01a43877
11-08-2004
Sandra Martinez, Complainant, v. Thomas J. Ridge, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security Agency.
Sandra Martinez v. Department of Homeland Security
01A43877
November 8, 2004
.
Sandra Martinez,
Complainant,
v.
Thomas J. Ridge,
Secretary,
Department of Homeland Security
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A43877
Hearing No. 340-A1-3046X
Agency Nos. I-98-W-058; I-00-W111
DECISION
A decision on this matter requires an understanding of the procedural
history of the case. After complainant filed a formal EEO complaint and
received the report of investigation, complainant exercised her right to
request a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). Subsequently,
on January 1, 2003, complainant withdrew her request for a hearing.
On January 31, 2003, the AJ issued an Order of Dismissal (Order) in which
the AJ granted the complainant's request for withdrawal and remanded the
complaint to the agency to take final action consistent with 29 C.F.R. �
1614.110(b). The agency, however, took no action. Instead of construing
the AJ's Order for what it was - a grant of complainant's withdrawal
of a hearing request and a remand to the agency for final action -
the agency interpreted the Order as one dismissing the complaint.
The agency argues that its interpretation and actions are valid under
section 29 C.F.R. � 1614.109(i). See Agency's Brief in Opposition to
Complainant's Request for a Hearing and Sanctions, dated Aug. 8, 2003
(Agency's Brief), at 2-3. Pursuant to that section, if an agency does
not issue a final order within forty days of receipt of the AJ's decision
in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.110, the AJ's decision becomes the
final action of the agency. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.109(i). Although there
is no dispute as to the meaning of the regulation, the agency erred
in applying it to this matter because the AJ did not issue a decision
dismissing the complaint. Although admittedly the AJ used the word
�dismissal� in her Order, she merely granted the complainant's request
for a withdrawal of a hearing. See Order at 1 (�Notice is hereby given
that the ... case is DISMISSED pursuant to the request for Final Agency
Decision dated January 1, 2003.�). The AJ's Order was not a dismissal
of the complaint. On the contrary, the Order directed the agency to
take final action within sixty days of receipt of the Order. See id.
After waiting and insisting that the agency issue a final decision on
her complaint, complainant appealed to the Commission on April 26, 2004.
Only after filing the appeal did the Agency respond to complainant with
the Agency's Brief. The Commission finds that the agency failed in
its obligation to issue a timely final agency decision in accordance
with the AJ's directions. Contrary to the agency's argument that the
AJ issued a decision dismissing the complaint, and that it had thereby
accepted by default the AJ's decision after the forty day time period
lapsed, an analysis of the case file and the AJ's Order reveals that no
such decision had been issued. The AJ did not dismiss the complaint.
As such, the agency's decision as expressed in the Agency's Brief is
VACATED, and the agency is directed to comply with the Order below.
ORDER
Within sixty (60) calendar days of this decision becoming final, the
agency is hereby ordered to issue a final agency decision pursuant to
29 C.F.R. � 1614.110(b).
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
November 8, 2004
__________________
Date