Thomas K. Carter, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionOct 8, 2002
05a20276 (E.E.O.C. Oct. 8, 2002)

05a20276

10-08-2002

Thomas K. Carter, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Thomas K. Carter v. USPS

05A20276

October 8, 2002

.

Thomas K. Carter,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Request No. 05A20276

Appeal No. 01985862

Agency No. 4I-570-0040-97

DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

The complainant initiated a request to the Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC or Commission) to reconsider the decision in Thomas

K. Carter v. U. S. Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01985862 (November

23, 2001). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in

its discretion, reconsider any previous Commission decision where the

requesting party demonstrates 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. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b).

After a review of the complainant's request for reconsideration, the

previous decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that the

request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it

is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision

in EEOC Appeal No. 01985862 remains the Commission's final decision.

There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of

the Commission on this request for reconsideration. The agency shall

comply with the Order as set forth below<1>:

ORDER

The agency is ordered to take the following remedial actions:

(1) The agency shall offer the complainant placement into the position

of Part-Time Flexible City Carrier, or a substantially similar position,

retroactive to the date on which he would have started in that position

had he not been discriminated against. This offer shall include an award

of back pay, with interest, and other benefits the complainant would

have received. The agency shall accomplish this action within sixty

(60) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final.

(2) The agency shall determine the appropriate amount of back pay,

with interest, and other benefits due the complainant, pursuant to 29

C.F.R. � 1614.501, no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date

this decision becomes final. The complainant shall cooperate in the

agency's efforts to compute the amount of back pay and benefits due,

and shall provide all relevant information requested by the agency.

If there is a dispute regarding the exact amount of back pay and/or

benefits, the agency shall issue a check to the complainant for the

undisputed amount within sixty (60) calendar days of the date the

agency determines the amount it believes to be due. The complainant

may petition for enforcement or clarification of the amount in dispute.

The petition for clarification or enforcement must be filed with the

Compliance Officer, at the address referenced in the statement entitled

�Implementation of the Commission's Decision.�

(3) The agency shall consider taking disciplinary action against the

agency officials identified as being responsible for the discriminatory

non-hiring of complainant. The agency shall report its decision within

thirty (30) days of the date on which it receives this decision. If the

agency decides to take disciplinary action, it shall identify the action

taken. If the agency decides not to take disciplinary action, it shall

set forth the reason(s) for its decision not to impose discipline.

(4) The agency shall provide EEO training on disability discrimination

to the agency officials identified as being responsible for the

discriminatory non-hiring of complainant, within ninety (90) days of

the date on which it receives this decision.

The agency is further directed to submit a report of compliance, as

provided in the statement entitled �Implementation of the Commission's

Decision.� The report shall include supporting documentation of the

agency's calculation of back pay and other benefits due the complainant,

including evidence that the corrective action has been implemented.

POSTING ORDER (G0900)

The agency is ordered to post at its Aberdeen, South Dakota, facility

copies of the attached notice. Copies of the notice, after being

signed by the agency's duly authorized representative, shall be posted

by the agency within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision

becomes final, and shall remain posted for sixty (60) consecutive days,

in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to employees are

customarily posted. The agency shall take reasonable steps to ensure that

said notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

The original signed notice is to be submitted to the Compliance Officer

at the address cited in the paragraph entitled �Implementation of the

Commission's Decision,� within ten (10) calendar days of the expiration

of the posting period.

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.

ATTORNEY'S FEES (H0900)

If complainant has been represented by an attorney (as defined by

29 C.F.R. � 1614.501(e)(1)(iii), he/she is entitled to an award of

reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the processing of the complaint.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.501(e). The award of attorney's fees shall be paid

by the agency. The attorney shall submit a verified statement of fees

to the agency -- not to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,

Office of Federal Operations -- within thirty (30) calendar days of this

decision becoming final. The agency shall then process the claim for

attorney's fees in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.501.

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

October 8, 2002

__________________

Date

NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES

POSTED BY ORDER OF THE

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

An Agency of the United States Government

This Notice is posted pursuant to an Order by the United States Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission dated which found that a

violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �

791 et seq., has occurred at this facility.

Federal law requires that there be no discrimination against any employee

or applicant for employment because of the person's RACE, COLOR, RELIGION,

SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, or PHYSICAL or MENTAL DISABILITY with respect

to hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, or other terms, conditions

or privileges of employment.

The United States Postal Service, Aberdeen, South Dakota Post Office,

supports and will comply with such Federal law and will not take action

against individuals because they have exercised their rights under law.

The United States Postal Service, Aberdeen, South Dakota Post Office,

has been found to have discriminated against an individual regarding its

decision not to hire him and has been ordered to offer the individual

retroactive placement into the position in question with an award of

back pay and to pay the affected individual's attorney's fees and costs.

The United States Postal Service, Aberdeen, South Dakota Post Office,

will ensure that officials responsible for personnel decisions and

terms and conditions of employment will abide by the requirements of

all Federal equal employment opportunity laws and will not retaliate

against employees who file EEO complaints.

The United States Postal Service, Aberdeen, South Dakota Post Office,

will not in any manner restrain, interfere, coerce, or retaliate against

any individual who exercises his or her right to oppose practices made

unlawful by, or who participates in proceedings pursuant to, Federal

equal employment opportunity law.

_____________________________

Date Posted: _____________________

Posting Expires: __________________

29 C.F.R. Part 1614

1The agency's obligations under provisions 3 and 4 of the Order have

been clarified herein.