01995857
11-01-2000
Brenda McIver-Smith, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service Agency.
Brenda McIver-Smith,
Complainant,
v.
William J. Henderson,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
Agency.
Appeal No. 01995857
Agency No. 4C-442-0113-99
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to
be codified and hereinafter referred to as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �
1614.107(a)(2)), for untimely EEO contact.<1> According to complainant,
she was discriminated against because of her race (Black), sex (female)
and in retaliation for engaging in previous EEO activity when her requests
for cross-training in the form of details and lateral reassignments were
not granted. The record indicates that the alleged discriminatory events
occurred on March 21, 1996, April 5, 1996, October 27, 1996, December 13,
1996, May 12, 1997, July 21, 1997, November 7, 1997, December 7, 1997,
January 22, 1998, February 28, 1998, March 1, 1998, April 2, 1998, July
10, 1998, and October 2, 1998. Complainant did not initiate contact with
an EEO counselor until February 16, 1999, which was approximately four
months beyond October 2, 1998, the last date her request was not granted.
On appeal, no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented to
warrant an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO contact.<2>
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's
complaint is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0300)
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 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 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).
COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)
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, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations
__11-01-00________________
Date
FOR OFO INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY
FOR PROCEDURAL CASES
TO: CARLTON M. HADDEN, ACTING DIR.
OFFICE OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS
APPEAL NUMBER:
01995857
AGENCY NUMBER:
4C-442-0113-99
(APPROVED) (DATE)
REQUEST NUMBER:
HEARING NUMBER:
THE ATTACHED DECISION IS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL:
TITLE
NAMESINITIALDATE REVIEWED(ATTORNEY):LAWRENCE
D. GREEN7/20/00(SUPERVISOR:STEVE ZANOWIC(DIVISION DIRECTOR):MARIE
FITZGERALD
1.) (COMPLAINANT(S)
Brenda McIver-Smith
2.) (AGENCY)
United States Postal Service
3.) (DECISION)
Affirmed
4.) (STATUTE(S)
Title VII
5.) (BASIS(ES)
RB/GF/OR
6.) (ISSUE(S)
T1
7.) (TYPIST/DATE/DISK)
LG0 / 7/20/00
SPELL CHECK:
YES
(PLEASE CHECK ALL APPLICABLE CODES)
PROCEDURAL CODES
LETTER CLOSURE CODES
X 3K - PROCEDURAL DECISION
? 3N - APPEAL DENIED/DISMISSED
? 3P - ADVERSE INFERENCE RAISED
X 4H - OFO AFFIRMED FAD
? 3M - OFO REVERSED AND REMANDED
? 4J - OFO MODIFIED FAD
? 3L - OFO VACATED/REMANDED ALL OF
AGENCY'S MERITS DECISION
? 4Q - COMPLIANCE REQUIRED
? 3B - FAD RESCINDED
? 3C - DUPLICATE DOCKET NUMBER
? 3D - WITHDRAWAL
? 3E - COMPLAINT SETTLED
? 3G - OTHER LETTER CLOSURE
? 3R - RETURN TO AG FOR CONSOLIDATION
? 3S - RETURN TO AJ FOR CONSOLIDATION
? 7N - CIVIL ACTION FILED
REVISED AS OF 2/3/00
1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal
sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all
federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative
process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations
found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the
present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the
Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.
2On appeal, complainant submitted a letter, dated August 13, 1999,
stating that she has developed a stress related condition. According
to complainant, she was �prevented from working since June 24, 1999.�
Complainant also submitted a July 14, 1999 letter from her physician,
B-1. According to B-1, complainant has an emotional condition that is
characterized by anxiety and difficulty with concentration. Consequently,
complainant requested �an extension/postponement of any time limits that
may be in effect . . . .� Because complainant's condition arose after
she contacted an EEO counselor, we do not find that she has presented
an adequate justification for extending the 45-day time limitation
period.