01A44956
11-22-2004
Peggy A. Duff, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Peggy A. Duff v. United States Postal Service
01A44956
11-22-04
.
Peggy A. Duff,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A44956
Agency No. 4J-530-0089-04
DECISION
Complainant appeals to the Commission from the agency's final decision
dismissing her complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2),
for untimely EEO Counselor contact. In Complaint No. 4J-530-0089-04,
complainant claimed that she was subjected to discrimination on the bases
of disability (unspecified mental condition) and reprisal for prior EEO
activity when, on an unspecified date, confidential medical information
was disclosed which resulted in her wrongful termination.
An aggrieved individual must contact an EEO counselor within 45 days
of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1).
The counselor's report indicates that complainant first contacted an EEO
counselor on March 17, 2004. However, neither the counselor's report
nor the formal EEO complaint identifies the date on which the allegedly
unauthorized disclosure took place. The counselor's report indicates
that, on March 11, 2004, an incident took place involving placement of
certain mail in her mailbox. This incident, however, was not raised
in the formal complaint. There are no other indications in the record
identifying the date of the disclosure of confidential information that is
the subject of Complaint No. 4J-530-0089-04. Without that information,
the Commission is unable to determine whether complainant's initial
contact with an EEO counselor on March 17, 2004, was timely.
Accordingly, the Commission reverses the agency's final decision
dismissing Complaint No. 4J-530-0089-04 and remands the matter for a
determination of the date on which the alleged unauthorized disclosure
of confidential information occurred.
ORDER
Within thirty (30) calendar days of the date that this decision becomes
final, the agency shall ascertain the date on which the disclosure of
confidential medical information at issue in Complaint No. 4J-530-0089-04
allegedly occurred, and shall, depending upon its findings, either issue
a new final decision dismissing the complaint or process the complaint
in accordance with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0501)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement
of the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the
right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g).
Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a civil action on
the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled
"Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408.
A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying
complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)
(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the complainant files a civil action, the
administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for
enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
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 (R0900)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date
that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a
civil action after one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date
you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the
Commission. 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. 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
______11-22-04____________
Date