Leonard J. Uriarte, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 13, 2000
01996038 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 13, 2000)

01996038

12-13-2000

Leonard J. Uriarte, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Leonard J. Uriarte v. United States Postal Service

01996038

December 13, 2000

.

Leonard J. Uriarte,

Complainant,

v.

William J. Henderson,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01996038

Agency No. 4-F-000-0005-99

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that the complaint was improperly

dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(5).<1>

Complainant claimed that he had been discriminated against on the bases

of race, national origin, color, religion, sex, disability, age, and

reprisal when on January 11, 1999, he did not receive pay (from 6:55

a.m. to 10:55 p.m.) for the time during which he attended a deposition

as a representative for a complainant in an EEO case.

The agency dismissed the complaint on the grounds of mootness after

finding that a step-2 grievance settlement agreement reached in February

1999, resolved the matter. The record in this case contains a copy

of a grievance settlement signed by complainant's union representative

and the agency, on February 26, 1999, indicating that the grievance was

resolved by the provision of 2 hours at the regular overtime rate and

2.50 hours at the penalty overtime rate for January 11, 1999.

EEOC Regulations provide in relevant part that an agency shall dismiss a

complaint that is moot. The United States Supreme Court has held that a

discrimination complaint is moot when: (1) it can be said with assurance

that there is no reasonable expectation that the alleged violation will

recur; and (2) interim relief or events have completely and irrevocably

eradicated the effects of the alleged violation. County of Los Angeles

v. Davis, 440 U.S. 625, 631 (1979). Under such circumstances, no relief

is available and thus there is no need for a determination of the rights

of the parties. Id.

Here, the agency's determination that complainant's complaint was

rendered moot was predicated upon a grievance settlement that provided

that complainant would be paid 2 hours at regular overtime rate and

2.50 hours at a penalty overtime rate for January 11, 1999. We note,

however, that the issue raised in the subject EEO complaint involves

complainant not being paid (from 6:55 a.m. to 10:55 p.m.) for the time

during which he attended a deposition. Based on the present record,

it would appear that the provision for 4.50 hours of pay would not

fully compensate complainant for the issue raised in his EEO complaint.

The agency has the burden of providing evidence and/or proof to support

its final decision. Ericson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request

No. 05920623 (January 14, 1993); Gens v. Department of Defense, EEOC

Request No. 05910837 (January 31, 1992). We find that the record does

not establish that the subject complaint has been rendered moot.

Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing the complaint is

REVERSED. The complaint is hereby REMANDED for further processing in

accordance with the Order below.

ORDER (E0900)

The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with

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 complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify

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 complainant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a

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 (K0900)

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 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 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0900)

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 (R0900)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date

that you receive this decision. 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 filed your appeal with the

Commission. 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. 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 13, 2000

__________________

Date

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify

that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

__________________

Date

______________________________

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 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.