Donnie L. Bloomer, Petitioner,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionAug 28, 2003
03A30061 (E.E.O.C. Aug. 28, 2003)

03A30061

08-28-2003

Donnie L. Bloomer, Petitioner, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Donnie L. Bloomer v. USPS

03A30061

August 28, 2003

.

Donnie L. Bloomer,

Petitioner,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Petition No. 03A30061

MSPB No. DE-3443-00-0064-B-1

DENIAL OF CONSIDERATION

Petitioner filed a petition with the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC or Commission) asking for review of the final decision

of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or Board) on his case. The

petition is governed by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and EEOC

Regulations at 29 C.F.R. �1614.101et seq.

Petitioner alleged the agency discriminated against him on the basis

of his prior military service when it removed him from his position as

a mailhandler for failure to disclose medical information on a medical

examination and assessment form. The record indicates petitioner had

previously filed an EEO complaint on the matter which was found to be

untimely. He also filed a grievance on the matter and appealed to the

MSPB, but his appeal was found to be untimely and was dismissed.<1>

The MSPB had jurisdiction under the Uniformed Services Employment and

Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Thereafter petitioner refiled

an appeal and the MSPB AJ issued an initial decision finding that

petitioner did not meet his burden under USERRA and upheld his removal

on March 2, 2002. Petitioner filed a petition with the full Board. The

full Board denied the petition for review on October 17, 2002. Petitioner

filed a petition for review with the Commission on July 8, 2003 arguing

that he was not given appeal rights to the Commission with respect to

the initial decision of November 19, 1999 by the Board finding that his

appeal was untimely and retaining only his USERRA claims. He included a

copy of the Board's final order of October 17, 2003. He sought a waiver

of the time limits.

EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission has jurisdiction over

mixed case appeals on which the MSPB has issued a decision that makes

determinations on allegations of discrimination. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.303 et

seq. The Commission has no jurisdiction over procedural matters decided

by the Board, as is the case here, where there are no discrimination

claims within the Commission's jurisdiction addressed by the Board.

Because the MSPB decisions did not address any matters within the

Commission's jurisdiction, the Commission has no jurisdiction to review

petitioner's case. Consequently, the Commission denies consideration of

the petition for review.

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

August 28, 2003

__________________

Date

1Bloomer v. USPS, MSPB Docket Number DE-0752-99-0343-I-1 (November 19,

1999), petition denied August 11, 2000. However, petitioner's USERRA

claims were preserved.