Ora L. Batiste, Appellant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (DOD Elementary & Secondary Schools), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionOct 8, 1998
01980895 (E.E.O.C. Oct. 8, 1998)

01980895

10-08-1998

Ora L. Batiste, Appellant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (DOD Elementary & Secondary Schools), Agency.


Ora L. Batiste, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01980895

) Agency No. 97EKYKX005

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(DOD Elementary & )

Secondary Schools), )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final decision of

the agency concerning her 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., and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �791 et seq. The final agency decision was

received by appellant on October 27, 1997. The appeal was postmarked

November 3, 1997. Accordingly, the appeal is accepted as timely (see 29

C.F.R. �1614.402(a)), in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

On April 24, 1997, appellant initiated contact with an EEO Counselor.

Informal efforts to resolve appellant's concerns were unsuccessful. On

August 25, 1997, appellant received a Notice of Final Interview, informing

her that she had fifteen days from the date of its receipt in which to

file a timely complaint.

On September 11, 1997, appellant filed a formal complaint, alleging that

she was the victim of unlawful employment discrimination on the bases

of sex and disability.

On September 29, 1997, the agency issued a final decision, dismissing

appellant's complaint on the grounds that it was untimely filed.

Specifically, the agency found that on August 20, 1997, an agency EEO

Counselor sent appellant a Notice of Final Interview, apprising her that

she had fifteen days from the date of its receipt in which to timely

file a formal complaint. The agency further found that appellant

acknowledged receipt of the Notice of Final Interview on August 25,

1997; and that appellant's formal complaint was postmarked September

11, 1997. The agency concluded that appellant's complaint was filed

more than fifteen days after her receipt of the Notice, on August 25,

1997, and was therefore untimely.

On appeal, appellant argues that on August 26, 1997, she telephoned an

EEO Counselor's office in Pensacola, Florida, and was told by an agency

Secretary that the EEO Counselor was on another line and that she would

return appellant's call. Appellant states that when the EEO Counselor

returned her telephone call on August 28, 1997, appellant informed the EEO

Counselor that the package containing the Notice of Final Interview was

incomplete; that the formal complaint form was missing from the package;

and that her husband had unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a copy of the

complaint form. Appellant further states that the EEO Counselor mailed

a complaint form to her, and that she received it on August 29, 1997.

Appellant argues that the EEO Counselor "assured [her] that the delay

of the form would not be counted against the 15 days because she forgot

to attach the form to the report."

In response, the agency argues that appellant's complaint was properly

dismissed for the reasons set forth in its final decision.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.106(b) requires the filing of a written

complaint with an appropriate agency official within fifteen (15)

calendar days after the date of receipt of the notice of the right to

file a complaint required by 29 C.F.R. �1614.105(d), (e), or (f).

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b) provides that the agency shall

dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint that fails to comply

with the applicable time limits contained in ��1614.105, 1614.106, and

1614.204(c), unless the agency extends the time limits in accordance

with �1614.604(c).

In the present case, appellant contends that after informing an EEO

Counselor that a formal complaint form had not been included with

the Notice of Final Interview, an agency EEO Counselor in Pensacola,

Florida, sent a copy of a complaint form to appellant and "assured [her]

that the delay of the form would not be counted against the fifteen days

. . ." In view of appellant's contention, we find that a supplemental

investigation is necessary prior to a determination of the timeliness

of appellant's complaint. Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss

appellant's complaint is VACATED. Appellant's complaint is REMANDED to

the agency for further processing in accordance with the ORDER below.

ORDER

The agency is ORDERED to conduct a supplemental investigation, which

shall include the following actions:

1. The agency shall supplement the record with evidence regarding

whether appellant was informed that the fifteen-day limitation period

for filing a timely complaint would be extended, pending appellant's

receipt of an EEO complaint form, which evidence should include, but

is not limited to, an affidavit from the EEO Counselor in Pensacola,

Florida, whom appellant identified as the party who informed her that

the limitation period would be extended.

After completion of the supplemental investigation, the agency shall issue

a new final decision or notify appellant that the agency is processing

her complaint. The supplemental investigation and issuance of the final

decision or notice of processing must be completed withing thirty (30)

calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. A copy of the

new final agency decision and/or a copy of the notice of processing must

be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to

the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant also has the right

to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's

order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.

See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying

complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File

A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. A civil action for

enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to

the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �2000e-16(c) (Supp. V 1993). If the

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

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 (R0993)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court. 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:

Oct. 8, 1998

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations