Hattie L. King, Complainant,v.Hansford T. Johnson, Acting Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 25, 2003
01A24630 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 25, 2003)

01A24630

06-25-2003

Hattie L. King, Complainant, v. Hansford T. Johnson, Acting Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.


Hattie L. King v. Department of the Navy

01A24630

June 25, 2003

.

Hattie L. King,

Complainant,

v.

Hansford T. Johnson,

Acting Secretary,

Department of the Navy,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A24630

Agency No. DON-01-57095-021

Hearing No. 120-A1-4526X

DECISION

Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405, the Commission accepts the complainant's

appeal from the agency's final decision in the above-entitled matter.

Complainant alleged that the agency had discriminated against her on

the basis of race (Black) when:

(1) she was terminated, after she was not assigned appropriate billing

clerk work;

management permitted a co-worker to act in a hostile manner toward

her; and

the entire Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) staff failed to support

her when she asked for assistance.

The record reveals that complainant initially requested a hearing before

an Administrative Judge, but then failed to appear at the scheduled

hearing. On May 3, 2002, the AJ dismissed the case, and remanded it

to the agency for issuance of a final agency decision. Upon review,

we find that under the circumstances, the Administrative Judge properly

exercised his discretion. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.109(f)(3)(v); Equal

Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614,

at 7-9, (revised November 9, 1999). As this is an appeal from a FAD

issued without a hearing, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.110(b), the

agency's decision is subject to de novo review by the Commission. 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405(a).

After a review of the record in its entirety, including consideration

of all statements submitted on appeal, it is the decision of the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to affirm the final agency

decision because unlawful employment discrimination was not proven by

a preponderance of the evidence.

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

June 25, 2003

__________________

Date