Samuel L. Willis, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 14, 1999
01986780_r (E.E.O.C. Sep. 14, 1999)

01986780_r

09-14-1999

Samuel L. Willis, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Samuel L. Willis, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01986780

) Agency No. 1G-708-0039-97

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency improperly

dismissed appellant's complaint, pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(g), for failure to cooperate. Appellant alleged that

he was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (Black) and in

reprisal for prior EEO activity when:

On July 17, 1997, appellant was required to bring medical documentation

to support his sick leave; and

On July 17, 1997, appellant was assigned to Route 3501 so his route

could be checked.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(g) provides for the dismissal of a

complaint where the agency has provided the complainant with a written

request to provide relevant information or otherwise proceed with the

complaint, and the complainant has failed to respond to the request within

15 days of its receipt or the complainant's response does not address

the agency's request, provided that the request included a notice of the

proposed dismissal. The regulation further provides that, instead of

dismissing for failure to cooperate, the complaint may be adjudicated

if sufficient information for that purpose is available.

Under the circumstances in this case, we find that the agency's dismissal

was improper. The record indicates that on May 14, 1998, and June 4,

1998, appellant received memoranda from the agency requesting that he

furnish an affidavit and indicating that failure to do so within 15 days

would result in dismissal of his complaint. According to the agency,

appellant on both occasions failed to furnish his affidavit within the

requisite time frame, and therefore, his complaint should be dismissed

for failure to cooperate. We note, however, that the agency failed to

show why appellant's affidavit was necessary for the further processing of

the complaint. The agency has not claimed that the complaint was vague,

and the agency found that there was sufficient information in the record

to be able to define the complaint and accept it for investigation.

Moreover, we note that appellant's formal complaint, the information he

provided for pre-complaint processing, along with the EEO Counselor's

Report, addressed the incidents of alleged discrimination, with reference

to the responsible agency officials by name, comparatives who were

treated differently, the bases on which he alleged discrimination,

and the corrective action sought. The Commission has held that as a

general rule, an agency should not dismiss a complaint when it has

sufficient information on which to base an adjudication. See Ross

v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05900693 (August 17,

1990); Brinson v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05900193

(April 12, 1990). It is only in cases where the complainant has engaged

in delay or contumacious conduct and the record is insufficient to permit

adjudication that the Commission has allowed a complaint to be dismissed

for failure to cooperate. See Kroeten v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC

Request No. 05940451 (December 22, 1994); Raz v. United States Postal

Service, EEOC Request No. 05890177 (June 14, 1989). Therefore, under

the circumstances, we find that the agency's dismissal of appellant's

complaint for failure to cooperate was improper.

Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss appellant's complaint

was improper, and is hereby REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED to the

agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and the

Order below.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant

that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar

days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to

appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant

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 appellant requests a final decision

without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty

(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

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.

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. �1614.604(c).

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:

Sept. 14, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations