Khari Hodge, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Southeast Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 18, 2010
0120101124 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 18, 2010)

0120101124

06-18-2010

Khari Hodge, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Southeast Area), Agency.


Khari Hodge,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

(Southeast Area),

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120101124

Agency No. 4H330034509

DECISION

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

decision dated December 23, 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.

BACKGROUND

In his complaint, Complainant alleged that he was subjected to

discrimination on the bases of race (Black/African-American) and national

origin (U.S. Virgin Islands) when, the Agency denied his request for

leave benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for leave to

be taken from September 8-13, 2009.

The Agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1).

The Agency noted that Complainant alleged discrimination when his request

for leave under FMLA was denied. The Agency asserted that Complainant

should have raised his claim with the Department of Labor, not the EEO

complaint process.

Complainant appealed without argument and/or comment. The Agency

indicated that its position remained the same as in its final decision.

As such, the Agency requested that the Commission affirm its decision

dismissing the complaint.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in

relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint that fails to

state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved

employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been

discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,

sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.103,

.106(a). The Commission's federal sector case precedent has long defined

an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm or loss with

respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which there

is a remedy. Diaz v. Dept. of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049

(April 21, 1994).

The Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint

process to lodge a collateral attack on another proceeding. See Wills

v. Dept. of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998); Kleinman

v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05940585 (September 22, 1994);

Lingad v. U.S. Postal Serv, EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 25, 1993).

The proper forum for Complainant to have raised his challenges to

actions which occurred during the FMLA process was with the Department

of Labor. It is inappropriate to now attempt to use the EEO process

to collaterally attack actions which occurred during the FMLA process.

As such, we find that the Agency's dismissal of the complaint pursuant

to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) was appropriate.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the Commission AFFIRMS the Agency's final decision.

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 18, 2010

__________________

Date

2

0120101124

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

2

0120101124