01995614
12-14-1999
Steven A. McNeill, Complainant, v. F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary, Department of the Air Force, Agency.
Steven A. McNeill v. Department of the Air Force
01995614
December 14, 1999
Steven A. McNeill, )
Complainant, )
) Appeal No. 01995614
v. ) Agency No. EHOA99003
)
F. Whitten Peters, )
Acting Secretary, )
Department of the Air Force, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
By Notice of Appeal postmarked June 30, 1999, complainant filed an
appeal with this Commission from the June 17, 1999 final agency decision
dismissing his EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination.<1>
On August 27, 1999, complainant filed a civil action (identified
as Civil Action No. F99-0026) in the United States District Court
for the District of Alaska. The record further discloses that the
claims raised therein encompass those raised in the instant complaint.
64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409) provides that the filing of a civil action
"shall terminate Commission processing of the appeal," when a civil action
is filed in accordance with the regulations. Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,
644, 37,659 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29
C.F.R. �1614.407(d)) provides that a complainant may file a civil action
after 180 days from the date of filing an appeal with the Commission if
there has been no final decision by the Commission. In the present case,
the Commission notes that while complainant's civil action was filed
prior to the expiration of the 180-day period, complainant's appeal
should be dismissed in view of the Commission's long-standing practice
of conserving resources, and avoiding the potential for inconsistent
or conflicting decisions, and in order to grant due deference to the
authority of the federal district court. See Posey v. Department of
the Navy, EEOC Appeal No. 01951777 (September 21, 1995); Stromgren
v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05891079 (May 7,
1990); Sandy v. Department of Justice, EEOC Appeal No. 01893513 (October
19, 1989); Kotwitz v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05880114 (October 25, 1988).
Accordingly, complainant's June 30, 1999 appeal is hereby DISMISSED.
See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M1199)
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). 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).
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S1199)
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:
December 14, 1999
____________________________
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 Equal Employment Assistant
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.