01A44152_r
11-17-2004
Ronald E. Bennett, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Ronald E. Bennett v. United States Postal Service
01A44152
November 17, 2004
.
Ronald E. Bennett,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A44152
Agency No. 1G-772-0013-04
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated May 20, 2004, dismissing his complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination. In his complaint, complainant alleged that
he was subjected to discrimination on the bases of disability (back),
age (date of birth: March 2, 1959), and reprisal for prior EEO activity
when, on December 18, 2003, the Postal Inspectors raided his doctor's
office and accused him of falsifying a doctor's form and after being
forced into a full duty assignment, he suffered a severe spinal injury.
The agency dismissed the complaint for failure to file a timely formal
complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). The record discloses
that complainant received the notice of right to file a formal complaint
on January 30, 2004. The notice informed complainant that he must file
his formal complaint within fifteen (15) calendar days of its receipt.
Complainant's formal complaint was postmarked March 27, 2004.
On appeal, complainant argues that Notice of Right to File Individual
Complaint which the agency's EEO office mailed him had another
complainant's name (instead of Ronald Bennett's name) and another agency
case number (instead of Ronald Bennett's agency number). The letter
indicated that a formal complaint must be filed within 15 calendar days
of the date of receipt of this notice. Complainant stated that he was
confused inasmuch as the notice of right to file had the wrong name and
agency number and he had other cases pending investigation. On March
22, 2004, complainant wrote a letter to the Manager of EEO Compliance &
Appeals office asking for assistance on the status of his case, Agency
Number 1G-772-0013-04.
Complainants must file their formal complaints within fifteen (15) days
of receiving the right to do so. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106. The regulations
require the dismissal of claims that fail to comply with the this time
limit. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). This time limit is subject to waiver,
estoppel, and equitable tolling. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).
The Commission finds that the Notice was sufficiently confusing to
complainant such that the Commission can not consider the Notice to be
adequate to inform complainant of the right to file a complaint within
15 days of receipt of the notice. Furthermore, the record indicates that
complainant diligently pursued the matter and that he filed the complaint
within a few days after discovering that the agency had attempted to
send him the notice of the right to file a complaint.
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss the complaint is REVERSED.
The complaint is REMANDED to the agency for further processing in
accordance with this decision and the Order herein.
ORDER (E0900)
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 (K0501)
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 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. 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 (M0701)
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 (R0900)
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 (Z1199)
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
November 17, 2004
__________________
Date