01A23223_r
10-17-2002
Thomas B. Mozee, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Thomas B. Mozee v. United States Postal Service
01A23223
October 17, 2002
.
Thomas B. Mozee,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A23223
Agency No. 4C-150-0038-02
DECISION
Complainant appeals to the Commission from the April 24, 2002 agency
decision dismissing his complaint. Complainant alleges discrimination on
the bases of race, retaliation, and disability when, on October 17, 2002,
he was notified that he was denied official time to copy documents in his
EEO file. The agency dismissed complainant's complaint pursuant to 29
C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(8), for alleging dissatisfaction with a previously
filed complaint.
A determination of complainant's claim of discrimination based on race,
retaliation, or disability is not relevant to the claim of being denied
official time. A denial of official time would be a violation of 29
C.F.R. � 1614.605(b). The Commission has the authority to remedy such
a violation, without a finding of discrimination. See Edwards v. United
States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05950708 (October 31, 1996).
According to the denial letter from the agency dated October 17, 2001,
complainant was denied official time to review and copy his complaint
file. However, the agency noted that complainant may make arrangements
for receiving official time to prepare for a hearing. The Commission
finds that the agency properly denied complainant official time to make
copies of his files that complainant had constructed through the filing
of the complaint. Complainant already should have had such documents
in his possession. Complainant has not claimed that the agency denied
him official time to file his complaint or to prepare for the hearing.
Therefore, we find that the agency is not in violation of 29 C.F.R. �
1614.605(b), because complainant has failed to show that he was denied
a reasonable amount of official time to prepare his complaint or respond
to agency or EEOC requests for information.
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
October 17, 2002
__________________
Date