Paul A. LaViolette, Complainant,v.William M. Daley, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 6, 2000
01A01748 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 6, 2000)

01A01748

07-06-2000

Paul A. LaViolette, Complainant, v. William M. Daley, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Agency.


Paul A. LaViolette v. Department of Commerce

01A01748

July 6, 2000

Paul A. LaViolette, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A01748

) Agency No. 99-56-00604

William M. Daley, )

Secretary, )

Department of Commerce, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency

decision pertaining to 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> The Commission accepts the appeal in

accordance with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)(to be codified at 29

C.F.R. �1614.405).

Complainant contacted the EEO office regarding claims of discrimination

based on reprisal. Informal efforts to resolve complainant's concerns

were unsuccessful. Subsequently, on June 28, 1999, complainant filed a

formal complaint. The agency framed the claim as follows:

The agency retaliated against complainant because of his unconventional

beliefs about cold fusion and other technologies when:

1. On March 24, 1999 a Supervisory Patent Examiner informed him that

his employment at the Patent and Trademark Office would be terminated

on April 9, 1999; and,

2. On April 9, 1999, complainant attended a job fair sponsored by the

Patent and Trademark Office and was denied an opportunity to be rehired

in a different Technology Center.

On September 13, 1999, the agency issued a decision dismissing the

complaint for failure to state a claim. Specifically, the agency

indicated that complainant did not allege reprisal for protected EEO

activity, but rather reprisal based upon his beliefs regarding cold

fusion and other technologies. The agency determined that the basis that

complainant raised is not within the protective purview of Title VII,

and therefore fails to state a claim.

On appeal, complainant agrees with the agency's determination that his

use of the term "reprisal" is in reference to his cold fusion beliefs,

rather than protected EEO activity. However, complainant argues that

"[d]iscrimination against a person on account of his beliefs is the

essence of discrimination on the basis of religion...." Therefore,

complainant contends, his beliefs in cold fusion are protected.

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)(1)) provides,

in relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint that fails

to state a claim under 29 C.F.R. 1614.103. An agency shall accept a

complaint from an employee or applicant for employment who believes

that he or she has suffered discrimination or retaliation prohibited by

Title VII (discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and

national origin), the ADEA (discrimination on the basis of age when the

aggrieved individual is at least 40 years of age), the Rehabilitation Act

(discrimination on the basis of handicap, or the Equal Pay Act (sex-based

wage discrimination). See 29 C.F.R. �1614.103(a).

"In determining which beliefs are protected under Title VII, the

Supreme Court has held that the test is whether the belief professed by

a complainant is sincerely held and whether it is, in his own scheme of

things, religious." Akers v. Department of Transportation, EEOC Appeal

No. 01932415 (May 25, 1993), citing Welsh v. United States, 398 U.S. 333

(1970). Moreover, in defining religious beliefs, our guidelines note

that "the fact that no religious group espouses such beliefs ... will not

determine whether the belief is a religious belief of the employee...."

29 C.F.R. �1605.1.

In the instant case, complainant argues that his unconventional beliefs

about cold fusion and other technologies should be viewed as a religion

and therefore protected. Complainant claims he was terminated and denied

the opportunity to be rehired because of religion, which embodies his

cold fusion beliefs. Therefore, under the applicable law noted above,

we find that the agency improperly dismissed complainant's claim of

discrimination for failure to state a claim.

Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing the complainant was improper

and is hereby REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED for processing in

accordance with the Order below.

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:

July 6, 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.