01983824
06-14-1999
Thu-Hong T. Chapola, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Thu-Hong T. Chapola v. United States Postal Service
01983824
June 14, 1999
Thu-Hong T. Chapola, )
Appellant, )
)
v. )
) Appeal No. 01983824
William J. Henderson, ) Agency No. IK-221-0018-98
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final agency
decision (FAD) dated February 20, 1998 dismissing her complaint on the
grounds that she failed to state a claim.
The appellant alleged that she was discriminated against based on her
race (Asian), sex (female), age, national origin (Vietnam), and physical
disability (rotator cuff injury, permanent light duty)when on September
10, 1997 she was instructed off the clock because of her light duty status
while PTF's and casuals remained on the clock. As corrective action,
appellant requested the following: removal of the allegedly discriminatory
officials; training in oral communication, stress management, and EEO
regulations for discriminatory officials; no reprisal; adequate time
for representative to prepare appellant's case; compensatory damages;
punitive damages; and pay and benefits for time during incident.
The agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a).
Specifically, the agency determined that since appellant was paid for the
time lost on September 10, 1997 her complaint failed to state a claim.
According to the record, on October 30, 1997 a grievance settlement
was reached whereby appellant was paid for the time lost (four hours)
on September 10, 1997. The record shows that appellant initiated EEO
counseling on October 22, 1997.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) provides, in relevant part, that
an agency shall dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that fails to
state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved
employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been
discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103;
�1614.106(a). The Commission's federal sector case precedent has long
defined an "aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm or loss
with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which
there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request
No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).
In the instant case, appellant's allegation (instructed off the clock
while others remained on) does state a claim as it goes to a term,
condition, or privilege of employment. The proper analysis should
have been for mootness, since the FAD determined that interim relief
(the grievance settlement) has eradicated the effects of the alleged
discrimination.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(e) provides for the dismissal of a
complaint, or portions thereof, when the issues raised therein are moot.
To determine whether the issues raised in appellant's complaint are moot,
the factfinder must ascertain whether (1) it can be said with assurance
that there is no reasonable expectation that the alleged violation will
recur; and (2) interim relief or events have completely and irrevocably
eradicated the effects of the alleged discrimination. See County of Los
Angeles v. Davis, 440 U.S. 625, 631 (1979). When such circumstances
exist, no relief is available and no need for a determination of the
rights of the parties is presented.
While the agency's restoration of appellant's pay and benefits would have,
under some circumstances, rendered the complaint moot, it does not do so
in this case. In her complaint, appellant requested compensatory damages.
We have held that an agency must address the issue of compensatory
damages when the complainant presented objective evidence that he
incurred compensatory damages and that the damages were related to the
alleged discrimination. See Jackson v. USPS, EEOC Appeal No. 01923399
(November 12, 1992); request to reopen denied, EEOC Request No. 05930306
(February 11, 1993). In this case, the record does not show that the
agency met its obligation under Jackson to address appellant's claim
for compensatory damages. Specifically, the agency made no request for
objective evidence of compensatory damages prior to issuing the FAD.
Should appellant prevail in her allegation, the possibility of an award
of compensatory damages exists, and appellant's complaint cannot now
be found moot. See Glover v. USPS, EEOC Appeal No. 01930696 (December
9, 1993).
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss appellant's complaint
was improper, and is hereby REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED to the
agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and the
Order below.
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant
that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to
appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant
of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days
of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter is otherwise
resolved prior to that time. If the appellant requests a final decision
without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty
(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant and a copy
of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of rights
must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503(a). The appellant 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. ��1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503(g). Alternatively,
the appellant 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. ��1614.408 and 1614.409. 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) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
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. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some
jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner
suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your
civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN
THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision
or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the
jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)
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:
June 14, 1999
___________________________________
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations