Mona L. Dogans, Complainant,v.Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing & Urban Development, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 8, 2000
05a00080 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 8, 2000)

05a00080

03-08-2000

Mona L. Dogans, Complainant, v. Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing & Urban Development, Agency.


Mona L. Dogans v. Department of Housing & Urban Development

05A00080

March 8, 2000

Mona L. Dogans, )

Complainant, )

) Request No. 05A00080

v. ) Appeal No. 01986528

) Agency No. FW-97-14

Andrew M. Cuomo, )

Secretary, )

Department of Housing & Urban )

Development, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

On 10/22/99, Mona L. Dogans (complainant)initiated a request to the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Commission) to reconsider the

decision in Mona L. Dogans v. Department of Housing & Urban Development,

EEOC Appeal No. 01986528 (9/22/99).<1> EEOC Regulations provide that

the Commissioners may, in their discretion, reconsider any previous

Commission decision. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified

and hereinafter referred to as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b)).

The party requesting reconsideration must submit written argument

or evidence which tends to establish one or more of the following

two criteria: the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous

interpretation of material fact or law; or the decision will have a

substantial impact on the policies, practices or operations of the

agency. Complainant's request is denied.

In her request, complainant argues that we should reconsider our

prior decision which found she failed to timely appeal the agency's

final decision. Specifically, she argues that a hurricane hit the New

Orleans area around the time of her appeal, which prevented her from

complying with the time limits for filing an appeal. Complainant also

argues that the following prevented her from timely filing an appeal:

preparation for her EEO hearing, preparation for another employees'

EEO hearing, FLRA testimony, union representation, agency work, and

attending Labor Classes. Although we are sympathetic with complainant's

arguments, she failed to submit any evidence that a hurricane prevented

the timely filing of her appeal. Complainant failed to submit evidence,

either in her request or her appeal, that the mail was delayed due to

the weather, as she contends. After a review of complainant's request

for reconsideration, the previous decision, and the entire record,

the Commission finds complainant's request does not meet the criteria

of 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it is the decision of the Commission

to deny complainant's request. The decision of the Commission in EEOC

Appeal No. 01986528 remains the Commission's final decision. There is no

further right of administrative appeal from a decision of the Commission

on a request for reconsideration.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P1199)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right

of administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. 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.

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:

March 8, 2000

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

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.