Michelle Parris, Complainant,v.William M. Daley, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 11, 2000
01a01819 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 11, 2000)

01a01819

04-11-2000

Michelle Parris, Complainant, v. William M. Daley, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Agency.


Michelle Parris v. Department of Commerce

01A01819

April 11, 2000

Michelle Parris, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A01819

) Agency Nos. 99-63-00901D

William M. Daley, ) 00-63-00005D

Secretary, )

Department of Commerce, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

The instant matter is being processed following the implementation of

a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into by the agency, the

Bureau of the Census, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission.<1> The MOU was entered into in order to process complaints

arising from the 2000 Decennial Census more effectively and efficiently.

Pursuant to the MOU, individuals file their complaints directly with

the Commission. The Commission, through its Washington, D.C. Field

Office, then conducts an early assessment of complaints and neutral

evaluation of cases. The Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Commission

establishes a record of the complaint by obtaining an affidavit from the

complainant and by contacting an agency official to obtain the necessary

information on the complaint. Based on the record established by the

Washington, D.C. Field Office, the Washington, D.C. Field Office will:

(1) notify the agency that the individual has elected not to file a

formal complaint; (2) issue a decision dismissing the complaint and

notify the complainant or his or her right to appeal the decision to

the Office of Federal Operations; (3) conduct settlement negotiations;

or (4) notify the complainant that the complaint has been accepted and

forward the complaint to the agency for further investigation.

In the instant matter the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Commission

issued a decision dated December 6, 1999, dismissing the instant complaint

for failing to state a claim. In the complaint complainant claimed that

she was discriminated against on the bases of race and color when the

agency terminated her on October 1, 1999. The Counselor's Report states

that complainant also claimed that she was terminated in retaliation

for her prior protected activity. The agency claims that complainant

was terminated at the end of the operation. The prior decision found

that complainant was terminated along with 12 other Clerks, but that

complainant was rehired as a Lister.

Based on the complaint itself and the statement by the complainant

gathered by the EEOC during the EEOC's neutral and independent evaluation

of the complaint, the Commission agrees with the earlier decision

finding that complainant's claim of discrimination is insufficient to

state a claim and is properly dismissed for failing to state a claim

pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37656 (to be codified and hereinafter

cited as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)). The Commission agrees with the

previous decision's conclusion that complainant has failed to show

that her termination was related to her race or sex or was motivated

by retaliation for complainant's prior protected activity. Therefore,

we find that the instant complaint is properly dismissed for failing to

state a claim pursuant to � 1614.107(a)(1).

The Washington, D.C. Field Office's decision dismissing the complaint

is AFFIRMED.

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).

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:

April 11, 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.