01990745
10-08-1999
James A. Burns, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
James A. Burns, )
Appellant, )
)
v. )
) Appeal No. 01990745
William J. Henderson, ) Agency No. HO-0199-98
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
On November 2, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission
from a final agency decision (FAD), dated October 19, 1998, dismissing his
complaint for failure to state a claim and untimely counselor contact.
Accordingly, the Commission accepts the appeal in accordance with EEOC
Order No. 960, as amended.
On May 5, 1998 appellant contacted the EEO office regarding allegations
of discrimination based on race (Caucasian), age (d.o.b. September 6,
1944), and retaliation. Specifically, appellant alleged that he was
discriminated against when: on May 4, 1998, he received a letter denying
his 650 appeal regarding his termination.
The agency dismissed appellant's complaint pursuant to 29
C.F.R. �1614.107(a) and (b). The FAD indicated that the complaint fails
to make a claim of harm or loss that can be remedied under EEO laws,
and is an impermissible collateral attack on 650 appeal proceedings.
Further, the agency determined that appellant's termination was effective
on February 16, 1996 and therefore his May 5, 1998 counselor contact was
well beyond the 45 day time limitation. The FAD stated that appellant's
use of the EEO process, to address his dissatisfaction with his 650
appeal, is an abuse of process.
On appeal, appellant indicates that the �650 appeal process is a broken
process and in need of repair.� He argues that his complaint should be
addressed by the EEOC because the AJ at the MSPB hearing did not want
to handle his EEO complaints. In addition, appellant contends that he
is the subject of a �conspiracy� by the agency.
Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency properly
dismissed appellant's complaint for failure to state a claim.
The Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint
process to lodge a collateral attack on another proceeding. See Wills
v. Department of Defense , EEOC Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998);
Kleinman v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05940585 (September 22, 1994);
Lingad v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 24, 1993). The proper
forum for appellant to have raised his challenges to actions which
occurred during the grievance process was within the process itself.
It is inappropriate to now attempt to use the EEO process to collaterally
attack actions which occurred during the grievance process. Because of
our disposition we do not consider whether the complaint was properly
dismissed on other grounds.
Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing appellant's complaint
is AFFIRMED.
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 (S0993)
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:
October 8, 1999
__________________________________
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations