01A31068_r
03-24-2003
Ronald P. Cohen, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Ronald P. Cohen v. United States Postal Service
01A31068
March 24, 2003
.
Ronald P. Cohen,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A31068
Agency No. 4B-060-0007-03
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed by the agency pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(1), on
the grounds of failure to state a claim. In a formal EEO complaint dated
October 28, 2002, complainant claimed that he was discriminated against
under the Equal Pay Act when management failed to provide him with any
information as to when he would be receiving a supervisor differential
adjustment in his paycheck. According to complainant, he was informed
on April 4, 2002, that he was eligible to receive an adjustment.
By decision dated November 19, 2002, the agency dismissed the complaint
as it determined that complainant failed to raise a violation of the
Equal Pay Act on the basis of his sex. The agency further stated
that complainant failed to claim an individual or unique harm as
approximately 10,000 other eligible employees were not notified when
they would receive their supervisor differential adjustment. Finally,
the agency dismissed the complaint on the grounds of mootness pursuant
to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(5). The agency determined that by check
dated November 8, 2002, complainant received a supervisor differential
adjustment in the amount of $147.13.
We find that the instant complaint failed to state a claim under the
Equal Pay Act as complainant did not claim that he was discriminated
against on the basis of his sex. Complainant has not claimed that any
female employee was notified of when she would be receiving her supervisor
differential adjustment. Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing
complainant's complaint on the grounds of failure to state a claim was
proper and is AFFIRMED.<1>
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
March 24, 2003
__________________
Date
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision
was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify
that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative
(if applicable), and the agency on:
__________________
Date
______________________________
1In light of our affirmance of the agency's dismissal on the grounds of
failure to state a claim, we need not address the agency's alternative
grounds for dismissal.