01A32877
07-22-2003
Cheryl R. Roberson, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Cheryl R. Roberson v. United States Postal Service
01A32877
July 22, 2003
.
Cheryl R. Roberson,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A32877
Agency No. 4G-760-0044-03
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency
decision pertaining to 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.; Section 501 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.;
and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,
29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. The Commission accepts the appeal in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.
Complainant contacted the EEO office claiming that she was subjected
to discrimination based on sex, disability, age, and reprisal for prior
EEO activity. Informal efforts to resolve complainant's concerns were
unsuccessful. Subsequently, on February 3, 2003, complainant filed
a formal complaint. The agency, in its decision, framed the claim
as follows:
On September 13, 2002, complainant was denied COP (Continuation of Pay)
and other benefits related to her on-the-job injury because the Injury
Compensation Specialist sent her paperwork back for corrections, misplaced
her Request or Notification of Absence, PS Form 3971, requesting COP
and failure to appropriately process paperwork related to her injury claim
The agency issued a decision dismissing the complaint on the grounds that
it was untimely filed. The agency reasoned that complainant received
the Notice of Right to File Individual Complaint (hereinafter �Notice�)
on January 16, 2003, but waited beyond the fifteen-day time limitation
to file her complaint on February 3, 2003.
Complainant presents no contentions on appeal.
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,
which, in turn, requires the filing of a formal complaint within fifteen
(15) days of receiving notice of the right to do so.
The record in this case indicates that complainant signed the Notice
on January 16, 2003. The Notice informed complainant that she had
fifteen days from the date of receipt of the Notice in which to file
a formal complaint. The record further reflects that complainant did
not file a formal complaint within fifteen days of her receipt of the
Notice but, instead filed the formal complaint on February 3, 2003.
Complainant has failed to present adequate justification, pursuant to
29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c) for extending the filing period.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's
complaint was proper and is hereby 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
July 22, 2003
__________________
Date