Lamar W. Sessoms, Jr., Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 14, 2000
01986835 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 14, 2000)

01986835

07-14-2000

Lamar W. Sessoms, Jr., Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Lamar W. Sessoms, Jr. v. United States Postal Service

01986835

July 14, 2000

Lamar W. Sessoms, Jr., )

Complainant, )

) Appeal Nos. 01986835

v. ) 01986836

) 01986885

William J. Henderson, ) Agency Nos. 1-K-221-0082-97

Postmaster General, ) 1-K-221-0067-97

United States Postal Service, ) 1-K-221-0063-97

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The complainant timely filed appeals with this Commission from two

final decisions, dated August 11, 1998, and from one final decision

dated August 28, 1998, which the agency issued pursuant to EEOC

Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107.<1> The Commission accepts the appeal

in accordance with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)(to be codified

at 29 C.F.R. �1614.405). The Commission consolidates the appeals for

decision pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified

as 29 C.F.R. �1614.606).

The August 11, 1998 final agency decisions dismissed claims 1, 2, 4, and

11 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0082-97 and claims 2, 5, 6, and 8

of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0063-97 for failure to state a claim

of employment discrimination, citing the Commission's prior decision in

Sessoms v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal Nos. 01973440 et

al (June 11, 1998), request for reconsideration pending, EEOC Request

No. 05980973. The August 28, 1998 final agency decision dismissed claim

6 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0067-97 for failure to cooperate.

In the cited Commission decision, the Commission affirmed the dismissal of

more than 150 of the complainant's claims for abuse of process, including

claims that the agency had denied schedule changes which the complainant

allegedly needed to perform EEO representational duties. However, the

Commission remanded two claims for further processing, including claim 6

of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0067-97. The Commission instructed the

agency to consolidate claim 6 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0067-97

with claims 1 and 4 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0082-97 and claims

5 and 6 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0063-97 because those claims

concern the alleged retaliatory denial of leave requested under the

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The Commission finds that the agency failed to comply with the

Commission's instructions to consolidate the complainant's FMLA

related claims. The Commission also finds that these claims state a

claim regarding a term, condition, or privilege of employment, i.e, the

right to approved leave under the FMLA in appropriate circumstances.

The Commission further finds that the agency improperly requested

compensatory damages information from the complainant regarding

only a portion of his FMLA leave claim (claim 6 of complaint number

1-K-221-0067-97) . For these reasons, the Commission reverses the

dismissal of claim 6 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0067-97; claims

1 and 4 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0082-97; and claims 5 and 6

of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0063-97, and remands the FMLA leave

claim for investigation.

The Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed claims 2 and

11 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0082-97, and claims 2 and 8 of

agency complaint number 1-K-221-0063-97, for failure to state a claim of

employment discrimination. These claims pertain to denials of official

time or schedule changes allegedly needed for the processing of EEO

complaints where the complainant represented other employees. Such claims

must be raised by the complainants whom the complainant represented.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Commission AFFIRMS the agency's

dismissal of claims 2 and 11 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0082-97

and claims 2 and 8 of agency complaint number 1-K-221-0063-97;

REVERSES the agency's dismissal of claim 6 of agency complaint

number 1-K-221-0067-97, claims 1 and 4 of agency complaint number

1-K-221-0082-97, and claims 5 and 6 of agency complaint number

1-K-221-0063-97; and REMANDS the complainant's FMLA claim and related

factual claims to the agency for processing as ORDERED below.

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 the complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify the 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 the complainant's

request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to the 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (T0400)

This decision affirms the agency's final decision/action in part, but it

also requires the agency to continue its administrative processing of a

portion of your complaint. 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 on both that portion

of your complaint which the Commission has affirmed AND that portion

of the complaint which has been remanded for continued administrative

processing. 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 your appeal with the Commission, until

such time as the agency issues its final decision on your complaint.

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 14, 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 and the agency on:

________ _____________________________

DATE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANT

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.