Josephinev.Puente, Complainant, v. Janet Reno, Attorney General, United States Department of Justice, (Immigration and Nationalization Service), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 3, 2000
01993437 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 3, 2000)

01993437

04-03-2000

Josephine V. Puente, Complainant, v. Janet Reno, Attorney General, United States Department of Justice, (Immigration and Nationalization Service), Agency.


Josephine V. Puente, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01993437

) Agency No. I-98-CO86

Janet Reno, )

Attorney General, )

United States Department of Justice, )

(Immigration and Nationalization Service), )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency's March 15, 1999,

decision dismissing complainant's complaint on the grounds of untimely

complaint filing is not proper pursuant to the provisions of 64

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

to as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)).<1>

The record discloses that complainant received the notice of right to

file a formal complaint on July 14, 1998. The notice advised complainant

that if she decided to file a formal complaint, it would have to be

filed within 15 calendar days of her receipt of the notice.

On appeal, complainant claims, as evidenced by her Federal Express

receipts, that she attempted to timely file her complaint on July 28,

1998, when she sent it to the address her EEO counselor informed her to

send it to, and the address so indicated in complainant's notice of right

to file a formal complaint. However, complainant claims that she was

unable to file her formal complaint at this address because the EEO office

had relocated, and failed to advise complainant's EEO counselor of this

new location, which resulted in the EEO counselor giving complainant the

incorrect address for filing her formal complaint. On August 13, 1998,

complainant sent the appropriate EEO personnel a facsimile explaining

her attempt to timely file her formal complaint, along with copies of

the Federal Express receipts showing her attempt to file her complaint.

Furthermore, on August 13, 1998, after obtaining the correct address,

complainant filed her formal complaint, via Federal Express, at the

correct EEO office address.

EEOC regulations provide that to be considered timely, a formal

complaint of discrimination must be filed within 15 calendar days

of a complainant's receipt of the notice of the right to file a

formal complaint. The Commission has consistently held that where

there is an issue of timeliness, the agency always bears the burden of

obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned determination as to

timeliness. Williams v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506

(August 25, 1992). Regarding the instant complaint, we find that the

agency has not met its burden. The record shows that the agency has not

provided any evidence that it provided complainant with the accurate

EEO office address for filing her formal EEO complaint. Furthermore,

the agency has not disputed complainant's contention that she was given

an incorrect address with which to file her formal complaint.

Accordingly, complainant's complaint was improperly dismissed on the

basis of untimely complaint filing. The final agency decision is hereby

REVERSED and REMANDED for a supplemental investigation in accordance

with this decision and applicable regulations.

ORDER (E1199)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claims in accordance with

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656-7 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108). The agency shall acknowledge to

the complainant that it has received the remanded claims within thirty

(30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency

shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify complainant 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 complainant

requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue

a final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's

request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and an

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 (K1199)

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

complainant. 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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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. 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 complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

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).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION

(R1199)

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 WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date

that you receive this decision. 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 (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:

April 3, 2000

________________________________

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

_______________ __________________________

Date 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.