0120120083
03-09-2012
Jeffrey Fleming, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Northeast Area), Agency.
Jeffrey Fleming,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Northeast Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120120083
Agency No. 4B020007211
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the
Agency's decision dated August 25, 2011, dismissing his complaint of
unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. §
791 et seq
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant was on
disability retirement from the Agency’s Lawrence Post Office facility
in Massachusetts.
On July 28, 2011, Complainant filed a formal EEO complaint alleging that
the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the basis of disability when
he received a letter from the Agency’s Injury Compensation Office,
in response to a letter from Complainant concerning his worker’s
compensation claim, stating that there was nothing they could do because
the Department of Labor, Office of Worker’s Compensation Program
(OWCP) had denied his claim and the matter was considered closed.
Complainant felt there was fraud in relation to his OWCP claim.
The Agency dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. §
1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim. The instant appeal
followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint
process to lodge a collateral attack on another proceeding. See Wills
v. Dep’t of Def., EEOC Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998);
Kleinman v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05940585 (Sept. 22,
1994); Lingad v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 25,
1993). The proper forum for Complainant to have raised his challenges
to actions which occurred during the OWCP proceeding concerning his
worker’s compensation claim is within that proceeding itself. It is
inappropriate to now attempt to use the EEO process to collaterally
attack actions which involving OWCP claims.
The Commission finds that the complaint fails to state a claim under the
EEOC regulations because Complainant failed to show that he suffered harm
or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment
for which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Dep’t of the Air Force,
EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).
Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's
complaint is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0610)
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 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
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 (Z0610)
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 from the Court that
the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also
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 with
the Court 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
March 9, 2012
__________________
Date
2
0120120083
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120120083