01981319
01-27-1999
Victoria M. VanHeiden, Appellant, v. Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.
Victoria M. VanHeiden v. Department of Transportation
01981319
January 27, 1999
Victoria M. VanHeiden, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01981319
) Agency No. 4-98-008
Rodney E. Slater, )
Secretary, )
Department of Transportation, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
The Commission finds that the agency's November 25, 1997 decision
dismissing a portion of appellant's complaint on the grounds of untimely
EEO Counselor contact, failure to state a claim and because it alleges a
proposal to take a personnel action, is proper pursuant to the provisions
of 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a), (b) and (e).
The record shows that appellant alleged, inter alia, that she had been
discriminated against on the bases of sex (female) and reprisal for
prior EEO activity when: (5) in or about October 1996, she was assessed
leave without pay, annual leave, and denied a paid lunch period by the
Air Traffic Manager; (6) in or around April 1997, she was initially
denied sick leave and leave without pay by the Air Traffic Manager,
to prepare for surgery; (7) in March and April 1997, she was harassed
by the Operations Manager regarding her need to reschedule her Airman's
Medical Examination, and her alleged use of inappropriate language; (8)
her son was not hired by the agency in 1990; and, (9) during the period
1980 through 1982, she was threatened with termination and relocation.
The agency dismissed allegations (5) - (9) on the grounds of untimely EEO
counselor contact after finding that appellant's EEO Counselor contact
on September 11, 1997, had taken place well beyond the 45-day time limit
provided by EEOC Regulations. Allegation (8) was also dismissed on the
grounds that it failed to state a claim under EEOC Regulations since
appellant was "not the aggrieved party; [her] son was". Allegation (9)
was also dismissed on the grounds that it raised a proposal to take a
personnel action.
After review of the record and the final agency decision we find that the
dismissal of allegations (5) - (9) was appropriate for the reasons cited
in the final agency decision. Accordingly, the final agency decision
is AFFIRMED.
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. �l6l4.604(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 consult
an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction
in which your action would be filed. 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 (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:
January 27, 1999
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations