0120084002
01-08-2009
Roberto L. Villalva, Complainant, v. Michael Chertoff, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, Agency.
Roberto L. Villalva,
Complainant,
v.
Michael Chertoff,
Secretary,
Department of Homeland Security,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120084002
Agency No. HS-08CBP-006539-370513
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated September 8, 2008, dismissing his formal 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. Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's
complaint was properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)
(2), for untimely EEO Counselor contact.
On June 18, 2008, complainant initiated EEO Counselor contact.
Informal efforts to resolve his concerns were unsuccessful.
On August 5, 2008, complainant filed the instant formal complaint.
Therein, complainant claimed that he was subjected to discrimination on
the basis of disability when on May 18, 2007, he was terminated during
his probationary period from his employment as a Customs and Border
Protection Officer CBPO, GS-1896-7 assigned to the Rio Grande Valley
sector in Edinburg, Texas, because he did not clear the background
investigation.
The record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred
on May 18, 2007, but that complainant did not initiate contact with an
EEO Counselor until June 18, 2008, which is beyond the forty-five (45)
day limitation period. The record further indicates that by letter dated
October 19, 2007, the Deputy Director of Labor and Employee Relations
for the Customs and Border Protection informed complainant that his
employment was terminated because he had not cleared the background
investigation required for the CBPO position.
On appeal, complainant has presented no persuasive arguments or evidence
warranting an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor
contact.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's
complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0408)
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 (S0408)
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 (Z0408)
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
January 8, 2009
__________________
Date
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U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
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