Oda H.,1 Complainant,v.Robert McDonald, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 1, 20160120142603 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 1, 2016) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Oda H.,1 Complainant, v. Robert McDonald, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency. Appeal No. 0120142603 Hearing No. 530-2012-00184X Agency No. 2004-0785-2012100354 DISMISSAL OF APPEAL Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission dated July 1, 2014 from the Agency’s April 16, 2014 final order concerning her EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. For the following reasons, the Commission DISMISSES Complainant’s appeal. On November 30, 2011, Complainant filed an EEO complaint alleging that she was subjected to discrimination based on age when: Complainant was removed from her sales associate/cashier position effective October 7, 2011. At the conclusion of the investigation on the complaint, the Agency provided Complainant with a copy of the report of investigation and notice of her right to receive a final decision from the Agency or to request a hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge (AJ). Complainant requested a hearing. Following a hearing, an EEOC AJ issued a decision on April 1, 2014, finding Complainant failed to prove she was subjected 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 0120142603 2 to discrimination as alleged. On April 16, 2014, the Agency issued a final order fully implementing the AJ’s finding no discrimination. By regulation, a complainant’s appeal must be filed within 30 days of receipt of an agency’s final action. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.402(a). A copy of the certified mail return receipt card reveals that the final order was received by Complainant on May 2, 2014. A review of the final order reveals that the Agency properly advised Complainant that she had 30 calendar days after receipt of its final order to file her appeal with the Commission. Complainant’s appeal was filed beyond the 30-day time limit. Complainant has not offered adequate justification for an extension of the applicable time limit for filing her appeal. Accordingly, Complainant's appeal is DISMISSED pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(c). STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0416) 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 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The requests may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 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 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). 0120142603 3 COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610) 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 (Z0815) If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations September 1, 2016 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation