William DiBona, Complainant,v.Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 28, 2000
01a00643 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 28, 2000)

01a00643

03-28-2000

William DiBona, Complainant, v. Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.


William DiBona, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A00643

) Agency No. 990063

Daniel R. Glickman, )

Secretary, )

Department of Agriculture, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

On October 26, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal with this

Commission from a final agency decision (FAD) issued on September 7,

1999, pertaining to his complaint of unlawful employment discrimination

in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42

U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.<1> Pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,

37,659 (1999) (to be codified at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405), the Commission

accepts the complainant's appeal from the agency's final decision in

the above-entitled matter.

ISSUE PRESENTED

The issue presented herein is whether the agency properly dismissed

the present complaint for failure to file the formal complaint within

fifteen days of receiving the notice to go formal.

BACKGROUND

The record reflects, that on June 10, 1998, complainant initiated contact

with an EEO Counselor. During the counseling period, complainant stated

that he was denied leave. Counseling failed, and on July 15, 1998,

complainant received the notice to file a formal complaint. According to

the record, the agency received the formal complaint on October 19, 1998.

On September 7, 1999, the agency issued a final decision dismissing

the present complaint for failure to file the formal complaint within

fifteen days of receiving the notice to go formal. According to the

agency, complainant received the notice to go formal on July 15, 1998,

and complainant filed his formal complaint on October 15, 1998, in

excess of the fifteen day limitations period. The Commission notes,

that the record does not contain any postmark establishing the day,

the formal complaint was mailed.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS

Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter

cited as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)) states, in pertinent part, that an

agency shall dismiss a complaint which fails to comply with the applicable

time limits contained in Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified

and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106), which, in turn,

requires the filing of a formal complaint within fifteen (15) days of

receiving notice of the right to do so. Furthermore, where, as here,

there is an issue of timeliness, "an agency always bears the burden of

obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned determination as

to timeliness." Guy, v. Department of Energy, EEOC Request No. 05930703

(January 4, 1994) (quoting Williams v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request

No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992)). In addition, in Ericson v. Department

of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920623 (January 14, 1993), the Commission

stated that �the agency has the burden of providing evidence and/or proof

to support its final decisions.� See also Gens v. Department of Defense,

EEOC Request No. 05910837 (January 31, 1992).

In the present case, the agency has failed to provide evidence

establishing when complainant did in fact mail the formal complaint.

In failing to provide this information, the Commission cannot determine

whether the formal complaint was untimely filed. Therefore, the

Commission finds that the agency has failed to support its decision.

Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing the present complaint

was improper.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth herein, the Commission hereby REVERSES the

agency's final decision dismissing the present complaint for failure

to file the formal complaint in a timely fashion. Accordingly, the

agency is ORDERED to process the present complaint in accordance with

this decision and applicable regulations.

ORDER (E1199)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claim in accordance with

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656-7 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108). The agency shall acknowledge to

the complainant that it has received the remanded claims within thirty

(30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency

shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty

(150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the

matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant

requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue

a final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's

request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and an

copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of

rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the

complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order,

the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right to file a

civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's order prior

to or following an administrative petition for enforcement. See 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408), and 29 C.F.R. �

1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a

civil action on the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph

below entitled "Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407

and 1614.408. A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the

underlying complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �

2000e-16(c)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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

(R1199)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date

that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a

civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR DAYS of the date

you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the

Commission. 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. Filing a civil

action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)

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:

March 28, 2000

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

_______________ __________________________

Date Equal Employment Assistant1On November 9, 1999, revised

regulations governing the EEOC's federal sector complaint process

went into effect. These regulations apply to all federal sector

EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative process.

Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations found

at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at WWW.EEOC.GOV.