Tonda L. Perkins, Complainant,v.Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 24, 2009
0120091980 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 24, 2009)

0120091980

06-24-2009

Tonda L. Perkins, Complainant, v. Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.


Tonda L. Perkins,

Complainant,

v.

Ray H. LaHood,

Secretary,

Department of Transportation,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120091980

Agency No. 200922492FAA01

DECISION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's

decision dated March 26, 2009, dismissing her complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.

Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was

properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely

EEO Counselor contact.

In her complaint, complainant alleged that she was subjected to

discrimination on the basis of reprisal for prior protected EEO activity

under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when her name was removed

from a list of mediators. Briefly, complainant learned in September

2008 that her name was removed from a list of mediators. In an email

dated September 22, 2008 to her supervisor, she stated that she was

"devastated that another FAA employee, [her supervisor] would attempt to

block [complainant] from performing valuable services purely because of

discriminatory reasons." In her appeal, complainant states she learned

in January that the supervisor had developed a rule so as to keep her

from becoming a mediator.

The record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred on

September 22, 2009, but complainant did not initiate contact with an

EEO Counselor until January 10, 2009, which is beyond the forty-five

(45) day limitation period. On appeal, complainant has presented no

persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time

limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact. Complainant states that the

limitation period should not start until she has supportive facts. The

Commission has adopted a "reasonable suspicion" standard (as opposed to a

"supportive facts" standard) to determine when the forty-five (45) day

limitation period is triggered. See Howard v. Department of the Navy,

EEOC Request No. 05970852 (February 11, 1999). Thus, the time limitation

is not triggered until a complainant reasonably suspects discrimination,

but before all the facts that support a charge of discrimination have

become apparent. The Commission finds that complainant at least suspected

discrimination on September 22, 2008, as evidenced by her email.

Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's

complaint is affirmed.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1208)

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 77960,

Washington, DC 20013. 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 (S0408)

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 (Z1008)

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 from the Court that

the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also

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 with

the Court 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

June 24, 2009

__________________

Date

2

0120091980

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

3

0120091980