01a42115
05-31-2005
Pennie J. Fuller, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Pennie J. Fuller v. United States Postal Service
01A42115
May 31, 2005
.
Pennie J. Fuller,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A42115
Agency No. 1H-324-0016-03
DECISION
Complainant appeals to the Commission from the agency's January
23, 2004 decision finding no discrimination. Complainant alleges
discrimination on the bases of disability (hearing impairment) and
reprisal when on November 29, 2002, she was issued a Letter of Warning.
The agency found that although there is �no dispute that [complainant
has] demonstrated the threshold requirement that [she is] a disabled
individual within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act,� complainant,
nonetheless, failed to establish a prima facie case. The agency found
that with regard to disability and reprisal, complainant failed to show
comparison employees were treated differently. Further, with regard
to reprisal, the agency found that there exists no causal link between
complainant's prior activity and the Letter of Warning. Finally, the
agency found that assuming complainant has established a prima facie
case, the agency presented a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for
the Letter of Warning which complainant failed to adequately rebut.
The record indicates that complainant received the Letter of Warning
for improper conduct. Specifically, complainant was injured on the
job, yet did not report the injury to her supervisor in a reasonable
amount of time. Complainant has failed to adequately rebut the agency
legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the letter of warning. Thus,
we find complainant has not shown, by a preponderance of the evidence,
that she was discriminated against on the bases of disability or reprisal.
The Commission does not address whether complainant is an individual
with a disability in this decision.
The agency's decision finding no discrimination 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
May 31, 2005
__________________
Date