Harry K. Dickerson, Appellant,v.Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 18, 1998
01976956 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 18, 1998)

01976956

11-18-1998

Harry K. Dickerson, Appellant, v. Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Agency.


Harry K. Dickerson v. Department of Housing and Urban Development

01976956

November 18, 1998

Harry K. Dickerson, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01976956

) Agency No. CH 97 10

Andrew M. Cuomo, )

Secretary, )

Department of Housing and )

Urban Development, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The appellant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from a final

decision, dated August 25, 1997, which the agency issued pursuant to EEOC

Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b). The Commission accepts the appellant's

appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

The final agency decision dismissed the appellant's complaint, dated

February 19, 1997, for untimely filing. The decision represented that the

appellant received a "Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint"

on January 16, 1997, but did not file his formal complaint until February

20, 1997, beyond the 15-calendar day time limit for formal complaint

filing.

According to the EEO Counselor's Report for agency no. CH 97 10,

the appellant sought EEO counseling on November 15, 1996, and had his

initial interview on November 22, 1996. The Report indicates that the

appellant received a "Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint"

on January 22, 1997. However, the record does not contain a copy of a

January 22, 1997 Notice.

The record contains a copy of a "Notice of Right to File a Discrimination

Complaint" which the appellant and the EEO Counselor signed on January 16,

1997 (hereinafter referred to as the January Notice). The January Notice

does not have an informal complaint number. Nor does it identify the

counseled issues. The January Notice indicates that the appellant brought

the counseled matters to the counselor's attention on November 6, 1996.

On appeal, the appellant submits a copy of a "Notice of Right to File a

Discrimination Complaint" which he and an EEO Counselor signed on February

7, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as the February Notice). The February

Notice does not have an informal complaint number. Nor does it identify

the counseled issues. However, the February Notice indicates that the

appellant brought the counseled matters to the counselor's attention on

November 15, 1996.

Based on the above evidence, the Commission finds that the appellant

received the "Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint" for

agency complaint no. CH 97 10 on February 7, 1997. Both the February

Notice and the EEO Counselor's Report for agency complaint no. CH 97

10 identify November 15, 1996, as the date the appellant sought EEO

counseling.

Although the EEO Counselor's Report represents that the appellant received

the "Notice of Right to File a Discrimination Complaint" on January 22,

1997, there is no evidence in the record, such as a signed Notice dated

January 22, 1997, which supports this representation.

There also is nothing in the record which indicates that the January

Notice referenced in the final agency decision pertained to agency

complaint no. CH 97 10.

The Commission advises the agency that this appeal could have been avoided

if the agency had provided sufficient information on the "Notice of Right

to File a Discrimination Complaint" to identify the informal complaint

to which the Notice applied. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.102(a)(2).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Commission REVERSES the agency's

dismissal of the appellant's February 19, 1997 complaint and REMANDS

the complaint for processing as ORDERED below.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant

that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar

days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to

appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant

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 appellant requests a final decision

without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty

(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant and a 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 (K0595)

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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

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 (R0993)

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. 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:

November 18, 1998

______________

Date Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations