0120120626
10-25-2012
Steven A. Strahl, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Western Area), Agency.
Steven A. Strahl,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Western Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120120626
Agency No. 1E501023209
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's decision dated October 11, 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 worked as a Clerk at the Agency's Des Moines P&DC facility in Des Moines, Iowa.
On September 30, 2009, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the basis of disability when: he learned that information about his entitlement to protection under the Family and Medical Leave Act was included in the Agency's Enterprise Resource Management (eRMS) data base.
The Agency dismissed the matter for failure to file a timely formal complaint, failure to contact an EEO counselor in a timely manner, and for failure to state a claim. The instant appeal followed without comment.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) states, in pertinent part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint which fails to comply with the applicable time limits contained in 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(b) which, in turn, requires the filing of a formal complaint within fifteen (15) days of receiving the notice of the right to do so.
The record discloses that Complainant received the notice of right to file a formal complaint on September 2, 2009, as evidenced by his signature on the certificate of delivery card. Thus, the 15-day filing period ended on September 17, 2009. The Agency states the envelope in which the formal complaint was received was postmarked on October 5, 2009, well beyond the ending of the filing period. However, we are unable to read the postmark. 29 C.F.R. �1614.604(b) provides that in the absence of a legible postmark, a document shall be deemed timely if received within five days of the expiration of applicable filing period. The formal complaint in this case is date stamped received on October 5, 2009. Five days previous to the receipt date was September 30, 2009, beyond the expiration of the filing period. On appeal, Complainant has not offered adequate justification to warrant an extension of the time limit for filing the complaint.
Because we find that Complainant untimely filed his formal complaint, we need not address the Agency's other reasons for dismissing the complaint.
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
October 25, 2012
__________________
Date
2
0120120626
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120120626