Margaret K. C. Godwin, Complainant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Logistics Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 12, 2000
01984066 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 12, 2000)

01984066

01-12-2000

Margaret K. C. Godwin, Complainant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Logistics Agency), Agency.


Margaret K. C. Godwin v. Department of Defense

01984066

January 12, 2000

Margaret K. C. Godwin, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal Nos. 01984066, 01984067

) Agency Nos. DT-97-075, DT-98-006

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(Defense Logistics Agency), )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DISMISSAL

The instant matter concerns an appeal from a decision dated October 24,

1997 dismissing DT-97-075 (EEOC Appeal No. 01984066) and an appeal from

a decision dated November 12, 1997 dismissing DT-98-006 (EEOC Appeal

No. 01984067).<1> The Commission finds that the instant appeals are

properly consolidated in one decision. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37661

(to be codified as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.606).

Subsequent to the issuance of the agency decisions dismissing the two

complaints, complainant filed a civil action against the agency on October

16, 1998, in the United States District Court for the Western District

of Oklahoma. The Commission finds that in the two administrative EEO

complaints, complainant alleged that she was subjected to a hostile

working environment which included harassment by her supervisor.

In her two administrative EEO complaints, complainant alleged that she

was discriminated against on the basis of religion and in retaliation

for prior protected activity. In the civil action complainant alleged:

During and throughout Plaintiff's employment, she was retaliated against

because of her prior EEO activity; she was constantly harassed by [her

immediate supervisor], who attempted to interfere with Plaintiff's ability

to perform her job; she was subjected to slurs, innuendos and epithets by

[her immediate supervisor] regarding her religion . . .

The Commission finds that the two complaints at issue in this appeal

are the basis of the pending civil action. Therefore, the Commission

shall terminate processing the two appeals. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37659

(to be codified as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

The instant appeals are DISMISSED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1199)

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). 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).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S1199)

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:

Jan 12, 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 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.