03A40091
06-30-2004
Patricia Price, Petitioner, v. Gale A. Norton, Secretary, Department of the Interior, Agency.
Patricia Price v. Department of the Interior
03A40091
June 30, 2004
.
Patricia Price,
Petitioner,
v.
Gale A. Norton,
Secretary,
Department of the Interior,
Agency.
Petition No. 03A40091
MSPB No. DC-0752-03-0619-I-2
DECISION
On May 6, 2004, petitioner filed a timely petition with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission asking for review of a Final Order
issued by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) concerning her claim
of discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.<1> Petitioner, an
Administrative Assistant at the agency's Office of Legislative Affairs,
National Park Service facility, alleged that she was discriminated
against on the bases of race (African-American) and reprisal when she
was removed from the agency, effective May 28, 2003.
On June 30, 2003, petitioner filed a mixed case appeal with the MSPB.
After a hearing, the Administrative Judge affirmed the removal
action, finding that petitioner failed to establish that she had been
discriminated against based on race or in retaliation for prior EEO
activity. The Board denied petitioner's petition for review.
EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission has jurisdiction over
mixed case appeals on which the MSPB has issued a decision that makes
determinations on allegations of discrimination. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.303
et seq. The Commission must determine whether the decision of the
MSPB with respect to the allegation of discrimination constitutes a
correct interpretation of any applicable law, rule, regulation or policy
directive, and is supported by the evidence in the record as a whole.
29 C.F.R. � 1614.305(c).
Based upon a thorough review of the record, it is the decision of
the Commission to concur with the final decision of the MSPB finding
no discrimination. The Commission finds that the MSPB's decision
constitutes a correct interpretation of the laws, rules, regulations,
and policies governing this matter and is supported by the evidence in
the record as a whole.
PETITIONER'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (W0900)
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,
based on the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, within
thirty (30) calendar days of 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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
June 30, 2004
__________________
Date
1At the same time, petitioner also filed an appeal of a Final Agency
Decision (FAD) dated January 30, 2004. Petitioner is hereby notified
that the present Decision addresses only the MSPB Decision. Her appeal
of the FAD will be addressed in a subsequent EEO Decision.