0120071861
06-21-2007
James Gladden, Complainant, v. Margaret Spellings, Secretary, Department of Education, Agency.
James Gladden,
Complainant,
v.
Margaret Spellings,
Secretary,
Department of Education,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120071861
Agency No. ED20070900
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated January 31, 2007, dismissing his 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., the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �
621 et seq., and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �
206(d) et seq.
In his complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected to
discrimination on the bases of race (African-American), sex (male),
and age (D.O.B. 12/25/46) when on September 15, 2003, he was reassigned
to Team B and assigned additional duties for both the Title III Program
and the College Housing Academic Facilities Loan (CHAFEL) program.
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely
EEO Counselor contact. In pertinent part, the EEOC regulation found
at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) allows an agency to dismiss a complaint
that fails to comply with the applicable time limits contained in 29
C.F.R. � 1614.105. EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1) requires
that complaints of discrimination should be brought to the attention of
an EEO Counselor within forty-five (45) days of the date of the matter
alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel action,
within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of the action. The
Commission has adopted a "reasonable suspicion" standard (as opposed to a
"supportive facts" standard) to determine when the forty-five (45) day
limitation period is triggered. See Howard v. Dep't of the Navy, EEOC
Request No. 05970852 (February 11, 1999). Thus, the time limitation is
not triggered until a complainant reasonably suspects discrimination,
but before all the facts that support a charge of discrimination have
become apparent. EEOC regulations provide that the agency or the
Commission shall extend the time limits when the individual shows that
he was not notified of the time limits and was not otherwise aware of
them, that he did not know and reasonably should not have known that
the discriminatory matter or personnel action occurred, that despite
due diligence he was prevented by circumstances beyond his control from
contacting the Counselor within the time limits, or for other reasons
considered sufficient by the agency or the Commission.
The record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred on
September 15, 2003, but complainant did not initiate contact with an
EEO Counselor until August 22, 2006, which is beyond the forty-five
(45) day limitation period. Complainant does not allege that he was
unaware of the time limits for contacting an EEO Counselor or that he
was prevented by circumstances beyond his control from contacting an EEO
counselor within the time limits. On appeal, complainant has presented
no persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time
limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact. Accordingly, the agency's
final decision dismissing complainant's complaint is affirmed.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0701)
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), 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 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 (S0900)
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 (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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
June 21, 2007
__________________
Date
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0120071861
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
3
0120071861