant's complaint. We
find, from a fair reading of appellant's complaint and the record as a
whole, appellant is alleging that the agency unlawfully failed to provide
her with reasonable accommodation for her disabilities by continuing to
deny her regular access to a certified interpreter so appellant could
effectively understand information being presented to her. We find
this allegation related to appellant's additional claims that lack of an
interpreter resulted in appellant's being passed over for training and
opportunities to advance, including being converted from a part-time
flexible employee to a regular full-time employee. The Commission
has held that an agency's failure to provide reasonable accommodation
begins when a complainant "first put the agency on notice of her need
for an accommodation and each day that the agency fails to provide an
accommodation constitutes a recurring violation." Mitchell v. Department
of Commerce, EEOC Appeal No. 01934120 (March 4, 1994).
The FAD is hereby VACATED, and appellant's complaint is hereby REMANDED
for further processing at the point at which processing ceased,
consistent with the Commission's decision and applicable regulations.
The parties are advised that this decision is not a decision on the
merits of appellant's complaint. The agency is directed to comply with
the Commission's ORDER set forth below.
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to appellant
that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to
appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant
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 appellant requests a final decision
without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty
(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgement to appellant 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 (K0595)
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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,
the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
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 (R0993)
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. 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. 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 (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:
January 28, 1999
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
1In the absence of evidence as to when appellant received the FAD, we
have accepted her appeal as timely.