Paul Juarez, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 13, 1998
01982255 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 13, 1998)

01982255

11-13-1998

Paul Juarez, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Paul Juarez v. United States Postal Service

01982255

November 13, 1998

Paul Juarez, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01982255

) Agency No. 1F-937-0028-97

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

Appellant's January 29, 1998 appeal of the agency's January 22, 1998 final

decision (FAD) is accepted pursuant to EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

For the reasons set forth below, the Commission finds the agency committed

no reversible legal error in its January 22, 1998 FAD administratively

closing appellant's case. We find no arguments by appellant on appeal

to persuade us to the contrary.

Because of the nature of this case, we note the following salient

facts: appellant, a Flexible Mailhandler, initiated EEO counseling

on June 3, 1997, and designated a union shop steward ("UR") as his

representative. Appellant alleged that, for prohibited reasons, the

agency would not promote him to a full-time regular position dating back

to May 27, 1995. In her report, the EEO Counselor ("EEC") declared,

in relevant part: "See attached letter. Complainant agreed to withdraw

complaint, stating that the only reason he filed was because co-workers

told him to."

By memorandum dated July 8, 1997, the subject of which was

"Withdrawal/Final Interview," EEC provided appellant with several agency

forms.<1> The forms included the notice of appellant's right to file

a complaint, and the complaint itself. We find the agency, in its

correspondence, issued to appellant the appropriate notice that he had

15 days from his receipt of the correspondence to file his complaint at

a specified address. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.106(b). However, we also find

that, in pertinent part, EEC's memorandum advised appellant as follows:

"because you have stated that you want to withdraw this case, you need not

return [the notice of the right to file and the complaint itself].<2> EEC

requested appellant sign and date a withdrawal of informal EEO complaint

form (PS Form 2564-C). EEC's correspondence was sent by certified mail

to appellant, and the return receipt reveals that appellant acknowledged

receiving the materials on July 10, 1997.

In a November 21, 1997 letter to a Senior EEO Complaints Processing

Specialist ("SC"), UR referred, inter alia, to "the long delay" in the

processing of this matter. In his December 11, 1997 response, SC noted,

in pertinent part, that "[a] formal complaint was not received by this

office within the prescribed time frame and no further action has been

taken regarding this matter."

In his December 23, 1997 reply to SC, UR does not state that he

or appellant filed a formal EEO complaint in this matter. He avers,

however, inter alia, that he (UR) never received a notice of the right

to file a complaint.

Finally, by letter dated January 22, 1998, in what is essentially the

FAD, containing as it does appeal rights to the Commission, SC informed

UR, in relevant part, that appellant had been properly served with the

appropriate notice for complaint filing and was responsible for going

forward with the complaint, irrespective of whether or not he (appellant)

had a representative.<3> Finally, SC noted that more than four months

had elapsed from the time of service on appellant before either appellant

or UR inquired about this case. Therefore, SC concluded, "[appellant's]

complaint will remain closed."

For the purpose of this decision, we accept UR's November 21, 1997 letter

as appellant's formal EEO complaint and, having done so, find appellant's

complaint untimely. The FAD is hereby AFFIRMED.

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 (S0993)

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. 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. If you file a request to reconsider and also file a

civil action, 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:

November 13, 1998

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations

1The memorandum indicated a copy of the correspondence, without

enclosures, was sent to UR.

2We note, for the record, that the agency forms EEC advised appellant he

need not return were 2579-A (the notice of the right to file a complaint)

and 2565 (the complaint itself).

3See 29 C.F.R. �1614.605(e).