Louis Avalos, Complainant,v.John Ashcroft, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 13, 2003
01A30708 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 13, 2003)

01A30708

03-13-2003

Louis Avalos, Complainant, v. John Ashcroft, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Agency.


Louis Avalos v. Department of Justice

01A30708

March 13, 2003

.

Louis Avalos,

Complainant,

v.

John Ashcroft,

Attorney General,

Department of Justice,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A30708

Agency No. I-01-C068

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was

properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(1), on the grounds

of failure to state a claim. In a formal EEO complaint filed on May

15, 2001, complainant claimed that he was discriminated against on

the basis of his race (Hispanic) when on January 31, 2001, he learned

that he was not selected for the position of Supervisory Border Patrol

Agent, GS-1896-13, announced under vacancy announcement number CR MSP

II 2001-079, El Paso Sector, El Paso, Texas.

The record reveals that the position at issue was one of 25 positions

provided to the class members of a class action settlement in Potter

v. Reno, Civil Action No. 1: CV9802270 (D.D.C.). Pursuant to the

terms of the settlement agreement, only former and current Immigration

and Naturalization Service African-American employees employed in

Officer Corps positions were eligible to apply for the 25 positions.

Complainant is not an African-American. Therefore, pursuant to the

class action settlement agreement, he is not a member of the class

that was eligible to apply for the relevant position. The Commission

finds that the instant complaint fails to state a claim since there

is no remedial relief available. Accordingly, the agency's decision

dismissing complainant's complaint on the grounds of failure to state

a claim was proper and is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0701)

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 (S0900)

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 (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

March 13, 2003

__________________

Date