01a50918
01-26-2005
Maurice B. Tolan, Complainant, v. R.L. Brownlee, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.
Maurice B. Tolan v. Department of the Army
01A50918
January 26, 2005
.
Maurice B. Tolan,
Complainant,
v.
R.L. Brownlee,
Acting Secretary,
Department of the Army,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A50918
Agency No. ARCEMEM04JUL0108
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated September 29, 2004, dismissing his formal complaint
of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e
et seq.
In its final decision, the agency characterized complainant's September
13, 2004 formal complaint as claiming that complainant was the victim of
unlawful employment discrimination on the bases of race and in reprisal
for prior EEO activity when, on July 7, 2004, complainant's formal
EEO complaint (in agency Case No. ARCEMEM03AUG0085) was dismissed.
The agency dismissed the instant complaint on the grounds that it alleged
dissatisfaction with the processing of a previously filed complaint.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(8) provides that the agency shall
dismiss a complaint that alleges dissatisfaction with the processing of
a previously filed complaint.
The Commission determines that complainant's claim concerns the agency's
purportedly unfair dismissal of a previously filed EEO complaint, Agency
Case No. ARCEMEM03AUG0085. The proper recourse for complainant was to
appeal the agency's alleged improper dismissal of his prior complaint.
The records indicate that complainant did file an appeal of that
dismissal, which the Commission affirmed in Tolan v. Department of
the Army, EEOC Appeal No. 01A45445 (November 22, 2004). Complainant's
request for reconsideration of that appellate decision is pending before
the Commission in EEOC Request No. 05A50384. Accordingly, the agency's
dismissal 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 26, 2005
__________________
Date