[Redacted], Vince E., 1 Complainant,v.Denis R. McDonough, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 14, 2021Appeal No. 2020002195 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 14, 2021) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Vince E.,1 Complainant, v. Denis R. McDonough, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency. Appeal No. 2020002195 Hearing No. 450-2017-00255X Agency No. 2003-0674-2016105044 DISMISSAL OF APPEAL By Notice of Appeal postmarked January 10, 2020, Complainant filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) from the November 15, 2019 final agency decision concerning his EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. On October 27, 2016, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that he was subjected to discrimination based on age when: 1. On July 27, 2016, a Human Resources Officer issued Complainant a letter directing him to stop all patient contact because he lacked an American Psychological Accreditation of Internship certification that was required by VA qualification standards. 2. On July 27, 2016, the Human Resources Officer issued Complainant a letter of termination during his probationary period. Following an investigation of his complaint, Complainant requested a hearing on the matter before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 2020002195 2 While his case was pending a hearing, he withdrew his request for a hearing. The AJ remanded the complaint to the Agency’s Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication (OEDCA) for a final decision. OEDCA remanded the complaint to the Agency’s Office of Resolution Management (ORM) for a supplemental investigation. Thereafter, the Agency’s OEDCA issued a final decision finding no discrimination on November 15, 2019. EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. §1614.402(a) provides that appeals to the Commission must be filed within 30 calendar days after receipt of the Agency’s decision. Complainant admitted he received the Agency’s final decision on November 30, 2019. A review of the notice of final decision reveals that the Agency properly advised Complainant that he had 30 calendar days after receipt of its final decision to file his appeal with the Commission. Complainant did not file his appeal until January 10, 2020, which is beyond the limitations period. On appeal, Complainant states after he received the Agency’s final decision he spoke with OEDCA inquiring why not all of his arguments were addressed and they advised him to contact ORM. He stated that ORM responded to him on January 8, 2020, and told him he needed to file an appeal in order to have his case considered. He acknowledges his appeal is late, however, explains he filed “as soon after receiving the ORM response as could be arranged.” Complainant has not offered adequate justification for an extension of the applicable time limit for filing his appeal. CONCLUSION Accordingly, Complainant's January 10, 2020 appeal is untimely and is DISMISSED. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(c). STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0920) The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider this appellate decision if Complainant or the Agency submits a written request that contains arguments or evidence that 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 for reconsideration must be filed with EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. If the party requesting reconsideration elects to file a statement or brief in support of the request, that statement or brief must be filed together with the request for reconsideration. A party shall have twenty (20) calendar days from receipt of another party’s request for reconsideration within which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). 2020002195 3 Complainant should submit his or her request for reconsideration, and any statement or brief in support of his or her request, via the EEOC Public Portal, which can be found at https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/Portal/Login.aspx. Alternatively, Complainant can submit his or her request and arguments to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, via regular mail addressed to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail addressed to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a legible postmark, a complainant’s request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if OFO receives it by mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. An agency’s request for reconsideration must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). Either party’s request and/or statement or brief in opposition must also include proof of service on the other party, unless Complainant files his or her request via the EEOC Public Portal, in which case no proof of service is required. Failure to file within the 30-day time period will result in dismissal of the party’s request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation must be submitted together with the 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 (S0610) 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. 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 (Z0815) If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. 2020002195 4 Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations April 14, 2021 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation