Robert G. West, Appellant,v.Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 16, 1999
01984289 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 16, 1999)

01984289

06-16-1999

Robert G. West, Appellant, v. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs,) Agency.


Robert G. West v. Department of Veterans Affairs

01984289

June 16, 1999

Robert G. West, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01984289

)

Togo D. West, Jr., )

Secretary, )

Department of Veterans Affairs,)

Agency. )

)

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that appellant's complaint was properly

dismissed. In his complaint, appellant alleged that he was discriminated

against when: (1) during his tenure as Chief of Security, his requests for

additional staff, office space, furniture, and equipment were denied while

his successor's request was granted; and (2) as the identified responsible

management official in another employee's EEO complaint, he was denied

due process when the Investigator refused to interview his witnesses.

With regard to allegation 1, we find that the matter has been rendered

moot. The record indicates that appellant retired from his employment

with the agency. Since the remedial relief to which appellant would be

entitled if he prevailed on allegation 1 would be workplace relief, i.e.,

additional staff, office space, furniture, and equipment, appellant's

retirement has eradicated the effects of the alleged violation. In light

of appellant's retirement, it can be said with assurance that there is

no reasonable expectation that the alleged violation will recur.

With regard to allegation 2, we note that EEOC Management Directive

MD-110, Chapter V, Section VII(A)(3)(October 22, 1992), states "that

[t]he agency official responsible for allegedly discriminatory activity

is a witness and is entitled to no more rights than any other witnesses."

Appellant is in effect challenging how the agency investigates another

individual's complaint. Allowing such a claim could have a chilling

effect on the filing of an EEO complaint by aggrieved individuals.

See Blinco v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05940194

(May 25, 1994). Just as a complainant cannot file a complaint regarding

improper processing of his/her own complaint, an individual cannot file

a complaint regarding the processing of another person's complaint.

See Kleinman v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 05940579

(September 22, 1994). Therefore, this allegation fails to state

a claim.

Accordingly, the final agency decision dismissing appellant's complaint

is hereby 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 16, 1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations