Yolanda Lopez, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 8, 1999
01976459_r (E.E.O.C. Jan. 8, 1999)

01976459_r

01-08-1999

Yolanda Lopez, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Yolanda Lopez, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01976459

) Agency No. 1G-761-0106-97

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency properly

dismissed appellant's complaint, pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29

U.S.C. �1614.107(a), for stating the same claim that was pending before

or decided by the agency or Commission. Appellant alleged that she

was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (Caucasian), sex

(female), national origin (Mexican-American), age (54), and in reprisal

for prior EEO activity when on May 15, 1997, she received a letter

denying her request for reinstatement.

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

dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint that states the same claim

that is pending before or has been decided by the agency or Commission.

The record in this case discloses that appellant filed a previous EEO

complaint, identified as Agency No. 4G-760-0154-97 concerning the denial

of her reinstatement request on September 6, 1996. Appellant provided

no documentation or other evidence suggesting that circumstances changed

from the date of her previous reinstatement request and the reinstatement

request that is the subject of the instant complaint, such that she

would have expected a different response to her request.

We find this case analogous to those cases wherein the agency dismisses

allegations concerning denials of requests for reinstatement on

the grounds of untimely EEO contact. The Commission has held that

a complainant cannot indefinitely extend the limitations period

for initiating EEO contact merely by resubmitting a request for

reinstatement, i.e., the Commission determined that when subsequent

requests for reinstatement are made when the particular circumstances

have not changed, a complainant cannot reasonably expect a different

result than the original denial and it is merely a reiteration of the

original request. Cramer v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal

No. 01911326 (August 16, 1991), request for reopening denied, EEOC

Request No. 05910908 (January 7, 1992). In the present case, we find

that appellant's subsequent request in May 1997, was merely a reiteration

of the original request upon which she previously filed a complaint.

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

pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) was proper and is AFFIRMED.<1>

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. �1614.604(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 to consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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 (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:

Jan. 8, 1999

____________________________

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

1Since we are affirming the agency's dismissal of appellant's

complaint on the grounds that it raised the same claim as was

raised in a prior complaint, we will not address the agency's

alternative grounds for dismissal, i.e., that it was untimely.