Michael McCray, Appellant,v.Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 9, 1999
01985207 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 9, 1999)

01985207

09-09-1999

Michael McCray, Appellant, v. Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.


Michael McCray v. Department of Agriculture

01985207

September 9, 1999

Michael McCray, )

Appellant, )

) Appeal No. 01985207

v. ) Agency No. CR980439

)

Daniel R. Glickman, )

Secretary, )

Department of Agriculture, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

INTRODUCTION

Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final agency

decision (FAD) concerning his complaint of unlawful employment

discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,

as amended, 42 U.S.C. �2000e et seq. The FAD was dated May 1, 1998.

The appeal was postmarked on June 17, 1998. The timely<1> appeal is,

therefore, accepted in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960.001, as

amended.

ISSUE PRESENTED

The issue on appeal is whether the agency properly dismissed a portion

of appellant's complaint because the issues therein were already pending

before the agency.

BACKGROUND

Appellant filed a formal complaint on March 16, 1998 alleging

discrimination on the basis of reprisal (prior EEO activity and

complaints) when the agency assigned appellant work at the GS 11/12/13

level without promotion from the GS-9 level (allegation one). Appellant's

formal complaint also contained issues of: 1) denial of training approved

in or around April 1996; 2) not being given the opportunity to be promoted

to vacant positions; and 3) never receiving a performance evaluation

(other allegations).

In its FAD, the agency accepted allegation one, but dismissed the other

allegations on the grounds that these issues were already pending before

the agency in agency complaint numbers CR970691 filed on August 20,

1997, and CR980194 filed on December 1, 1997. The record reveals that

agency complaint numbers CR970691 and CR980194 had been consolidated

for investigation under agency complaint number CR970691. This appeal

followed.

The record also reveals that agency complaint number CR970691 concerned

the same issues as the other allegations mentioned in the instant case.

In his statement to us on appeal, appellant did not dispute that the other

allegations which he asserted in the instant complaint were the same

as those in the complaints he previously filed. He asserted, rather,

that all of his complaints should be consolidated to avoid confusion

and evidence being overlooked.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) states that the agency shall

dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint that states the same

claim that is pending before or has been decided by the Agency or the

Commission.

We agree with the agency that appellant's other allegations should be

dismissed because they state the same claims as those already pending

before the agency.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.606 states that two or more complaints of

discrimination from the same complainant may be consolidated by the agency

for joint processing after appropriate notification to the parties.

Absent some evidence of abuse of discretion on the agency's part,

the decision whether to consolidate complaints is within the agency's

discretion. Since the record does not reveal abuse of discretion in the

agency's decision to keep the complaints separate, we will not order the

agency to consolidate appellant's complaints. However, to the extent

that it is still feasible, we would strongly encourage the agency to

join the complaint before us with appellant's prior complaints.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the decision of the agency was proper and is AFFIRMED.

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. �1614.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)

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. 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 (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:

September 9, 1999

______________ __________________________________

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

1 The agency did not supply a copy of a certified mail return receipt or

any other material capable of establishing the date appellant received the

FAD. Since the agency failed to submit evidence of the date of receipt,

the Commission presumes that appellant's appeal was filed within thirty

(30) days of receipt of the agency's final decision. See 29 C.F.R.

�1614.402(a).