01A23351
09-26-2002
Louis Guerra, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Louis Guerra v. United States Postal Service
01A23351
September 26, 2002
.
Louis Guerra,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A23351
Agency No. 1F-941-0029-02
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.107(a)(2) & (4),
for untimely EEO Counselor contact and for electing to file Merit
Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals prior to the filing of his EEO
complaint. In his complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected
to discrimination on the bases of national origin (Hispanic), disability
(cognitive impairment), age (DOB 5/9/49), and in reprisal for prior EEO
activity when: (1) he was not allowed to return to work and was placed on
AWOL; and (2) he was removed from the agency effective December 22, 2001.
The record indicates that complainant filed a mixed case appeal with the
MSPB on July 11, 2001, regarding claim one and filed an appeal on his
removal with the MSPB on December 24, 2001. Complainant contacted an
EEO counselor regarding the claims in his complaint on January 25, 2002.
While on appeal, complainant claims that he withdrew his appeals
to the MSPB, the fact remains that complainant first elected to
file mixed case appeals with the MSPB prior to the filing of his
EEO complaint. Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing
complainant's complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R.� 1614.107(4) was proper
and the decision is affirmed on those grounds.
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
September 26, 2002
__________________
Date