01994275
03-17-2000
Theresa Steward, Complainant, v. Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, Agency.
Theresa Steward, )
Complainant, )
) Appeal No. 01994275
v. ) Agency No. 99-2148
Lawrence H. Summers, )
Secretary, )
Department of the Treasury, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DISMISSAL OF APPEAL
By Notice of Appeal postmarked April 28, 1999, complainant filed an
appeal with this Commission from the March 30, 1999 final agency decision
dismissing her EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination.<1>
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409 provides that filing a civil action
under � 1614.407 or � 1614.408 shall terminate Commission processing of
the appeal. Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified
and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.407(d)) provides that
a complainant may file a civil action in United States District Court
after 180 days from the date of filing an appeal with the Commission,
if there has been no final decision by the Commission.
On September 30, 1999, complainant filed a civil action (identified as
Civil Action No. 99-2993) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of New Orleans. The record further discloses that the
allegations raised therein are the same as those raised in the instant
complaint. We note that while complainant's civil action was filed
prior to the expiration of the 180-day period, complainant's appeal
should be dismissed in view of the Commission's long-standing practice
of conserving resources and avoiding the potential for inconsistent or
conflicting decisions. See Posey v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Appeal
No. 01951777 (September 21, 1995).) Accordingly, complainant's April 28,
1999 appeal is hereby DISMISSED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0300)
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 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 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 (S1199)
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:
March 17, 2000
________________________________
Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations
1On November 9, 1999, revised
regulations governing the EEOC's federal sector complaint process
went into effect. These regulations apply to all federal sector
EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative process.
Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations found
at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the
present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the
Commission's website at WWW.EEOC.GOV.