01a40356_r
01-10-2005
Ronald H. Matthews, Complainant, v. Gordon R. England, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.
Ronald H. Matthews v. Department of the Navy
01A40356
January 10, 2005
.
Ronald H. Matthews,
Complainant,
v.
Gordon R. England,
Secretary,
Department of the Navy,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A40356
Agency No. 03-44466-008
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency's decision dated
September 17, 2003, dismissing complainant's complaint due to untimely
EEO Counselor contact is proper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2).
In his August 20, 2003 complaint, complainant, a former employee,
alleged discrimination based on disability when from January 2000 to
October 30, 2002, his immediate supervisor and the Division Manager
did not accommodate him by allowing him time off needed for treatment
of his medical condition.<1> Complainant does not claim that any
incident occurred after October 30, 2002. The record indicates that
complainant contacted an EEO Counselor with regard to his complaint in
June 2003, which was beyond the 45-day time limit set by the regulations.
On appeal, complainant contends that his EEO contact was untimely since at
the time of the alleged incident, he was suffering from deep depression.
However, complainant fails to provide any evidence to show that he was so
physically or emotionally incapacitated as to be unable to make timely
EEO Counselor contact. See Weinberger v. Department of the Army, EEOC
Request No. 05920040 (February 21, 1992). Thus, the Commission finds
that complainant fails to present adequate justification to warrant an
extension of the applicable time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor.
Accordingly, the agency's decision 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
January 10, 2005
__________________
Date
1The record indicates that complainant was removed from his
position at the agency on October 30, 2002. On November 27, 2002,
complainant appealed his removal to the Merit Systems Protection
Board (MSPB). His MSPB appeal was dismissed on January 15, 2003,
due to his withdrawal of the appeal.