Leonardo L. Magallanes, Complainant,v.Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 25, 2000
01A01518_r (E.E.O.C. May. 25, 2000)

01A01518_r

05-25-2000

Leonardo L. Magallanes, Complainant, v. Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.


Leonardo L. Magallanes, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A01518

) Agency No. 98-4161R

Lawrence H. Summers, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Treasury, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Complainant filed the instant appeal from the agency's decision dated

November 1999, dismissing his complaint for failing to timely contact

an EEO Counselor.<1>

The instant matter was the subject of a prior Commission decision in

Magallanes v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Appeal No. 01985314

(Aug. 31, 1999). In the previous decision the Commission found that

complainant alleged that he was discriminated against on December 1,

1997 when he was not selected for the position of Customs Inspector.

Magallanes, EEOC Appeal No. 01985314. The Commission found that

complainant contacted an EEO Counselor on January 20, 1998. Id.

The agency previously dismissed the complaint for untimely EEO Counselor

contact and the Commission vacated that decision. Id. The Commission

found that complainant had argued that he was not aware of the time limits

for contacting an EEO Counselor. Id. The Commission found that there

was no evidence in the record to show that complainant had notice of the

time limits for contacting an EEO Counselor. Id. The Commission remanded

the matter to the agency so that the agency could supplement the record

with evidence showing whether complainant had constructive or actual

notice of the 45 day time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor. Id.

In the agency's November 1999 decision the agency effectively found

that complainant had constructive notice of the 45 day time limit

for contacting an EEO Counselor. The agency has supplied a copy of

a statement from the EEO Manager stating that EEO posters containing

information on the time limit were posted in the relevant facility during

the relevant time period.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1) provides that an aggrieved

person must contact an EEO Counselor within 45 days of the matter alleged

to be discriminatory. The 45 day time limit shall be extended when the

individual shows that he was not notified of the time limits and was not

otherwise aware of them or that he did not know and reasonably should

not have known that the discriminatory matter occurred. 29 C.F.R. �

1614.105(a)(2).

The Commission finds that the record indicates that complainant was not

an employee of the agency during the relevant time period, but was an

applicant. Complainant argues that he filed his application by mail.

There is no indication in the record that complainant ever was in

the facilities referenced by the EEO Manager. Furthermore, because

complainant was an applicant, there is no reason to assume he would

have been in such facilities. The Commission finds that the agency

has failed to show that complainant had actual or constructive notice

of the 45 day time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor. Therefore,

we find that complainant's contact of an EEO Counselor was not untimely.

The agency's decision dismissing the complaint is REVERSED we REMAND

the complaint to the agency for further processing in accordance with

this decision and applicable regulations.

ORDER (E0400)

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 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 (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 (R0400)

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:

May 25, 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, 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 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.