Sonale Ortiz, Appellant,v.William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Commissary Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 5, 1999
01994134 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 5, 1999)

01994134

11-05-1999

Sonale Ortiz, Appellant, v. William S. Cohen, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Commissary Agency), Agency.


Sonale Ortiz, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01994134

) Agency No. 99-DCW-13-Y019

William S. Cohen, )

Secretary, )

Department of Defense, )

(Defense Commissary Agency), )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On April 23, 1999, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission

from a final agency decision (FAD) issued on April 12, 1999, pertaining

to a complaint of unlawful employment discrimination pursuant to 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. The Commission accepts appellant's appeal in

accordance with EEOC No. 960.001.<1>

On or about March 4, 1999 appellant filed a formal complaint alleging that

she was the victim of unlawful employment discrimination on the basis of

Race (Jamaican/Indian), National Origin (Hawaiian), disability (physical)

and reprisal prior EEO activity. Therein, appellant alleges that she had

been subjected to a hostile work environment since 1994 thru October 1998.

Appellant provided a five page statement of alleged discriminatory

incidents. The alleged incidents are as follows: From 1994 thru October

1998 appellant was referred to as a �local� in a derogatory fashion; from

1994 thru October 1996 appellant was assigned duties that did not reflect

her grade or pay; appellant was not afforded a full time career employee

to assist with the backlog; she was ordered to take off her prescription

sunglasses, which was for her disability (blindness); she was made fun

of for wearing the sunglasses, appellant was not issued a handicapped

parking space for her disability; appellant was required to move heavy

material after having surgery which her supervisor was aware of and

appellant's physical appearance was constantly insulted by her supervisor.

On March 12, 1999 the agency issued a final decision dismissing

appellant's complaint for failure to initiate timely contact with

an EEO Counselor. The agency found that the alleged discriminatory

incidents addressed in the complaint occurred on September 15, 1998

and that appellant's initial EEO Counselor contact on January 15, 1999,

was more than forty-five days after the matter raised in the allegations

purportedly occurred.

On appeal, appellant argues that on July 23, 1998 she initially contacted

an EEO Counselor. At this time, appellant states that she informed

the EEO Counselor that she had been the victim of discrimination.

And in response to appellant's allegation, the counselor requested that

appellant write down her complaints and give them to her. On July 24,

1998, appellant followed up the EEO Counselors request and hand delivered

her written complaint. Furthermore, on July 30, 1998 in response to her

complaint filed with the counselor, she met with a personnel management

specialist who attempted alternative dispute resolution, and told him

that she wanted to get a lawyer and sue on her complaint.

The agency, in their decision, may have wrongly dismissed appellant's

complaint for failure to initiate timely contact with an EEO Counselor.

A complainant commences the EEO process by contacting an EEO Counselor

and "exhibiting an intent to begin the complaint process." See Gates

v. Department of Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05910798 (Nov. 22, 1991)

(quoting Moore v. Department of Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05900194 (May

24, 1990)). Clearly, appellant's contact with an EEO Counselor, on July

23, 1998 establishes the date of her initial contact but also establishes

her intent to begin the EEO process. Her intent is further demonstrated

by her letter to the counselor and her statement to the personnel

management specialist wanting to obtain a lawyer and sue. Furthermore,

since appellant's complaint alleges discriminatory incidents thru October

1998 at least one claim may be within the forty-five Limitation thus

making her complaint ripe for a continuing violation analysis.

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

failure to initiate timely contact with an EEO Counselor was improper and

is REVERSED. Appellant's complaint is REMANDED to the agency for further

processing in accordance with this decision and applicable regulations.

The agency is ORDERED to take the following action:

(1). The agency must contact appellant and conduct a supplemental

investigation to ascertain the exact dates the matters addressed in

appellant's complaint purportedly occurred, as well as the exact date

appellant first reasonably suspected discrimination.

(2). The agency must conduct a supplemental investigation to determine

whether the matters addressed in appellant's complaint constitute a

continuing violation.

Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date that this decision becomes

final, the agency shall notify appellant that he has (15) calendar days

from the date of his receipt of the agency's notification to provide the

agency with the information outlined in provision 2 above. The agency

shall have fifteen (15) calendar days

from the date of its receipt of appellant's response to issue a final

decision or to notify appellant that the agency is processing his

complaint.

A copy of the agency's notice to appellant requesting the supplemental

information outlined in provision 2, as well as a copy of the new final

agency decision and/or notice of processing 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:

November 5, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

1Since the agency did not supply a copy of a certified mail

return receipt or any other material capable of establishing

the date appellant received the agency's final decision, the

Commission presumes that appellant's appeal was filed within

thirty (30) days of receipt of the agency's final decision. See,

29 C.F.R. �1614.402.