Michael D. Thomas, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionAug 22, 2003
01A33399_r (E.E.O.C. Aug. 22, 2003)

01A33399_r

08-22-2003

Michael D. Thomas, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Michael D. Thomas v. United States Postal Service

01A33399

August 22, 2003

.

Michael D. Thomas,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A33399

Agency No. 4H-310-0048-03

DECISION

Complainant appeals to the Commission from the agency's April 21, 2003

decision dismissing his complaint. Complainant alleges discrimination on

the basis of disability when on August 12, 2002, he was given a limited

duty job offer which he signed on August 13, 2002, accepting the offer.

The agency dismissed complainant's complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(2), for untimely EEO Counselor contact. The agency also

dismissed complainant's complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1),

for raising the same claim that is pending before or already decided by

the agency or Commission.

The record indicates that complainant raised the same claim, or a claim

that is inextricably intertwined with the instant claim, in a previous

EEO complaint identified as agency number 4H-310-0004-03. Therefore,

we find the agency's dismissal, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1),

proper. Since complainant's complaint is properly dismissed under the

above stated grounds, the Commission will not make a determination on

the agency's alternative grounds for dismissal.

The agency's decision dismissing complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED

for reasons set forth herein.

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

August 22, 2003

__________________

Date