Paul J. Mikula, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 8, 2000
01997031 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 8, 2000)

01997031

12-08-2000

Paul J. Mikula, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Paul J. Mikula v. United States Postal Service

01997031

12-08-00

.

Paul J. Mikula,

Complainant,

v.

William J. Henderson,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01997031

Agency No. AJ480012499

DECISION

Complainant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from the

final agency decision, concerning 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; and Section 501 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �

791 et seq. Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency improperly

dismissed complainant's formal EEO complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(1).<1>

ISSUE PRESENTED

The issue presented herein is whether the agency properly dismissed

complainant's formal EEO complaint for stating the same claim that is

pending before or has been decided by the agency.

BACKGROUND

Complainant filed a formal complaint on July 7, 1999, alleging that

he was discriminated against on the bases of his race (non-specified),

religion (non-specified) and disability (Deaf, Fibromyalgia Syndrome) when

complainant's physician gave him temperature and humidity restrictions and

his supervisor requested another fitness-for-duty physical examination.

The agency in its final decision dismissed complainant's complaint for

stating the same claim that is pending before or has been decided by

the agency.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

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

dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint that states the same claim

that is pending before or has been decided by the agency or Commission.

Even where the original issue was withdrawn during EEO counseling,

a complainant may not file a second complaint where the complainant

has previously raised and withdrawn the issue. Rebello v. U.S. Post

Office, EEOC Request No. 05980211 (June 24, 1999); Williams v. U.S. Post

Office, EEOC Request No. 05950696 (December 19, 1996). It has long been

established, however, that "identical" does not mean "similar." The

Commission has consistently held that in order for a complaint to be

dismissed as identical, the elements of the complaint must be identical to

the elements of the prior complaint in time, place, incident, and parties.

See Jackson v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01955890

(April 5, 1996), recons. granted, EEOC Request No. 05960524 (April 24,

1997) (affirming decision cited above, but reversing other allegations

on unrelated grounds).

In the instant case, complainant filed an informal complaint, case

no. 4-J-480-0237-98, alleging that he had been insulted and harassed

by office supervisors and management when he was required to prove

disability on many occasions. Complainant further alleged that his

deafness compounded his difficulty in that he did not always have access

to interpreters and he often misunderstood written and spoken English. On

October 30, 1998, complainant withdrew his complaint. Complainant then

filed a formal complaint on July 14, 1999, alleging that on February

25, 1999, his supervisor required him to complete another fitness

for duty examination and offered him positions, at a lesser salary,

aggravating his condition. Complainant stated in his complaint that

he was �never offered positions for which [he is] qualified� because

those who speak and write English fluently are favored, while those who

primarily use American Sign Language (ASL) are discriminated against.

Although the issues in complainant's informal complaint are similar to

those of his formal complaint, the issues are not identical. Here,

the elements of the formal complaint as to time (February 25, 1999),

incident (offering complainant a position at a lesser salary), and parties

(specific supervisor) are sufficiently dissimilar to the elements of

the informal complaint so as to warrant a remand.

The agency has failed to proffer and the record contains no evidence to

indicate that the issues in complainant's complaint have been previously

alleged by the complainant. The agency has the burden to substantiate

the bases for its final decision. In the instant case, the Commission

finds that the agency has failed to meet this burden, and therefore,

its dismissal of complainant's complaint was improper.

CONCLUSION

The decision of the agency is REVERSED and REMANDED for further processing

in accordance with this decision and the proper regulations. The parties

are advised that this decision is not a decision on the merits of

complainant's complaint. The agency shall comply with the Commission's

Order set forth below.

ORDER (E0900)

The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with

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 (K0900)

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 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 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0900)

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), 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 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).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION

(R0900)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

___12-08-00_______________

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 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 in

deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be

found at the Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.