01983416_r
06-10-1999
Estrelita M. Domingsil, Appellant, v. Louis Caldera, Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.
Estrelita M. Domingsil, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01983416
) Agency No. AOEWFO9706H0410
)
Louis Caldera, )
Secretary, )
Department of the Army, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
The record indicates that the agency dismissed appellant's complaint,
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(b), due to untimely EEO Counselor contact.
In her complaint, appellant alleged that on or about March 20, 1997,
a Personnel Specialist made a derogatory remark about her disability
and harassed/threatened her with loss of her job; and she, while under
her doctor's care, was terminated from her employment effective March
22, 1997. On appeal, appellant contends that she was not aware of
the requisite time limit to contact an EEO Counselor with regard to
her complaint until May 14, 1997, when she was informed of such from
her former attorney. We note that it is the Commission's policy that
constructive knowledge will be imputed to an employee when an employer
has fulfilled its obligation of informing employees of their rights
and obligations under Title VII. Thompson v. Department of the Army,
EEOC Request 05910474 (September 12, 1991). Since there is no evidence
in the record whether appellant had actual or constructive knowledge
of the requisite time limit for EEO Counselor contact, the agency
is Ordered, as stated below, to conduct a supplemental investigation
concerning the matter. Accordingly, the agency's decision is VACATED,
and the complaint is REMANDED to the agency for further processing in
accordance with this decision and applicable regulations.
ORDER
The agency, within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision
becomes final, is ORDERED to investigate the issue of whether EEO
information, including the time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor,
was on display or was in some other manner provided to appellant at
the time of the alleged incidents. The agency shall gather any other
evidence necessary to determine when appellant learned of the time
limit for contacting an EEO Counselor. The agency, within thirty (30)
days of the date this decision becomes final, shall issue a new final
agency decision accepting or dismissing the complaint after it determines
whether appellant had actual or constructive notice of the time limit
for contacting an EEO Counselor or acted in a timely manner once she
obtained actual or constructive knowledge.
A copy of the new final agency decision or notice of processing on the
complaint must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory. The
agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30) calendar
days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The report
shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503(a). The appellant also has the right
to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. ��1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503(g). Alternatively,
the appellant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying
complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File
A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. ��1614.408 and 1614.409. A civil action for
enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to
the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �2000e-16(c) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some
jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner
suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your
civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN
THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision
or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the
jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. In the alternative,
you may file a civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR
DAYS of the date you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your
appeal with the Commission. 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.
Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of
your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1092)
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:
June 10, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations