Thomas F. Acton, et al,<1> Appellant,v.Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionOct 2, 1998
01980667 (E.E.O.C. Oct. 2, 1998)

01980667

10-02-1998

Thomas F. Acton, et al, Appellant, v. Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.


Thomas F. Acton, et al v. Social Security Administration

01980667

October 2, 1998

Thomas F. Acton, et al,<1> )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01980667

) Agency Nos. 97-0528 SSA

Kenneth S. Apfel, ) through

Commissioner, ) 97-0543-SSA

Social Security Administration, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The appellants timely filed an appeal with this Commission from a final

decision, dated September 26, 1997, which the agency issued pursuant

to EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a). The Commission accepts the

appellants' appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

The agency dismissed these 16 consolidated complaints, dated August

14, 1997, for stating the same claim as previously raised in Carton,

et al. v. Social Security Administration, EEOC Appeal No. 01960606 et

al. (April 15, 1996) (agency nos. 95-0555-SSA et al.) (dismissal reversed

and complaints remanded to the agency for investigation).

The Commission agrees with the agency that the allegations in the instant

complaints are related to those in the prior complaints. However, the

Commission finds that the instant complaints do not state the same claim

that was raised in the prior complaints. The first complaints concerned

the proper grade level for the appellants' positions and the agency's

delay in making a decision on the upgrading of their positions, allegedly

due to the appellants' ages. The instant complaints concern the agency's

treatment of their classification appeals, including the forwarding

of their appeals to OPM, as compared with the agency's treatment of

the classification appeals filed by employees who have not filed EEO

complaints.

The Commission also observes that the agency has not submitted any

evidence which demonstrates that the allegations raised in the instant

complaint have, in fact, been investigated as part of the prior

complaints.

For the reasons stated above, the Commission REVERSES the agency's

dismissal and REMANDS the appellants' consolidated complaints to the

agency for processing as ORDERED below.

ORDER

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellants

that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar

days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue

to the appellants a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify

the appellants of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)

calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter

is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If an appellant requests a

final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision

within sixty (60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant and a copy

of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of rights

must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to

the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant also has the right

to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's

order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.

See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying

complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File

A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. A civil action for

enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to

the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �2000e-16(c) (Supp. V 1993). If the

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some

jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner

suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR

DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your

civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN

THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision

or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the

jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. In the alternative,

you may file a civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR

DAYS of the date you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your

appeal with the Commission. 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.

Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of

your complaint.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1092)

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:

October 2, 1998

______________

Date Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations

1The following is a list of the 15 other appellants in this appeal from

the agency's dismissal of their consolidated complaints: Margaret Y. Brown;

Elizabeth C. Bullamore; Robert C. Cuno; Barbara A. Fogler; Michael H. Goren;

Thomas F. Gorman; Mary L. Hutcheson; Ella E. Langley; Herbert L. Lewis;

John G. Mikus; Patsy L. Phillips; Charles V. Ross; Julia L. Shacochis; James

E. Shriner; and Jeane D. Thompson.