Roger L. Burton, Appellant,v.Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 19, 1999
01981270 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 19, 1999)

01981270

01-19-1999

Roger L. Burton, Appellant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Roger L. Burton v. Department of Veterans Affairs

01981270

January 19, 1999

Roger L. Burton, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01981270

)

Togo D. West, Jr., )

Secretary, )

Department of Veterans Affairs, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The Commission finds that the agency's October 31, 1997 decision

dismissing appellant's complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO counselor

contact, is proper pursuant to the provisions of EEOC Regulation 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(b).

The record shows that appellant sought EEO counseling on March 12,

1997, alleging that he had been discriminated against on the basis of

age (57) regarding: (1) the assignment of his duties in January 1997;

(2) failure to promote 1995, and January 1997; (3) harassment in 1994,

1995 and 1997; and, (4) working conditions on January 7, 1997. The agency

sent a written request to appellant to explain why he had not contacted

an EEO counselor before March 12, 1997. Appellant informed the agency

that he was unaware of EEO procedures. The agency issued a final decision

dismissing the complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO counselor contact

after finding that appellant had attended mandatory EEO training in 1994.

On appeal, appellant contends that said training dealt exclusively with

sexual harassment.

We have reviewed the record and it shows that appellant attended said

training on March 4, 1994. The record further shows that the training in

question not only provided the names and phone numbers of EEO counselors

as well as the prescribed time limits; it also informed appellant about

the different bases to file a complaint of discrimination: "race, color,

religion, age, sex, sexual harassment, national origin, reprisal and

handicapping condition".

The Commission has held that where there is an issue of timeliness,

the agency always bears the burden of obtaining sufficient information to

support a reasoned determination as to timeliness. Williams v. Department

of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992). Concerning

appellant's complaint, the agency has met its burden. We find that

appellant has not submitted any persuasive evidence showing that

an alleged discriminatory incident occurred sometime during the 45

day period preceding his counselor contact. Accordingly, the agency's

decision dismissing the complaint on the basis of untimely EEO counselor

contact is 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. �l6l4.604(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 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:

January 19, 1999

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations