01971447
09-09-1999
Robert L. Davis, Jr., Appellant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veteran's Affairs, Agency.
Robert L. Davis, Jr., )
Appellant, )
) Appeal No. 01971447
v. ) Agency No. 93-2635R
) EEOC No. 340-94-3155X
Togo D. West, Jr., )
Secretary, )
Department of Veteran's Affairs, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final decision
of the agency concerning his complaint of unlawful employment
discrimination. The appeal was postmarked December 2, 1996.
By regulation, appeals to the Commission must be filed within thirty
(30) calendar days after an appellant receives notice of the final agency
decision. Appeals are deemed filed on the date received by the Commission,
unless postmarked earlier. 29 C.F.R. �1614.402(a).
In this case, the record indicates that appellant's then attorney
received the final agency decision on March 14, 1996, and that the
decision informed his attorney of where to file an appeal and the time
limits on his right to appeal. Appellant filed his appeal on December 2,
1996, which was over seven (7) months beyond the thirty-day time limit
set by the regulation.
As reason for this delay, appellant states on appeal that between March
and July of 1996, he suffered a series of hardships, including the death
of his brother and son, as well as a fire to the second floor of his home.
Furthermore, he received a letter dated April 11, 1996, from his then
attorney stating that he could no longer represent appellant in his
EEO matter. On appeal, appellant submits documentation of the events
described above.
Although the Commission's regulations governing computation of time limits
allow for waiver and/or equitable tolling, 29 C.F.R. �1614.604(c), there
is no indication that appellant was incapacitated to the point of being
unable to file his notice of appeal in a timely manner. See Weinberger
v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920040 (February 21, 1992).
Furthermore, although we are sympathetic with appellant, he has failed
to show, with any specificity, why the events in question prevented him
from timely filing his appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in the
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 the
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 the 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 the 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 the 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:
September 9, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations