Savannah L. Smith, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 18, 2001
01A14409_r (E.E.O.C. Dec. 18, 2001)

01A14409_r

12-18-2001

Savannah L. Smith, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Savannah L. Smith v. United States Postal Service

01A14409

December 18, 2001

.

Savannah L. Smith,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A14409

Agency Nos. 4G-770-0385-01, 4G-770-0387-01

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was

improperly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for failure

to file the formal complaint in a timely manner.

The record discloses that complainant received the notice of right to

file a formal complaint on May 1, 2001. Although the notice indicated

that complainant had to file a formal complaint within fifteen (15)

calendar days of its receipt, complainant's complaint was not received

until May 29, 2001, which is beyond the limitation period.

Complainant attached a letter to her formal complaint stating that her

complaint was untimely due to health reasons. In the letter, complainant

stated that she had been out of the office since April 23, 2001, and

�was put on different medications� which caused her to miss the deadline.

Complainant also included a letter from Physician A dated May 22, 2001,

which states that complainant is diagnosed with having major depression,

recurrent. In this letter the doctor states that complainant will remain

out on disability until June 18, 2001.

On appeal, complainant argues that the time limitations should be

waived in her case due to incapacitation. The record includes a letter

dated July 11, 2001, from Physician A indicating that complainant has

been under doctor's care for recurrent episodes of severe depression.

Physician A states that complainant �was placed on disability on April

23, and continued on disability until now.� Physician A states that

�[d]uring the first month of her incapacitation complainant suffered

from impaired concentration, judgment, and ability to make decisions

or follow instructions, and was adversely affected by multiple changes

of medicines.� Physician A states that the depression interfered with

complainant's ability to follow directions and complete paperwork and

applications regarding legal and occupational issues.

When a complainant claims that a physical or mental condition prevents

her from meeting a particular filing deadline, the Commission has

held that in order to justify an untimely filing, complainant must

be so incapacitated by the condition as to render her unable to make

a timely filing. See Crear v. United States Postal Service, EEOC

Request No. 05920700 (October 29, 1992). The record shows, that during

the relevant time period, complainant was mentally incapacitated to the

point that she was forced to stop working. This, coupled with persuasive

evidence from complainant's doctor and the record as a whole, constitutes

adequate reason for tolling the time limitations in complainant's case.

Therefore, we find that an extension of the filing period is warranted

in this case and the formal complaint is timely.

Accordingly, the agency's final decision is REVERSED and complainant's

complaint is REMANDED for further processing in accordance with the

Order below.

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

December 18, 2001

__________________

Date