0120131011
06-12-2013
Richard T. Ng, Complainant, v. Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary, Department of the Treasury (Internal Revenue Service), Agency.
Richard T. Ng,
Complainant,
v.
Timothy F. Geithner,
Secretary,
Department of the Treasury
(Internal Revenue Service),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120131011
Agency No. IRS-12-0833-F
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's decision dated November 23, 2012, dismissing his complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Internal Revenue Agent at the Agency's Internal Revenue Service facility in El Monte, California.
On October 29, 2012, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the bases of disability and reprisal for prior protected EEO activity under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 when, on September 18, 2012, Complainant found that he received a cash award which was less than what he expected. Complainant indicated that the award was based on the "biased" appraisal he was issued on October 31, 2011.
The Agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) for raising the same claim in his prior EEO complaint. The Agency noted that in Agency No. IRS-12-0130-F, Complainant alleged discrimination when, on November 29, 2011, he received a "revalidated and biased annual appraisal for the rating period ending October 31, 2011." The Agency noted that the complaint at hand and his prior complaint involved the same appraisal and that the instant matter involved the residual effect of the prior complaint.
This appeal followed. On appeal, Complainant asserted that the cash award was a separate and discrete act from the appraisal. As such, the Agency's dismissal should be reversed. The Agency argued that its dismissal should be affirmed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) provides that the agency shall dismiss a complaint that states the same claim that is pending before or has been decided by the agency or Commission. Upon review of the record, we find that the Agency's dismissal of the instant complaint was not appropriate.
The record showed that Complainant alleged discrimination in the instant complaint when in September 2012, Complainant was notified that his cash award was less than what was expected. The Agency asserted that the crux of the complaint is Complainant's appraisal from October 2011; which was addressed in his prior complaint. The Agency argued that the cash award would have been part of the remedies for Complainant's prior complaint. However, Complainant was not made aware of the cash award until September 2012. As such, we do not find that the cash award would have been addressed or provided as a remedy had Complainant prevailed in his prior complaint.
Further, in essence, the Agency argued that the cash award was based on the appraisal that was issued in October 2011. However, we find that the Agency's argument goes to the merits of Complainant's complaint, and is irrelevant to the procedural issue of whether he has stated a justiciable claim under Title VII. See Osborne v. Dep't of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05960111 (July 19, 1996); Lee v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05930220 (Aug. 12, 1993); Ferrazzoli v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05910642 (Aug. 15, 1991). Therefore, we find that the Agency's dismissal was not appropriate.
CONCLUSION
Based on a thorough review of the record and the contentions on appeal, including those not specifically addressed herein, we REVERSE the Agency's final decision and REMAND the matter in accordance with the ORDER below.
ORDER (E0610)
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 (K0610)
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 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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) (1994 & Supp. IV 1999). 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 (M0610)
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), at 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 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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 (R0610)
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 (Z0610)
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 from the Court that the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also 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
with the Court 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 12, 2013
__________________
Date
2
0120131011
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120131011