01981347
01-07-1999
Sandra K. Beall, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Sandra K. Beall v. United States Postal Service
01981347
January 7, 1999
Sandra K. Beall, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01981347
) Agency No. 1-G-731-1042-94
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
The Commission finds that the agency's April 21, 1997 decision dismissing
appellant's complaint is proper pursuant to the provisions of 29
C.F.R. �1614.107(a).
Appellant filed the present complaint on September 15, 1994, and alleged
that she had been discriminated against on the bases of race (Caucasian),
sex (female), age (51), physical disability (toxic chemical exposure),
mental disability (toxic chemical exposure) and reprisal for prior EEO
activity when on June 27, 1994, she became aware that the Manager of Human
Resources is also the Senior EEO Complaints Processing Specialist, which
creates a conflict of interest for her concerning her chemical exposure
and the filing of EEO complaints. The record shows that appellant has
raised this allegation in two subsequent formal EEO complaints: Agency
Case No. 1-G-731-0005-97, filed on January 28, 1997, and Agency Case
No. 1-G-731-1026-95, filed on August 30, 1995.
A review of the allegation raised by appellant in the present complaint
persuades the Commission that the present complaint should have been
dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) for failure to state a
claim under EEOC Regulations. An agency shall accept a complaint from
any aggrieved employee or applicant who believes that he or she has been
discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103;
�1614.106(a). The Commission has held that while the regulations do
not define the term "aggrieved employee," the United States Supreme
Court has interpreted it to mean an employee who suffers a present harm
or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment
for which there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,
EEOC Request No. 05931049 (Apr. 21, 1994). "To state a claim under
our regulations, an employee must allege and show an injury in fact."
Id. (citing Hackett v. McGuire Bros., 445 F.2d 447 (3d Cir. 1971)).
"Specifically, an employee must allege and show a `direct, personal
deprivation at the hands of the employer,' that is, a present and
unresolved harm or loss affecting a term, condition or privilege of
his/her employment." Id. (citing Hammonds v. United States Postal Serv.,
EEOC Request No. 05900863 (Oct. 31, 1990); Taylor v. United States
Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05900367 (June 2, 1990)). A review of
appellant's allegation persuades the Commission that she has failed
to show that she was aggrieved. Accordingly, the agency's decision
dismissing the complaint 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 7, 1999
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations