01984713
06-23-1999
Robert F. Miller, Appellant, v. Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.
Robert F. Miller v. Department of Agriculture
01984713
June 23, 1999
Robert F. Miller, )
Appellant, )
) Appeal No. 01984713
v. ) Agency No. 980374
)
Daniel R. Glickman, )
Secretary, )
Department of Agriculture, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
On May 20, 1998, appellant filed a timely appeal of an April 20, 1998
final agency decision dismissing his February 19, 1998 complaint for
failure to contact an EEO Counselor in a timely manner.
Generally, an aggrieved person must initiate contact with an EEO Counselor
within 45 days of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.105(a)(1). EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.604(c)
provides that the time limits in Part 1614 are subject to waiver,
estoppel and equitable tolling.
Upon review, the Commission agrees with the agency that appellant's
EEO contact was untimely. The final agency decision reflects that
appellant alleged that he was unlawfully discriminated against by the
agency when on April 12, 1997, he applied for a detail to the position
of an Investigative and Enforcement Officer (IES) which was announced
in an April 10, 1997 agency memorandum. Appellant's complaint reveals
that he knew at least by June 24, 1997, that he was not selected for
the detail. The Counselor's Report reveals, and it is undisputed, that
appellant did not initiate EEO Counselor contact until November 3, 1997.
Appellant does not argue that he was unaware of the applicable time limit.
Although appellant may have been trying to resolve the matter internally,
the Commission has consistently held that utilization of internal agency
procedures, union grievances, and other remedial processes does not toll
the time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor. See Kramer v. U.S. Postal
Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01954021 (October 5, 1995). Because appellant's
November 3, 1997 contact was beyond the 45 days required, his contact
was untimely and appellant has not provided justification sufficient to
extend the time limit.
Accordingly, consistent with our discussion, the agency's final decision
is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)
It is the position of the Commission that 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.
You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have
interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that
a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the
date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action
is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)
CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult
an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction
in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)
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:
June 23, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations