01a04182
01-17-2001
Reginald L. Knight, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Reginald L. Knight v. United States Postal Service
01A04182
January 17, 2001
.
Reginald L. Knight,
Complainant,
v.
William J. Henderson,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A04182
Agency No. 1-H-331-0097-99
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency's decision dated May 9,
2000, dismissing complainant's complaint due to untimely EEO Counselor
contact is proper pursuant 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). In his complaint,
complainant alleged that from April 11, 1994 to October 18, 1994, he was
placed on an indefinite suspension resulting from his arrest for alleged
possession of cocaine, and he was later allowed to return to work on
a last chance settlement. Complainant indicated that on June 7, 1999,
he became aware that another employee who was convicted of a crime was
allowed to remain in a pay status until his resignation.
The Commission has adopted a �reasonable suspicion� standard (as opposed
to a �supportive facts� standard) to determine when the limitation period
is triggered under the EEOC Regulations. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(2);
Ball v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05880247
(July 6, 1988). Thus, the limitations period is not triggered until a
complainant should reasonably suspect discrimination, but before all the
facts that would support a charge of discrimination have become apparent.
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant should have reasonably
suspected discrimination at the time of the alleged suspension, which was
more than 45 days before his initial EEO Counselor contact in May 1999.
Accordingly, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.<1>
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0900)
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
January 17, 2001
__________________
Date
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision
was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify
that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative
(if applicable), and the agency on:
__________________
Date
______________________________
1Since the agency's dismissal of the complaint due to untimely EEO
Counselor contact is affirmed, we need not address its dismissal on the
alternative grounds for failure to state a claim.