Michael E. Farley, Appellant,v.Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 29, 1999
01981530 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 29, 1999)

01981530

01-29-1999

Michael E. Farley, Appellant, v. Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.


Michael E. Farley v. Department of Housing and Urban Development

01981530

January 29, 1999

Michael E. Farley, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01981530

) Agency No. CH 94 16

Andrew M. Cuomo, )

Secretary, )

Department of Housing and )

Urban Development, )

Agency. )

_________________________________)

DECISION

Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from an agency decision

dated November 18, 1997 dismissing his complaint (nonpromotion) on the

grounds that appellant raised the matter in the negotiated grievance

procedure.

The agency shall dismiss a complaint where the complainant has raised the

matter in a negotiated grievance procedure that permits allegations of

discrimination and �1614.301 indicates that the complainant has elected

to pursue the non-EEO process. 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(d). An aggrieved

employee who files a grievance with an agency whose negotiated agreement

permits the acceptance of grievances which allege discrimination may

not thereafter file a complaint on the same matter. Id. at �1614.301(a).

The record shows that prior to the filing of the instant complaint

a grievance was filed on the same matter at issue in the instant

complaint. The agency has failed to include a copy of the negotiated

agreement in the record. It is the Commission's policy to remand any

dismissal of an allegation where the agency does not include a copy of

the relevant portion of the negotiated agreement in the record such that

the Commission can determine whether the negotiated grievance procedure

falls within the coverage of �1614.301. See Westbrook v. Department of

Defense, EEOC Request No. 05910671 (Oct. 25, 1991). In this case, the

agency did not include the relevant portion of the negotiated agreement

that shows whether employees have the right to file grievances alleging

discrimination. Therefore, the Commission shall remand the matter to

the agency so that the agency can supplement the record with the relevant

portion of the negotiated agreement. See id.

On appeal appellant references a settlement agreement. Appellant

indicates that the agency orally "retracted" the settlement. The record

contains no copy of any settlement agreement. Furthermore, appellant

states that he requested a final agency decision after the agency

retracted the settlement. The Commission finds no evidence in the record

showing that the instant complaint has been settled.

The agency's decision dismissing the complaint is VACATED and we REMAND

the complaint to the agency for further processing in accordance with

this decision and applicable regulations.

ORDER

The agency shall supplement the record with a copy of the relevant portion

of the negotiated agreement showing whether appellant had the right

to raise allegations of discriminatory treatment under the negotiated

grievance procedure. Within 30 days of the date this decision becomes

final, the agency shall issue a new decision dismissing the complaint or

issue a letter to appellant accepting the complaint for investigation.

The agency shall submit a copy of the decision dismissing the complaint

or a copy of the letter to appellant accepting the complaint for

investigation, to the Compliance Officer as referenced herein.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

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. �l6l4.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

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. 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. 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 (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 29, 1999

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations