0120132649
09-04-2015
Complainant, v. Anthony Foxx, Secretary, Department of Transportation, Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Complainant,
v.
Anthony Foxx,
Secretary,
Department of Transportation,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120132649
Hearing No. 5702012-00461X
Agency No. 2012-24210-NHTSA-02
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the June 5, 2013 final Agency action implementing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge's (AJ) decision finding no discrimination with regard to 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.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Human Resource Specialist at the Agency's National Highway Traffic Administration facility in Washington, D.C.
On November 7, 2011, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the basis of reprisal for prior protected EEO activity under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when, from February 2011 to August 2011, she were subjected to a hostile work environment after she participated as a witness in a co-worker's EEO complaint.
On June 6, 2013, Complainant filed a civil action (identified as Civil Action No. 1:13-cv000872) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.1 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).
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, Complainant's appeal is hereby dismissed. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0815)
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 Chap. 9 � VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). 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 (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainants Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden's signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
September 4, 2015
__________________
Date
1 We note that as of September 3, 2013, the matter is still pending with the U.S. District Court.
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