John A. Simien, Jr., Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 8, 1999
01990783 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 8, 1999)

01990783

11-08-1999

John A. Simien, Jr., Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


John A. Simien, Jr. v. United States Postal Service

01990783

November 8, 1999

John A. Simien, Jr., )

Appellant, )

)

v. )

) Appeal No. 01990783

William J. Henderson, ) Agency No. 1F-946-0054-98

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On October 26, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission

from a final agency decision (FAD), dated October 1, 1998, dismissing

his complaint for failure to cooperate. Accordingly, the Commission

accepts the appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

On July 22, 1998, appellant filed a formal complaint alleging that he

was discriminated against on the bases of race/color (Creole) and sex

(male) when: on May 29, 1998, his supervisor made false allegations

which resulted in his unfair termination.

Appellant's complaint was accepted for investigation, and on August 3,

1998<1> an affidavit request was sent by Certified Mail to appellant.

The request notified appellant that he had fifteen (15) days to respond.

The Certified Mail package was returned to the agency after two (2)

attempts to deliver it to appellant's last known address, on August 4,

1998, and August 19, 1998. The record contains a copy of the agency's

affidavit questions, which included information pertaining to: the name

of the responsible officials; what verbal threats were made; whether

other employees under the same supervisor were treated differently;

the names of witnesses; and the relief appellant was seeking.

The agency dismissed appellant's complaint for failure to cooperate.

Specifically, the FAD indicated that the affidavit request had been

"Returned to Sender" after two attempts to deliver then to appellant.

Further, the agency determined that appellant had been notified that

his complaint would be dismissed if he did not provide the requested

information, citing a publication titled "What You Need to Know About

EEO" and various EEO forms.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(g) provides that the agency

shall dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint when the agency

has provided the complainant with written request to provide relevant

information or otherwise proceed with the complaint, and the complainant

has failed to respond to the request within 15 days of its receipt

or the complainant's response does not address the agency's request,

provided that the request included a notice of the proposed dismissal.

The Commission has held that, as a general rule, an agency should not

dismiss a complaint when it has sufficient information on which to

base an adjudication. See Ross v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request

No. 05900693 (August 17, 1990); Brinson v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC

Request No. 05900193 (April 12, 1990). Furthermore, only in cases

where the complainant has engaged in delay or contumacious conduct and

the record is insufficient to permit adjudication has the Commission

allowed a complaint to be dismissed for failure to cooperate. See Raz

v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05890177 (June 14, 1989); Delago

v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05900859 (October 25, 1990).

In the instant case, two unsuccessful attempts were made to send

appellant an affidavit request. The Commission has previously held

that failure to provide an investigative affidavit does not, by itself,

constitute failure to cooperate. See Anderson v. USPS, EEOC Request

No. 05940850 (February 24, 1995). Moreover, we find that the agency

has failed to show that the affidavit was necessary for the continued

processing of appellant's complaint. Much of the information sought by

the affidavit appears to have been available elsewhere in the record.

For example, the complaint identifies a particular supervisor and

specific verbal threats; the Request for Counseling lists employees;

and the EEO Counselor's Report refers to another supervisor. Therefore,

we find that the agency improperly dismissed the complaint for failure

to cooperate. Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing appellant's

complaint is REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED to the agency for

further processing in accordance with this decision and the Order 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 the 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 the 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 acknowledgment 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:

11/08/1999

___________________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

1The affidavit request is dated April 22, 1998. The accompanying Receipt

for Certified Mail, however, is dated August 3, 1998. It, therefore,

appears that the agency mistakenly dated the request "April" rather than

"August."