Lawrence C. Burdick, Appellant,v.Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 14, 1999
01981409 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 14, 1999)

01981409

01-14-1999

Lawrence C. Burdick, Appellant, v. Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.


Lawrence C. Burdick v. Department of Transportation

01981409

January 14, 1999

Lawrence C. Burdick, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01981409

) Agency No. 4-98-023

Rodney E. Slater, )

Secretary, )

Department of Transportation, )

Agency. )

_________________________________)

DECISION

Appellant filed the instant appeal from the agency's November 21,

1997 decision dismissing appellant's complaint for stating the same

claim which was raised by appellant in a complaint previously filed by

appellant (agency number 4-96-106) which is pending a hearing before an

EEOC Administrative Judge. There is no decision from the administrative

judge in the record concerning 4-96-106 and there is no indication in

the record that such a decision has been issued.

The agency defined the instant complaint as alleging that appellant was

discriminated against on the basis of reprisal when management denied

appellant and his representative compensatory time and other schedule

adjustments to allow appellant to prepare a complete statement for his

prior complaint (4-96-106). On appeal appellant argues that he raised

five allegations in the instant complaint. The Commission finds that

all of these allegations concern official time for the processing

of complaints and that are all essentially one type of allegation.

Furthermore, the accepted issue in 4-96-106 concerns, in part, the issue

of official time. A copy of the investigation for 4-96-106 shows that

the issues raised in the instant complaint were raised and considered

during the investigation of 4-96-106. Under the instant circumstances

we find that the instant complaint is properly dismissed pursuant to 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(a) for stating the same claim that is pending before

the agency or Commission.

If the agency ultimately does not consider in 4-96-106 the allegations

raised in the instant complaint, then appellant should contact the agency

and request that the instant complaint be reinstated.

The agency's decision dismissing the complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)

It is the position of the Commission that 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.

You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have

interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that

a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the

date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action

is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)

CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)

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:

January 14, 1999

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations