Vernon A. Guion, Complainant,v.Ray Mabus, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 31, 2012
0120112708 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 31, 2012)

0120112708

01-31-2012

Vernon A. Guion, Complainant, v. Ray Mabus, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.




Vernon A. Guion,

Complainant,

v.

Ray Mabus,

Secretary,

Department of the Navy,

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120112708

Hearing No. 430-2009-00368X

Agency No. 09-65923-00508

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the March 7,

2011 final Agency action implementing the EEOC Administrative Judge’s

(AJ) decision finding no discrimination with regard to 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.

At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant

worked as a Sheet Metal Mechanic at the Component Manufacture, Weld,

and Repair Shop at the Agency’s Fleet Readiness Center East in Cherry

Point, North Carolina. On January 16, 2009, Complainant filed a formal

complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on

the bases of race (Black) and reprisal for prior protected EEO activity

under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when: 1) his supervisor

(Supervisor) denied Complainant overtime and 2) the Supervisor provided

inaccurate information on an Overtime Assignment Sheet.

On October 28, 2011, Complainant filed a civil action (identified as

Civil Action No. 4:11-CV-159-F3) in the United States District Court for

the Eastern District of North Carolina. The record further discloses

that the claims raised therein are the same as those raised in the

instant complaint. The regulation found at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.409

provides that the filing of a civil action "shall terminate Commission

processing of the appeal." Commission regulations mandate dismissal of

the EEO complaint under these circumstances so as to prevent a Complainant

from simultaneously pursuing both administrative and judicial remedies

on the same matters, wasting resources, and creating the potential

for inconsistent or conflicting decisions, and in order to grant due

deference to the authority of the federal district court. See Stromgren

v. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05891079 (May 7, 1990);

Sandy v. Dep’t of Justice, EEOC Appeal No. 01893513 (October 19,

1989); Kotwitz v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05880114 (October

25, 1988). Accordingly, Complainant’s appeal is hereby dismissed.

See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.409.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0610)

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), at 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 (S0610)

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 (Z0610)

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 31, 2012

__________________

Date

2

0120112708

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

2

0120112708