01974545_r
01-20-1999
Thomas J. Bartholomew, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Thomas J. Bartholomew, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01974545
) Agency No. 1C-151-0016-97
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
On May 16, 1997, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission
from a final agency decision (FAD) received by him on April 28, 1997,
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., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �621 et seq., and �501 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �791 et seq. In his
complaint, appellant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on
the bases of race (Caucasian), sex (male), age (DOB 2/7/49), and physical
disability (work-related injury) when �from 1993 to September 23, 1996,
agency management and the Injury Compensation Programs supervisors have
breached and have implemented premeditated fraudulent acts of conspiring
to deny appellant the right to exercise in the proper manner his rights
to the U.S. Federal Employee's Compensation Act, Title V, U.S.C. �8101
et seq. (USFEC Act), and all other applicable statutes and regulations
prescribed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor.�
The agency dismissed appellant's complaint pursuant to EEOC Regulation
29 U.S.C. �1614.107(a), for failure to state a claim. Specifically,
the agency determined that appellant failed to show harm to the terms,
conditions, or privileges of his employment as a result of the agency's
action, and was, therefore, not aggrieved.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) provides that an agency may dismiss
a complaint which fails to state a claim. An agency shall accept a
complaint from any aggrieved employee or applicant for employment who
believes that he or she has been discriminated against by that agency
because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disabling
condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103; �1614.106(a). The Commission's federal
sector case precedent has long defined an "aggrieved employee" as one
who suffers a present harm or loss with respect to a term, condition, or
privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department
of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).
In the information appellant provided for pre-complaint counseling,
appellant alleged that the agency �condoned or implemented the illegal and
erroneous practice of supervisor's (sic) making out and filing fraudulent
compensation claim forms to deny [appellant's right to due process under
the USFEC Act]. We find that appellant's complaint is a collateral
attack on the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) process.
The Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint
process to lodge a collateral attack on another proceeding. Kleinman v.
USPS, EEOC Request No. 05940585 (September 22, 1994); Lingad v.
USPS, EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 24, 1993). The proper forum for
appellant to have raised his challenges to actions which occurred during
the processing of his OWCP claims was at those proceedings themselves.
It is inappropriate to now attempt to use the EEO process to collaterally
attack actions which occurred during the processing of his OWCP claims.
Accordingly, we find that appellant's complaint fails to state a claim,
and, therefore, the agency's final decision is AFFIRMED for the reasons
set forth herein.
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 (S0993)
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:
Jan. 20, 1999
____________________________
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations