05970645
11-23-1998
Ruth E. Royal, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Ruth E. Royal v. United States Postal Service
05970645
November 23, 1998
Ruth E. Royal, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Request No. 05970645
) Appeal No. 01963574
William J. Henderson, ) Agency No. 1D251101295
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
___________________________________)
DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
On March 31, 1997, the agency timely initiated a request to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to reconsider the decision in Ruth
E. Royal v. Marvin T. Runyon, Jr., Postmaster General, United States
Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01963574 (February 24, 1997), which
it received on February 28, 1997.<1> EEOC Regulations provide that
the Commissioners may, in their discretion, reconsider any previous
Commission decision. 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(a). The party requesting
reconsideration must submit written argument or evidence which tends to
establish one or more of the following three criteria: new and material
evidence is available that was not readily available when the previous
decision was issued, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(1); the previous decision
involved an erroneous interpretation of law, regulation or material fact,
or misapplication of established policy, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(2);
and the previous decision is of such exceptional nature as to have
substantial precedential implications, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(3).
After a review of the agency's request for reconsideration, the previous
decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that the request
does not meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c), and it is the
decision of the Commission to deny the agency's request. The decision
of the Commission in Appeal No. 01963574 remains the Commission's
final decision. The agency shall process appellant's allegation in
accordance with our order in Appeal No. 01963574, as modified below.
There is no further right of administrative appeal from a decision of
the Commission on a request for reconsideration.
ORDER
1. Within ten (10) calendar days of the date that it receives this
decision, the agency shall acknowledge to the appellant that it has
received the remanded allegation for processing in accordance with 29
C.F.R. 1614.108. The agency shall process the remanded allegation and
shall issue to appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall
notify appellant of the appropriate rights within one hundred and fifty
(150) calendar days of the date that it receives this decision, unless
the matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the appellant
requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a
final decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of appellant's
request.
2. The above-mentioned acknowledgment letter shall also invite the
appellant to meet with an identified EEO counselor within fifteen (15)
calendar days of her receiving the letter for counseling regarding the
allegations she submitted to the agency in her March 1996 letter. If the
appellant chooses to pursue any of those allegations under 29 C.F.R. 1614,
the agency shall process those allegations in accordance with those
regulations.
3. A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant 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 (K0595)
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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,
the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
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. 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 to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the
jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. 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 (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:
NOV 23, 1998
Date Frances M. Hart
Executive Officer
Executive Secretariat
1The last day of the period for filing a request for reconsideration fell
on Sunday, March 30, 1997. The agency submitted its request for
reconsideration by facsimile on the next business day, Monday, March 31,
1997. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(d). Its request is therefore timely.