01986461
09-10-1999
Joe L. Ruiz, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Joe L. Ruiz v. United States Postal Service
01986461
September 10, 1999
Joe L. Ruiz, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01986461
) Agency No. 4-G-770-0197-98
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
On August 22, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal of a final agency
decision, which was dated July 20, 1998, dismissing his complaint,
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(g), for failure to cooperate.<1>
In its final decision, the agency identified the allegation of appellant's
December 23, 1997 complaint as whether appellant was discriminated
against when on November 12, 1997, he was denied access to his EEO
representative and union steward. The agency stated that on March 10,
1998, and May 12, 1998, it provided appellant with a written request to
complete an affidavit, but he failed to respond to the request.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(g) provides that the agency shall
dismiss a complaint or a portion of a complaint where the agency provided
the complainant with a written request to provide relevant information
or otherwise proceed with the complaint, and the complainant failed to
respond to the request within 15 days of its receipt or the complainant's
response does not address the agency's request, provided that the request
included a notice of the proposed dismissal. Instead of dismissing for
failure to cooperate, the complaint may be adjudicated if sufficient
information for that purpose is available.
Upon review, we find that the agency improperly dismissed the complaint
for failure to cooperate. Specifically, the agency failed to provide,
in the record, a copy of written requests of March 10, 1998, and May
12, 1998, which were purportedly sent to appellant. The agency has the
burden of providing evidence and/or proof to support its final decisions.
Ericson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920623 (January
14, 1993); Gens v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05910837
(January 31, 1992). Furthermore, appellant contends on appeal that
he provided the agency with all the information necessary for them to
process his complaint, and the affidavit requested by the agency only
contained questions concerning compensatory damages and tax problems.
The agency proffers no rebuttal to appellant's contentions.
Accordingly, the agency's decision is REVERSED, and the complaint is
REMANDED to the agency for further processing in accordance with this
decision and applicable regulations.
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded complaint in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant
that it has received the remanded complaint within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to
appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant
of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days
of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter is otherwise
resolved prior to that time. If the appellant requests a final decision
without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty
(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgement to appellant and a copy
of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of rights
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:
Sept. 10, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations
1The agency was unable to supply a copy of a certified mail return receipt
or any other material capable of establishing the date appellant received
the agency's final decision. Accordingly, since the agency has failed
to fulfill its obligation to transmit its final decision by a method
enabling the agency to show the date of receipt, the Commission presumes
that appellant's appeal was filed within thirty (30) days of receipt of
the agency's final decision. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.402.