Shelly M. Johnson, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionAug 2, 2000
01a02267 (E.E.O.C. Aug. 2, 2000)

01a02267

08-02-2000

Shelly M. Johnson, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Shelly M. Johnson, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A02267

) Agency No. 1-G-708-0082-98

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency

decision dated January 7, 2000, dismissing her complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. and Section 501 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.<1> In her

complaint, complainant alleged that she was subjected to discrimination

on the bases of race (African-American), physical disability (bilateral

shoulder tendinitis, rotator cuff tear), and in reprisal for prior EEO

activity when on July 10, 1998, she was forced to work in CFS while

another employee was paid higher level pay to input second class mail

into the computer system.

The agency dismissed the complaint for failure to cooperate.

Specifically, the agency found that complainant received two requests

for affidavits, but failed to respond to either request.

The record reveals that the complaint was accepted for investigation on

July 23, 1999. The record also includes two requests for affidavits from

complainant, which complainant received on August 10, 1999, and November

27, 1999, respectively. Both affidavits sought detailed information

concerning the exact circumstances of complainant's complaint, her

disability, management's awareness of her disability, and whether she

requested accommodations. These requests informed complainant that her

failure to respond within fifteen (15) days could result in dismissal

of her complaint.

The record also includes a copy of the Investigative Report. This report

contains several affidavits from management officials, concerning their

knowledge of complainant's disability and/or medical restrictions,

her requested accommodations (light duty), and their knowledge of the

incident. The record also contains a copy of the formal complaint and

Counselor's Report, detailing the incident at issue and providing the

names of the other employees involved.<2> Further, the record reveals

that complainant filed a separate complaint, Agency No. 4-G-700-0225-98,

forwarded to an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ) on September 22, 1999.

It appears that complainant provided an affidavit in the investigation

of Agency No. 4-G-700-0225-98.

In limited circumstances, an agency may dismiss a complaint for failure

to cooperate. The agency must present complainant with a written request

for information, informing her that the complaint may be dismissed if she

fails to respond to the request within 15 days. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,

37,656 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(7)). If complainant fails to respond, or her response does

not address the agency's request, then her complaint may be dismissed

for failure to cooperate. See id. But if sufficient information is

available to adjudicate the matter, dismissal for failure to cooperate

is inappropriate. See id.

In the present case, the agency has sufficient information to adjudicate

the case. It has detail concerning the incident alleged, the name of the

other employee complainant claims to have received favorable treatment,

the circumstances of that treatment, and the agency's response to her

requests for accommodations. Much of the information requested in

the affidavit already exists in the complaint file.<3> Therefore,

the agency's dismissal was improper.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the agency's dismissal is REVERSED, and the claim is REMANDED

for further processing.

ORDER

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claim from the point

processing ceased. The agency shall complete its investigation of the

complaint within sixty (60) days of the date this decision becomes final.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the agency must forward a copy of

the investigative file, and advise complainant of her right to request a

hearing with an EEOC Administrative Judge, or an immediate final decision

from the agency.

A copy of the agency's notice transmitting the investigative file and

notice of rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced

below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0400)

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:

August 2, 2000

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

_______________ __________________________

Date 1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's

federal sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations

apply to all federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in

the administrative process. Consequently, the Commission will apply

the revised regulations found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where

applicable, in deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended,

may also be found at the Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.

2Complainant, a bulk mail carrier, was told that no work was available

within her restrictions. She claims that a higher-paid Caucasian letter

carrier was given bulk mail duties, while complainant was placed in the

CFS.

3Complainant's failure to provide specific information concerning her

disability may impact whether she prevails in her disability claim, but

should not deter the agency from adjudicating the complaint. In addition,

the agency may be able to obtain such information from her affidavits

in other complaints.