01A22623_r
07-18-2002
Myrtle Payne, Complainant, v. Anthony J. Principi, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
Myrtle Payne v. Department of Veterans Affairs
01A22623
July 18, 2002
.
Myrtle Payne,
Complainant,
v.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A22623
Agency No. 200L-2420
DECISION
The Commission finds that the agency's March 29, 2002 decision dismissing
complainant's complaint was proper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2),
due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint. Complainant alleges
that she was discriminated against on the basis of age when: (1) on
July 26, 2001, she received an electronic mail from the Associate Chief
of Clinical Operations regarding mistakes in �appointment scheduling,�
adversely affecting the VISNGU Clinic Reports; (2) on August 13, 2001,
she received a written counseling �next Available Scheduling Patch,� which
notified her that her errors/entries of �next Available� appointment
adversely affected the VISN reports from April to June 2001; and (3)
on August 14, 2001, she was reassigned to the Pulmonary, Coumadin,
Rheumatology and Medical Procedure Clinics.
The record discloses that complainant received the notice of right to
file a formal complaint on September 18, 2001. Although the notice
indicates that complainant had to file a formal complaint within
15 calendar days of its receipt, complainant did not file her formal
complaint until October 4, 2001, which is beyond the limitation period.
On appeal, complainant has not offered adequate justification to warrant
an extension of the time limit for filing the complaint.
The agency's 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
July 18, 2002
__________________
Date