Joseph K. Simmons, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (S.E./S.W.) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 21, 2000
01a02686 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 21, 2000)

01a02686

07-21-2000

Joseph K. Simmons, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (S.E./S.W.) Agency.


Joseph K. Simmons v. United States Postal Service

01A02686

July 21, 2000

Joseph K. Simmons, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A02686

) Agency No. 1H301007299

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

(S.E./S.W.) )

Agency. )

)

____________________________________)

DECISION

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

final decision (FAD) dated January 25, 2000, 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.<1> In his complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected

to discrimination on the basis of race (Black) and reprisal (prior EEO

activity) when on July 9, 1999, he was given instructions to operate a

faulty vehicle, resulting in a work related injury.

By FAD dated January, 2000, the agency dismissed claim (1) for untimely

filing of the formal complaint. EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(b)

requires the filing of a written complaint with an appropriate agency

official within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of receipt of

the notice of the right to file a formal complaint.

Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter

cited as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)) provides that the agency shall

dismiss a complaint that fails to comply with the applicable time limits

contained in �� 1614.105, 1614.106, and 1614.204(c), unless the agency

extends the time limits in accordance with � 1614.604(c).

The record in this case indicates that complainant received his final

interview on November 18, 1999. The record further reflects that

complainant did not file a formal complaint within fifteen(15) days of

the final interview but, instead filed the formal complaint on December

6, 1999. Complainant on appeal does not dispute the date of his final

interview. Complainant has failed to present adequate justification,

pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c) for extending the filing period.

Therefore, the Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed claim

(1).

Accordingly, the agency's dismissal of the complaint for untimely filing

of the formal complaint was proper and is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)

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:

July 21, 2000 ____________________________

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.