01A50287
01-18-2005
Marnelva D. Jorden, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Marnelva D. Jorden v. United States Postal Service
01A50287
January 18, 2005
.
Marnelva D. Jorden,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A50287
Agency No. 1C-191-0061-04
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) for failure to
state a claim. In a complaint dated August 20, 2004, the complainant
claimed that she was subjected to discrimination based on reprisal
for prior EEO activity when on July 14, 2004, she was accused by her
supervisor of being disrespectful. Specifically, the supervisor said
the complainant did not respond to a greeting and that the complainant
snatched a leave slip from her hand. The complainant denied all this.
With argument submitted after filing her appeal, the complainant
submits a statement written prior to her complaint where she added that
the supervisor also accused her of trying to �rile up the troops.� The
complainant indicated that she did not know what the supervisor meant by
this. We deem this as part of the complainant's complaint claim. In her
argument she adds that her supervisor has made it known to management that
the complainant is a complainer, but she is not. The complainant does not
explain the context of this, nor was this matter part of her complaint.
Whether alleged harassment is sufficiently severe to constitute
employment discrimination must be determined by looking at all the
circumstances, including the frequency of the discriminatory conduct,
its severity, whether it is physically threatening or humiliating,
or a mere offensive utterance, and whether it unreasonably interferes
with an employee's work performance. Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc.,
510 U.S. 17, 23 (1993). As a matter of law, the incidents raised by the
complainant in her complaint claim do not state a claim of harassment.
Further, the matter raised by the complainant in her complaint claim
are not reasonably likely to deter her or others from engaging in
protected activity.
Accordingly, 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
January 18, 2005
__________________
Date