Valentin L. Estrada, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 27, 2009
0120083651 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 27, 2009)

0120083651

01-27-2009

Valentin L. Estrada, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Valentin L. Estrada,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120083651

Agency No. 4G-780-0199-08

DECISION

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

decision dated June 19, 2008, dismissing his 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. and

the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.

In a complaint dated June 6, 2008, complainant, a Supervisor Customer

Services at the agency's El Paso, Texas Post Office Coronado Station

alleged that he was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race

(Hispanic), and age (5-25-1950), when on April 10, 2008, he was issued

a Notice of Proposed Adverse Action-Removal.

The agency dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim stating

that the alleged claim in the complaint pertains to a proposed action

and as such does not create a direct and personal deprivation to render

complainant aggrieved.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R.� 1614.107 (a) (5) provides that an agency shall

dismiss a complaint that is moot or alleges that a proposal to take a

personnel action, or other preliminary step to taking a personnel action,

is discriminatory.

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

properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a) (1) for failure

to state a claim. The Commission finds that the complaint fails to

state a claim under the EEOC regulations because complainant failed to

show that he suffered harm or loss with respect to a term, condition,

or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. See Diaz

v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21,

1994). The Commission further finds that complainant filed a formal

complaint on July 26, 2008, on the same matter after he received the

Letter of Decision removing him from the agency effective June 14,

2008. The agency accepted that complaint for investigation as a mixed

complaint (Agency Case No. 4G-780-0262-08). Accordingly, the agency's

final decision dismissing complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0408)

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 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 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 (Z0408)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

January 27, 2009

__________________

Date

2

0120083651

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P. O. Box 19848

Washington, D.C. 20036