Cheryl A. Anderson, Complainant,v.Leon Panetta, Secretary, Department of Defense (Defense Intelligence Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 29, 2011
0120093617 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 29, 2011)

0120093617

07-29-2011

Cheryl A. Anderson, Complainant, v. Leon Panetta, Secretary, Department of Defense (Defense Intelligence Agency), Agency.




Cheryl A. Anderson,

Complainant,

v.

Leon Panetta,

Secretary,

Department of Defense

(Defense Intelligence Agency),

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120093617

Agency No. DIA-00002-2007

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

By Notice of Appeal faxed on August 29, 2009, Complainant filed an appeal

with this Commission from the July 24, 2009 final Agency decision (FAD)

concerning her EEO 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.

A copy of the certified mail return receipt card reveals that the FAD

was received at Complainant’s address of record on July 28, 2009.

In addition, Complainant indicated on her Notice of Appeal (EEOC Form 573)

that she received the FAD on July 28, 2009. A review of the FAD reveals

that the Agency properly advised Complainant that she had thirty (30)

calendar days after receipt of its final decision to file her appeal

with the Commission. Therefore, in order to be considered timely,

Complainant had to file her appeal no later than August 27, 2009.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.605(e) provides that the complainant

shall at all times be responsible for proceeding with the complaint

whether or not she has designated a representative.1 Complainant has

not offered any justification for an extension of the applicable time

limit for filing her appeal. Accordingly, Complainant's August 29,

2009 appeal is hereby dismissed. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(c).

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

___7/29/11_______________

Date

1 The certificate of service reflects that the Agency mailed the FAD to

Complainant and her attorney on July 24, 2009. On appeal, the Agency

stated that the copy sent to Complainant’s attorney was returned

unopened, telephone calls and e-mails to Complainant’s attorney

to ensure delivery of the FAD received no reply, and the website of

Complainant’s attorney was no longer in operation. We note that

Complainant’s Notice of Appeal did not indicate any representation

and Complainant did not contend that she was still represented by an

attorney at the time the FAD was mailed.

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0120093617

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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0120093617