Jeffery L. Gaines, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Southeastern Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 7, 2001
01992390 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 7, 2001)

01992390

12-07-2001

Jeffery L. Gaines, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Southeastern Area), Agency.


Jeffery L. Gaines v. United States Postal Service (Southeastern Area)

01992390

December 7, 2001

.

Jeffery L. Gaines,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

(Southeastern Area),

Agency.

Appeal No. 01992390

Agency No. 4H-370-1115-95

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the agency's

decision, dated December 9, 1998, concerning his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination. Complainant's appeal was received by

the Commission on February 8, 1999, postmarked February 2, 1999.

By regulation, appeals to the Commission must be filed within thirty (30)

days after a complainant receives notice of the final agency decision

(FAD). Appeals are deemed filed on the date received by the Commission,

unless postmarked earlier. 29 C.F.R. 1614.604 (b).

A copy of the certified mail return receipt card reveals that the FAD

was received at complainant's address of record on December 11, 1998.

A review of the FAD reveals that the agency properly advised complainant

that he had thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of its final decision

to file his appeal with the Commission. Therefore, in order to be

considered timely, complainant had to file his appeal no later than

January 11, 1999. Complainant states that there were various extenuating

circumstances which prevented him from timely filing his appeal, including

difficulty in coordinating with an attorney. We find that complainant has

not offered sufficient justification for an extension of the applicable

time limit for filing an appeal. Accordingly, complainant's February 2,

1999 appeal is hereby DISMISSED. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.403(c).

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

December 7, 2001

__________________

Date