Cleveland Grace, Petitioner,v.Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 23, 2003
03A30033 (E.E.O.C. May. 23, 2003)

03A30033

05-23-2003

Cleveland Grace, Petitioner, v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.


Cleveland Grace v. Department of Veterans Affairs

03A30033

May 23, 2003

.

Cleveland Grace,

Petitioner,

v.

Anthony J. Principi,

Secretary,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Agency.

Petition No. 03A30033

MSPB No. AT-0752-01-0933-I-1

DECISION

On February 10, 2003, petitioner filed a timely petition with the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Commission or EEOC) asking for

review of a Final Order issued by the Merit Systems Protection Board

(MSPB) concerning his claim that the agency discriminated against him in

violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation

Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq. Petitioner alleged that the

agency discriminated against him on the basis of disability (tendinitis)

when it removed him from service effective August 30, 2001.

Based upon a thorough review of the record, it is the decision of

the Commission to concur with the final decision of the MSPB finding

no discrimination<1>. The Commission finds that the MSPB's decision

constitutes a correct interpretation of the laws, rules, regulations,

and policies governing this matter and is supported by the evidence in

the record as a whole.

PETITIONER'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (W0900)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of

administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. You have the right

to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court,

based on the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, within thirty

(30) calendar days of 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.

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

May 23, 2003

__________________

Date

1We assume for the purpose of analysis that

petitioner is an individual with a disability.