01A23564
10-27-2003
Robert H. Vunder, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Robert H. Vunder v. United States Postal Service
01A23564
October 27, 2003
.
Robert H. Vunder,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A23564
Agency Nos. HO-132-95; HO-169-95; HO-0048-96;
HO-0151-94(A-T); HO-150-95; HO-0133-95
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated May 24, 2002, finding no discrimination regarding the
captioned complaints. The Commission accepts the appeal pursuant to 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405.
According to the record, complainant filed the captioned complaints
under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended,
42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. , Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq. , and
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,
29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. In his complaints, complainant alleged that he
was subjected to discrimination on the bases of national origin (Danish
American), disability (depression/emotional distress/stress and trauma),
age (D.O.B. 09/20/54), and reprisal for prior EEO activity when he was
not selected for approximately 25 Postal Career Executive Positions
nationwide and at Postal headquarters beginning in December 1992.
The agency issued a decision finding no discrimination on any of the
bases alleged for complainant's non-selection claims and noted that
while complainant characterized a great number of the selectees as being
unqualified for the positions to which they were promoted, he provided
little or no evidence to substantiate his claims.
A review of Commission records reveal however, that in Vunder, Et
Al. v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01A03892 (September
18, 2002), the Commission vacated the agency's decision denying class
certification and remanded the class and captioned individual complaints
for further processing as there was insufficient evidence in the record
to support a dismissal of complainant's class complaints. As such,
the captioned individual complaints must be subsumed within the request
for class certification. See EEOC Management Directive 110, Chapter 8,
Section III(C), (November 1999).
Accordingly, the agency decision is hereby VACATED, and the agency
is ordered to merge the captioned individual complaints with the class
action. The complaints are remanded for further processing in accordance
with this decision and applicable regulations.
ORDER (E0900)
The agency is ORDERED to take the following actions:
1. The agency shall merge the captioned individual complaints with the
class action complaint as discussed in this decision.
2. Within fifteen (15) fifteen calendar days of the date this decision
become final, the agency shall issue a Notice advising complainant that
the instant complaints are being merged with the class action complaint.
The agency must sent a copy of the aforementioned Notice to the
Commission's Compliance Officer as set forth below.
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
October 27, 2003
__________________
Date