01993222
05-24-1999
Jose M. Bejar, Appellant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
Jose M. Bejar v. Department of Veterans Affairs
01990563
May 24, 1999
Jose M. Bejar, )
Appellant, )
) Appeal Nos. 01990563
v. ) 01993125
) 01993222
Togo D. West, Jr., ) Agency No. 97-0609
Secretary, )
Department of Veterans )
Affairs, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.606, the Commission hereby consolidates
the above-referenced complaints for decision on appeal. On October
23, 1998, March 8, 1999, and March 16, 1999, this Commission received
appellant's timely appeals from, respectively, the October 7, 1998,
February 23, 1999, and February 19, 1999 final agency decisions (FADs)
concerning the implementation of the agency's prior FAD finding that
appellant was subjected to unlawful reprisal for his prior EEO activity,
and the amount of attorney's fees to which he was entitled.
On September 29, 1998, appellant filed a civil action (identified as
Civil Action No. 98-2438-JWL) in the United States District Court for the
District of Kansas. The record further discloses that the allegations
raised therein are the same as those raised in the present cases.
Specifically, the civil action concerns the implementation of the agency's
FAD in the above-referenced complaint. With regard to the determination
of attorney's fees, we find that as this matter was raised in the
subject agency FAD, appellant should raise it in his civil action since
it appears to be inextricably intertwined with the underlying matter.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.410 provides that the filing of a
civil action "shall terminate Commission processing of the appeal."
Commission regulations mandate dismissal of the EEO complaint under these
circumstances so as to prevent a complainant from simultaneously pursuing
both administrative and judicial remedies on the same matters, wasting
resources, and creating the potential for inconsistent or conflicting
decisions, and in order to grant due deference to the authority of the
federal district court. See Stromgren v. Department of Veterans Affairs,
EEOC Request No. 05891079 (May 7, 1990); Sandy v. Department of Justice,
EEOC Appeal No. 01893513 (October 19, 1989); Kotwitz v. USPS, EEOC Request
No. 05880114 (October 25, 1988). Accordingly, appellant's March 13,
1998 appeal is hereby DISMISSED. 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 (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:
May 24, 1999
____________________________
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations