Modesto C. Rios, Appellant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Commissary Agency),) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 7, 1999
01976032 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 7, 1999)

01976032

01-07-1999

Modesto C. Rios, Appellant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Commissary Agency),) Agency.


Modesto C. Rios v. Department of Defense

01976032

January 7, 1999

Modesto C. Rios, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01976032

) Agency No. 97SW48063

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(Defense Commissary Agency),)

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency properly

dismissed appellant's complaint, pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29

U.S.C. �1614.107(b), for failure to file a formal complaint in a timely

manner. Appellant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on

the bases of race (Hispanic), color (Brown), national origin (Mexico),

age (67), and physical disability (injured back, neck, and head) when:

The agency failed to provide appellant the necessary forms and assistance

for his Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) claim resulting

from an August 27, 1994 injury he sustained;

The agency subjected appellant to behavior designed to taunt, ridicule

and belittle him; and

On April 24, 1997, appellant was threatened with disciplinary action

and verbally attacked by his supervisors.

On July 3, 1997, the agency issued a final decision dismissing appellant's

complaint pursuant to 29 U.S.C. �1614.107(b), for failure to file a

formal complaint in a timely manner.

EEOC Regulation 29 U.S.C. �1614.107(b) provides that an agency shall

dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that fails to comply with

the time limits contained in 29 U.S.C. �1614.106. This regulation,

in turn, provides that a complaint must be filed within fifteen (15)

days of receipt of the notice of right to file a formal complaint.

In the instant complaint, the record discloses that appellant's attorney

of record acknowledged receipt of the notice of right to file a formal

complaint on April 22, 1997, but did not file the formal complaint

until May 11, 1997, beyond the fifteen (15) day limitation period.

As appellant provided no justification sufficient to extend the applicable

time period, we find that the agency's decision to dismiss appellant's

complaint pursuant to 29 U.S.C. �1614.107(b), was proper. Accordingly,

the agency's final decision dismissing appellant's complaint 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. 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:

Jan. 7, 1999

____________________________

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations