John W. Steiner, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 24, 2009
0120092029 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 24, 2009)

0120092029

06-24-2009

John W. Steiner, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


John W. Steiner,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120092029

Agency No. 1H321001909

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's

decision dated March 2, 2009, dismissing his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. and

the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29

U.S.C. � 621 et seq. Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's

complaint was properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)

for failure to state a claim.

In a complaint dated February 9, 2009, complainant alleged that he

was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (Caucasian), sex

(male), color (White), age (59), and reprisal for prior protected EEO

activity under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when he was

not permitted to purchase back leave concerning a 2005 OWCP issue.

The Commission notes that in his appeal complainant states that OWCP "is

ready to buy back my leave." Complainant also states that he talked to a

female employee and both received letters from the agency stating that

leave buy back was not possible, but that the female employee pursued

the matter further and got the leave buy back. The Commission also

notes that in Appeal No. 0120083286 (September 25, 2008), the Commission

determined that complainant's claim that he did not receive adequate

assistance concerning his OWCP claim to buy back leave was a collateral

attack on the OWCP process. See Wills v. Department of Defense, EEOC

Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998); Kleinman v. United States Postal

Service, EEOC Request No. 05940585 (September 22, 1994); Lingad v.

United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 25, 1993).

The finding of a comparator does not give rise to a new claim.

The Commission finds that the complaint fails to state a claim under the

EEOC regulations because complainant failed to show that he suffered harm

or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment

for which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,

EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). Because we find the matter

does not state a claim, the Commission is not addressing the question

of timeliness of EEO counselor contact. Accordingly, the agency's final

decision dismissing complainant's complaint is affirmed.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1208)

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 77960,

Washington, DC 20013. 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 (S0408)

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 (Z1008)

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 from the Court that

the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also

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 with

the Court 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

June 24, 2009

__________________

Date

2

0120092029

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

3

0120092029