01a01694
05-25-2000
Orlando E. Harding, Complainant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
Orlando E. Harding, )
Complainant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01A01694
) Agency No. 98-2521
Togo D. West, Jr., )
Secretary, )
Department of Veterans Affairs, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DECISION
On December 28, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal with this
Commission from the agency's December 10, 1999 decision dismissing his
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.<1> In its decision, the agency dismissed the complaint for
failure to cooperate. The agency explained that on July 16, 1999,
it requested that complainant provide a list of claims, dates for each
claim, and an explanation of the circumstances surrounding each claim.
This request for information informed complainant that his failure to
respond within fifteen (15) days could result in dismissal.
Complainant denies ever receiving the request for information.
The regulation set forth at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to
be codified and hereinafter cited as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7))
provides for the dismissal of a complaint where the agency provides
the complainant with a written request to provide relevant information,
and the complainant fails to respond to the request within 15 days of
its receipt, provided that the request included a notice of the proposed
dismissal. The regulation further provides that, instead of dismissing
for failure to cooperate, the complaint may be adjudicated if sufficient
information for that purpose is available.
Under the circumstances in this case, we find that the agency's dismissal
was improper. The agency has presented no proof that complainant
received the request for information. The fifteen- day time limit
to respond does not begin until complainant receives the request for
information.
It appears that the agency believes the complaint is unclear; but
complainant checked the following boxes on his formal complaint:
assignment of duties, failure to promote, harassment, reassignment, and
sexual harassment. The Counselor's Report includes many pages describing
harassment and sexual harassment from co-workers and management.
The report also attached several promotion applications from complainant.
Additionally, the Report includes numerous dated �Reports of Contact�
filled out by complainant concerning the assignment of duties, harassment,
sexual harassment, non-promotions, and a reassignment. These Reports
of Contact outline unwanted sexual advances from female co-workers
and superiors, and management's indifference/hostility to complainant's
requests that the harassment cease. The responsible agency officials are
listed by name in the Counselor's Report, and are mentioned repeatedly
by the documents attached to the report.
The Commission has held that as a general rule, an agency should not
dismiss a complaint when it has sufficient information on which to base
an adjudication. See Ross v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request
No. 05900693 (August 17, 1990); Brinson v. United States Postal Service,
EEOC Request No. 05900193 (April 12, 1990). It is only in cases where
the complainant has engaged in delay or contumacious conduct and the
record is insufficient to permit adjudication that the Commission has
allowed a complaint to be dismissed for failure to cooperate. See Card
v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05970095 (April 23,
1998); Kroeten v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940451
(December 22, 1994). Therefore, under the circumstances, we find that
the agency's dismissal of complainant's complaint for failure to cooperate
was improper.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the agency's dismissal is REVERSED, and the complaint is
REMANDED for further investigation.
ORDER (E0400)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claims in accordance with
64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656-7 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108). The agency shall acknowledge to
the complainant that it has received the remanded claims within thirty
(30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency
shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall
notify complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty
(150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the
matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant
requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue
a final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's
request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a
copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of
rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)
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
complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order,
the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order.
29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant 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 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408), and 29 C.F.R. �
1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant 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. �� 1614.407
and 1614.408. 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 complainant files a civil action, the
administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for
enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)
(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).
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).
COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0400)
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 WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date
that you receive this decision. 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 (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:
May 25, 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.