Lewis Coleman, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 22, 2003
01A33808_r (E.E.O.C. Dec. 22, 2003)

01A33808_r

12-22-2003

Lewis Coleman, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Lewis Coleman v. United States Postal Service

01A33808

December 22, 2003

.

Lewis Coleman,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A33808

Agency No. 1E-801-0218-03

DECISION

Complainant initiated contact with the agency's EEO Office on November

12, 2002. On December 28, 2002, complainant filed a formal EEO complaint

wherein he claimed that he was discriminated against on the bases of

his race (Black), color (black), sex (male), disability (shoulders and

left knee), and in reprisal for his previous EEO activity under Title

VII and the Rehabilitation Act when during a hearing before an EEOC

Administrative Judge on September 12, 2002, outdated documents were

utilized to slander and defame his character.

By decision dated May 14, 2003, the agency dismissed the complaint on

the grounds that complainant failed to initiate contact with an EEO

Counselor in a timely manner. The agency determined that complainant's

EEO contact on November 12, 2002, with regard to his complaint, was after

the expiration of the 45-day time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor.

The Commission agrees with the agency. Complainant's contact of an EEO

Counselor on November 12, 2002 was more than 45 days after the alleged

incident occurred on September 12, 2002. We find that complainant has

not submitted sufficient argument or evidence to justify an extension

of the 45-day limitation period.

Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing complainant's complaint

was proper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) and is AFFIRMED.<1>

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

December 22, 2003

__________________

Date

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify

that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

__________________

Date

______________________________

1In light of our affirmance of the agency's final action on this grounds,

we need not address the agency's alternative grounds for dismissal.