01A15119_r
12-11-2001
Kent W. Neely v. United States Postal Service
01A15119
December 11, 2001
.
Kent W. Neely,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A15119
Agency No. 1-C-191-0085-01
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed
complainant's employment discrimination complaint for failure to state
a claim. In his complaint, complainant alleged harm on the bases of race
(African-American), sex (male), and in reprisal for prior EEO activity
when on March 27, 2001, complainant's supervisor cursed at him.
The record includes a memo from complainant explaining the incident.
Evidently, complainant interrupted the supervisor to ask a work-related
question while she was speaking to another employee. The supervisor
turned to complainant, and said, �I don't give a fuck what you think.�
When complainant proceeded to explain that he was informing her of an
improper work situation, complainant contends the supervisor responded,
�Don't tell me how to do my fucking job.� When complainant stated that
he was not trying to tell the supervisor how to do her job, she responded,
�fuck you!�
EEOC Regulations require the dismissal of complaints that fail to state
a claim. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). To state a claim, complainant
must allege present harm inflicted on the basis of race, sex, religion,
national origin, age, disability, or prior protected activity. See Diaz
v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21,
1994). Further, isolated remarks or comments unaccompanied by a concrete
agency action are not a direct and personal deprivation sufficient to
render an individual aggrieved for the purposes of Title VII. See Backo
v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05960227 (June 10,
1996); Henry v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940695
(February 9, 1995).
The Commission finds that the isolated incident alleged by complainant
does not state a claim of discrimination. Accordingly, the agency's
final 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
December 11, 2001
__________________
Date