Thomas E. Cleland, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 10, 2000
01992074 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 10, 2000)

01992074

02-10-2000

Thomas E. Cleland, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Thomas E. Cleland, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01992074

) Agency No. 98-0156

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

On January 17, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal with this

Commission from a final agency decision (FAD) received by him on

December 18, 1998, pertaining to his 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 his

complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination

on the bases of physical disability, mental disability, and in reprisal

for prior EEO activity when on or about July 17, 1997, complainant

discovered that in the processing of his claim with the Office of

Workers' Compensation (OWCP), the agency provided false and/or incomplete

information in an untimely manner. Further, complainant alleged that the

supervisor who provided the information had no knowledge of complainant,

and did not sign the forms as required.

In its FAD, the agency dismissed the complaint for failure to state a

claim.

On appeal, complainant argues that the agency harassed him when it

refused to assist him in the processing of his OWCP claim as promised.

In response, the agency contends that complainant should have raised

his concerns within the OWCP forum.

EEOC Regulations require the dismissal of complaints that fail to state

a claim. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified as 29

C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)) The Commission has held that a collateral attack

to the OWCP process fails to state a claim. See Conley v. Navy, EEOC

Request No. 05970402 (Feb. 11, 1999); Agustin v. Department of Labor,

EEOC Request No. 05960127 (Dec. 19, 1996) (direct attack of manner in

which OWCP personnel processed an injury claim is a collateral attack).

An attack of the merits of an OWCP claim, or of the agency's action in

representing its interests in the OWCP forum, even by the submission

of allegedly false information, does not state a claim. See Pirozi

v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Request No. 05970146 (Oct. 23, 1998);

Ward v. United States Parcel Service, EEOC Request No. 05980036 (Mar. 19,

1998).

In the present case, complainant has lodged a collateral attack against

the OWCP process, and against the agency's actions in representing its

interests. Accordingly, the agency's dismissal for failure to state a

claim is AFFIRMED.

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:

February 10, 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 Equal Employment Assistant1On 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.