01A30665_r
08-07-2003
Travis W. Stumpff, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Travis W. Stumpff v. United States Postal Service
01A30665
August 7, 2003
.
Travis W. Stumpff,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A30665
Agency No. 4-E-680-0052-02
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency properly dismissed
complainant's employment discrimination complaint for failure to state
a claim, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). In the complaint,
complainant alleged discrimination on the bases of race (Caucasian), sex
(male), and reprisal for prior EEO activity when on February 27, 2002,
complainant was subjected to demeaning remarks by coworkers.
In his May 24, 2002 formal complaint, complainant explained the
circumstances surrounding his claim. Specifically, complainant asserts
that on February 20, 2002, he reported a conversation he overheard
wherein a coworker told a story involving the genitalia of a fellow
employee. On February 27, 2002, complainant and the employees involved
in the conversation met with management to discuss the February 20,
2002 incident. At this meeting, the other employees �ridicule[d],
demean[ed], and [told] lies about [complainant],� but management limited
complainant's opportunity to respond. Management later explained that
it limited complainant's comments because he was �red-faced� during the
meeting, which complainant believes was race discrimination targeting
an �involuntary characteristic of [his] ethnicity.�
The Commission finds that the complaint fails to state a claim under the
EEOC regulations because complainant failed to show that he suffered harm
or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for
which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC
Request No. 05931049 (Apr. 21, 1994). Further, the incident complainant
describes is neither severe or pervasive enough to state a claim of
hostile work environment harassment. See Harris v. Forklift Systems,
Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993); Cobb v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC
Request No. 05970077 (Mar. 13, 1997). Accordingly, the agency's final
decision is AFFIRMED.
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
August 7, 2003
__________________
Date