01a51156
07-26-2005
Kathryn C. Cobin, Complainant, v. Donald H.Rumsfeld, Secretary, Department of Defense Agency.
Kathryn C. Cobin v. Department of Defense
01A51156
July 26, 2005
.
Kathryn C. Cobin,
Complainant,
v.
Donald H.Rumsfeld,
Secretary,
Department of Defense
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A51156
Agency No. JQ-04-055
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated October 7, 2004, dismissing her formal EEO complaint
of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �
791 et seq.
On August 31, 2004,complainant filed an formal EEO complaint. Therein,
complainant claimed that she was subjected to discrimination on the
basis of disability when she was issued a letter on July 20, 2004,
terminating her effective August 24, 2004.
In its October 7, 2004 final decision, the agency dismissed the complaint
on the grounds that complainant elected to file a grievance on August 11,
2004, under the negotiated grievance procedure prior to the filing of
EEO complaint on August 31, 2004.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R.� 1614.107(a) (4) provides that the agency
shall dismiss a complaint
where the complainant has raised the matter in a negotiated grievance
procedure that permits claims of discrimination.
A review of the record indicates that complainant elected file a grievance
on August 11, 2004, prior to the filing of EEO complaint on August 31,
2004, addressing the same matter raised in the instant formal complaint.
The grievance was pursued under a negotiated grievance procedure that
permits discrimination claims to be raised. Accordingly, the final
agency decision dismissing complainant's complaint pursuant to 29
C.F.R.�1614.107(a)(4) was proper and that decision is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0701)
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 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 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 (S0900)
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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
July 26, 2005
__________________
Date