01A13989_r
10-31-2001
Robert L. Bigsby, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Robert L. Bigsby v. United States Postal Service
01A13989
October 31, 2001
.
Robert L. Bigsby,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A13989
Agency No. 4H-1273-93
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the May 28,
1999 final agency decision dismissing his EEO complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination.
On April 14, 1994, complainant filed a civil action (identified as Civil
Action No. I:94cv278-D-D) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Wisconsin. Upon consideration of the agency's
motion to dismiss or transfer, the Court dismissed complainant's Title
VII claims for lack of jurisdiction by Order dated September 14, 1994,
and transferred the action to the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Mississippi. In a Memorandum Opinion dated May
28, 1996, the District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
dismissed the action and directed complainant to show cause why he
should not be sanctioned for the filing of a frivolous action. In a
Memorandum Opinion dated November 22, 1996, the District Court issued
an Order precluding complainant from filing any civil actions before
the District Court without the prior approval of a judicial officer of
the District Court.<1>
The record further discloses that the comprehensive claims raised in
complainant's civil action encompass the same claim as that raised in
the instant complaint (on December 4, 1992, complainant did not receive
a pay back award). The regulation found at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409 provides
that the filing of a civil action "shall terminate Commission processing
of the appeal." Commission regulations mandate dismissal of the EEO
complaint under these circumstances so as to prevent a complainant
from simultaneously pursuing both administrative and judicial remedies
on the same matters, wasting resources, and creating the potential
for inconsistent or conflicting decisions, and in order to grant due
deference to the authority of the federal district court. See Stromgren
v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05891079 (May 7,
1990); Sandy v. Department of Justice, EEOC Appeal No. 01893513 (October
19, 1989); Kotwitz v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05880114 (October 25, 1988).
Accordingly, complainant's appeal is hereby DISMISSED. See 29 C.F.R. �
1614.409.
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 31, 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
______________________________
1In a per curiam decision dated December 15, 1997, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found that complainant's appeal
was frivolous, and that the District Court's decision to impose sanctions
was not an abuse of discretion.