Silas Lee, Jr., Complainant,v.Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 13, 2001
01A11423_r (E.E.O.C. Apr. 13, 2001)

01A11423_r

04-13-2001

Silas Lee, Jr., Complainant, v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Silas Lee, Jr. v. Department of Veterans Affairs

01A11423

April 13, 2001

.

Silas Lee, Jr.,

Complainant,

v.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A11423

Agency No. 200I-2591

DECISION

Complainant appealed to this Commission from the agency's November 21,

2000 decision to dismiss his employment discrimination complaint. In

his complaint, complainant alleged discrimination on the basis of race

(African-American) when:

On May 5, 2000, he received a memorandum concerning his �Discharge During

Probationary Period;� and

On May 19, 2000, complainant was terminated

The agency dismissed the complaint for untimely counselor contact,

finding that complainant failed to contact a counselor until July 11,

2000. The agency also explained that although the May 5, 2000 memorandum

included the wrong telephone number for the relevant EEO office, it did

not justify tolling the time limit because complainant also was provided

with the office's address.

Generally, claims of discrimination must be raised with an EEO

Counselor within forty-five days of their occurrence. See 29 C.F.R. �

1614.105(a)(1). The agency may dismiss complaints that fail to comply

with this time limit. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2).

The record also reveals that complainant discussed his options with

an EEO Official on May 9, 2000, who instructed complainant to contact

a counselor if he wished to file a complaint. The official provided

complainant with the correct telephone number, mailing address, and

Internet address for the EEO Counselors. Despite this information,

complainant failed to contact the EEO office until July 11, 2000.

Complainant has not provided adequate justification for tolling the

time limitation. Accordingly, the agency's dismissal is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0900)

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 (S0900)

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. 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 (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

April 13, 2001

__________________

Date