01a43308
10-13-2005
L. Michael Brown, Complainant, v. R. James Nicholson, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
L. Michael Brown v. Department of Veterans Affairs
01A43308
October 13, 2005
.
L. Michael Brown,
Complainant,
v.
R. James Nicholson,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A43308
Agency Nos. 200I-0317-2003101206
& 200I-0317200210593
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
By Notice of Appeal postmarked April 6, 2004, complainant filed an appeal
with this Commission from the January 6, 2004 final agency decision
(FAD) dismissing his EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination.
The January 6, 2004 FAD addressed complaint number 200I-0317-2002105093
which alleged discrimination, in violation of the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. and
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42
U.S.C. � 2000e et seq., on the bases of age (D.O.B. 12/17/46) and reprisal
(prior EEO activity) when: (1) he was advised in August 2002 that the
Service Center Manager at the Petersburg, Florida regional office (VARO)
made derogatory comments about him and as a result he was not selected
for the position of Rating Veterans Service Representative, GS-966/12,
in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and (2) on or about September 12, 2002,
the Service Center Manager of VARO interfered with the complainant
performing his duties as a union official.
Complainant concedes in his appeal that he received the FAD on January
9, 2004. 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 February 9, 2004. Complainant has not offered adequate justification
for an extension of the applicable time limit for filing his appeal.
Accordingly, complainant's April 6, 2004 appeal is hereby dismissed.
See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.403(c).
With respect to claim number 200I-0317-2003101206, complainant alleged
the agency discriminated against him, in violation of Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e
et seq., on the basis of reprisal when on or about November 27, 2003,
he was charged with being Absent without Leave. Complainant claims
that he entered a settlement agreement with respect to this claim on
February 14, 2003. Complainant is seeking to nullify the agreement
that was allegedly breached by the agency. The agency argues that
the breach allegation is untimely. We agree. According to the terms
of the agreement, complainant agreed to withdraw his complaint if he
was offered any job at the GS-12 or equivalent level by June 30, 2003.
The settlement agreement explicitly provides how complainant may raise
claims of breach under 29 C.F.R. � 1614.504. Complainant provides no
evidence to show that he complied with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.504 at any time.
Accordingly, we find that his breach of settlement claim is untimely.
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
October 13, 2005
__________________
Date