01A11791_r
04-03-2002
Marlene A. Charette, Complainant, v. Gale A. Norton, Secretary, Department of the Interior, Agency.
Marlene A. Charette v. Department of the Interior
01A11791
April 3, 2002
.
Marlene A. Charette,
Complainant,
v.
Gale A. Norton,
Secretary,
Department of the Interior,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A11791
Agency No. FNP-2001-007
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely
EEO contact. Complainant alleged that she was discriminated against
on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, National Origin, and
age, when, on June 21, 2000, she was not selected for the position of
Maintenance Worker, WG-4749-05, at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Complainant contacted an EEO Counselor with regard to the complaint on
August 30, 2000, which was beyond the forty-five day limitation period.
Complainant asserted that she was not aware of the forty-five day
limitation. However, the record indicates that complainant had notice of
the time requirement for contacting an EEO Counselor when she received
the EEO training on May 24, 1999. Complainant indicated that after she
was not selected, she tried to resolved the matter through management,
and she contacted an EEO Counselor when she received a letter dated
August 11, 2000, from the Superintendent clarifying and explaining the
agency's selection decision. The Commission finds that complainant
knew or reasonably should have suspected discrimination at the time
of nonselection. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(2); Ball v. United States
Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05880247 (July 6, 1988). Furthermore,
the Commission has held that the internal appeal of an agency action does
not toll the running of EEO time limitations. See Hosford v. Veterans
Administration, EEOC Request No. 05890038 (June 9, 1989). As complainant
has presented no persuasive arguments or evidence to warrant an extension
of the time limit for initiating EEO contact, the agency's final decision
dismissing complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.
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
April 3, 2002
__________________
Date