Valeriev.Walker, Complainant, v. Dr. Donald C. Winter, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 8, 2009
0120083757 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 8, 2009)

0120083757

01-08-2009

Valerie V. Walker, Complainant, v. Dr. Donald C. Winter, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.


Valerie V. Walker,

Complainant,

v.

Dr. Donald C. Winter,

Secretary,

Department of the Navy,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120083757

Agency No. 084008501785

DECISION

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

decision dated August 7, 2008, 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)(1) for failure

to state a claim.

In a complaint dated July 11, 2008, 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 SW

purposefully spoke to another employee standing near complainant saying

"good Morning, Ronnie" but did not speak to complainant; SW and SH did

not provide her with the status of a pre-action investigation that was

initiated in November 2007; and when the pre-action investigation was

initiated in November 2007 against complainant concerning her organizing

an office luncheon and allegedly yelling at another employee.

The Commission finds that the complaint1 fails to state a claim under the

EEOC regulations because complainant failed to show that she 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). Moreover, to the extent complainant

is claiming a discriminatory hostile work environment, we find that the

events described, even if proven to be true, would not indicate that

complainant has been subjected to harassment that was sufficiently

severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of her employment.

See Cobb v. Department of the Treasury, Request No. 05970077 (March 13,

1997). Regarding complainant's claim of reprisal, the Commission has

stated that adverse actions need not qualify as "ultimate employment

actions" or materially affect the terms and conditions of employment

to constitute retaliation. Lindsey v. United States Postal Service,

EEOC Request No. 05980410 (Nov. 4, 1999) (citing EEOC Compliance Manual,

No. 915.003 (May 20, 1998)). Instead, the statutory retaliation clauses

prohibit any adverse treatment that is based upon a retaliatory motive

and is reasonably likely to deter the charging party or others from

engaging in protected activity. Id. However, in the instant matter the

Commission finds that complainant has failed to set forth a viable claim

of reprisal.

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

January 8, 2009

__________________

Date

1 While complainant may have raised other claims with the counselor,

she specifically raised only the above-described three claims in her

formal complaint.

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0120083757

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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0120083757