01A11713_r
04-10-2002
Aida M. Kelsaw, Complainant, v. Roderick R. Paige, Secretary, Department of Education, Agency.
Aida M. Kelsaw v. Department of Energy
01A11713
April 10, 2002
.
Aida M. Kelsaw,
Complainant,
v.
Roderick R. Paige,
Secretary,
Department of Education,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A11713
Agency No. 01(002)BPA
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency
decision dated December 6, 2000, dismissing her complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.
and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,
29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. In her complaint, complainant alleged that she
was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (African-American),
age (46), and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when:
From June 20, through July 18, 2000, complainant notified her supervisor
of someone tampering with her phone and bothering items on her desk.
Complainant further stated that she feels that she continues to work
in a hostile work environment.
On September 12, 2000, complainant was not given an award while other
staff members on the PBL Business Landscape received one.
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed issue
(1) of complainant's complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1), for
failure to state a claim. The Commission finds that the complaint fails
to state a claim under 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 because the alleged incidents,
even if proven to be true, could not be construed as demonstrating
an intent to deter a reasonable person from pursuing the EEO process.
The Commission finds that issue (1) is insufficient to state a claim
of harassment.
The Commission finds the agency properly dismissed issue (2) pursuant
to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(5), on the grounds of mootness. Although
complainant stated that she was not given an award on September 12, 2000,
while other staff members on the PBL Business Landscape received one,
the agency states that complainant subsequently received the award.
The record contains a copy of the SF-50 showing that complainant did
receive a $900.00 award effective September 13, 2000. On appeal,
complainant does not argue that the subsequent award was inadequate.
Since interim events have eradicated the effects of the alleged violation
and there is no reasonable expectation that the alleged violation will
recur, we find that issue (2) was properly dismissed as moot.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's
complaint 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
April 10, 2002
__________________
Date