01984430
06-07-1999
Lynnitra Bryson, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Lynnitra Bryson v. United States Postal Service
01984430
June 7, 1999
Lynnitra Bryson, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01984430
) Agency No. 1H-372-0010-98
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
On April 28, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal with this Commission
from a final agency decision (FAD), dated March 27, 1998, received by
appellant on March 31, 1998, pertaining to her complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. �2000e et seq. The Commission accepts
appellant's appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.
In her complaint, appellant alleged that she was discriminated against
on the bases of race (Black), and in reprisal for prior EEO activity
when on December 14, 1997, she was terminated.
The agency dismissed appellant's complaint as untimely. The agency found
that appellant received the Notice of Right to File Individual Complaint
on January 28, 1998, but she did not file her complaint until February
28, 1998, beyond the 15-day time limit.
On appeal, the appellant contends that her complaint was mailed timely
and that the February 12, 1998 postmark on her envelope and PS Form 3800,
receipt for certified mail, serves as proof. Appellant further notes that
she has no knowledge as to why there is a competing postmark of February
28, 1998, on that same envelope. Appellant, as an ex-postal employee,
asserts that time-sensitive mail is often lost/misplaced and that this
may be the reason why her complaint was not recognized as timely by the
agency.
However, the agency, in response to appellant's appeal contention,
maintains that it relied on the mail flow machine postmark of February
28,1998, as opposed to the round date stamp of February 12, 1998.
The agency claims the round date stamp is changed by hand, and that all
retail employees have access to it. The reasoning seems to be that this
particular postmark is more susceptible to fraudulent misuse.
Under 29 C.F.R. �1614.604(c) the time limits for filing a complaint of
discrimination are subject to waiver, estoppel and equitable tolling.
However, where there is an issue of timeliness, "[a]n agency always bears
the burden of obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned
determination as to timeliness." Guy, v. Department of Energy, EEOC
Request No. 05930703 (January 4, 1994) (quoting Williams v. Department
of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992)). In addition,
in Ericson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920623 (January
14, 1993), the Commission stated that the agency has the burden of
providing evidence and/or proof to support its final decisions. See Gens
v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05910837 (January 31, 1992).
In the present case, appellant submitted evidence in the form of a receipt
for certified mail indicating that she mailed her formal complaint on
February 12, 1998. While the agency contends that the round hand date
stamp on the envelope of February 12, 1998, should not be controlling
over the machine postmark of February 28, 1998, we find that appellant's
additional evidence contradicts the agency's contention. See Daoust
v. USPS, EEOC Appeal No. 01964817 (March 19, 1997). Accordingly, we
find that appellant's complaint was filed on February 12, 1998, within
the 15-day time limit.
Accordingly, we hereby REVERSE the agency's dismissal of appellant's
complaint as untimely and REMAND appellant's complaint to the agency
for further processing in accordance with the Order below.
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant
that it has received the remanded allegations 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 acknowledgment 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:
June 7, 1999
____________________________
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations