0120083535
01-09-2009
Tulanna D. Gunn, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Tulanna D. Gunn,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120083535
Agency No. 4H320008308
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated July 31, 2008, dismissing her complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. and
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29
U.S.C. � 621 et seq. Upon review, the Commission finds that complainant's
complaint was improperly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7),
for failure to cooperate. In her complaint, complainant alleged that she
was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (African-American),
color (Black), and age (47) when: on or about February 20, 2008, she
was taken off the clock pending an OIG investigation.
Complainant was a Rural Carrier Associate at the agency's Jacksonville,
Florida, Lake Forest Station at the time of the alleged discriminatory
actions. The record reflects that complainant requested precomplaint
processing on February 20, 2008, and received Notice of Right to File
Individual Complaint (PS Form 2579-A) on April 30, 2008. On May 5, 2008
complainant filed a formal complaint of discrimination with the agency.
Subsequently, the agency issued an Acceptance for Investigation dated
May 16, 2008.
On June 6, 2008, complainant was sent an affidavit package by the EEO
Contract Investigator. Records reveal the package was sent via Priority
Mail Delivery Confirmation No. 0307 1790 0004 6223 3964. A review of
the USPS Track and Confirm System indicates that Delivery Confirmation
No. 0307 1790 0004 6223 3964 was delivered to complainant's address of
record on June 9, 2008. Within the affidavit request was the following
notice:
If this affidavit is not returned within 15 calendar days of
receipt of the package, then
your complaint may be dismissed in accordance with 29 Code of Federal
Regulations 1614.107(a)(7).
Complainant failed to return the required affidavits needed for the
investigation of her complaint. The agency determined that complainant
failed to cooperate, and there is insufficient information in the record
to adjudicate her complaint.
EEOC Regulation found at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(7) provides that prior
to a request for a hearing in a case, the agency shall dismiss an entire
complaint where the agency has provided complainant with a written
request to provide relevant information or otherwise proceed with the
complaint, and complainant has failed to respond to the request within
15 days of its receipt or complainant's response does not address the
agency's request, provided that the request included a notice of the
proposed dismissal. The regulation further provides that, instead of
dismissing for failure to cooperate, the complaint may be adjudicated
if sufficient information for that purpose is available. Generally, the
Commission has held that an agency should not dismiss a complaint when it
has sufficient information upon which to base an adjudication. See Ross
v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05900693 (August 17,
1990); Brinson v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05900193
(April 12, 1990). It is only in cases where the complainant has engaged
in delay or contumacious conduct and the record is insufficient to permit
adjudication that the Commission as allowed a complaint to be dismissed
for failure to cooperate. See Card v. United States Postal Service,
EEOC Request No. 05970095 (April 23, 1998); Kroeten v. United States
Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940451 (Dec. 22, 1994).
In the instant case, we find that there is insufficient evidence to
support a conclusion that she purposely engaged in delay or contumacious
conduct. Instead, we find that there was sufficient information in the
record to have permitted the agency to have continued the investigation
(by collecting evidence from management witnesses) without complainant's
affidavit to permit an adjudication on the merits. A review of the record
indicates that complainant spoke with the agency's dispute resolution
specialist assigned to her case and provided extensive information
as detailed in the Dispute Resolution Specialist's Inquiry report (EEO
counselor's report). The information provided on complainant's claims was
sufficient to identify the specific management actions she is concerned
with, the relevant timeframes and the responsible management officials.
This is sufficient information to permit management witnesses to
respond to complainant's allegations. See Hearl v. United States Postal
Service, EEOC Appeal No. 0120082505 (July 28, 2008). Whether or not
these statements by complainant provide sufficient evidence to support
her claim of discrimination can be addressed in an adjudication of the
merits of her complaint.
Accordingly, we conclude that the agency should have completed its
investigation of the complaint without complainant's affidavit and
allowed for an adjudication on the merits rather than dismissing the
complaint. The complaint is hereby remanded to the agency for further
processing in accordance with this decision and the Order below.
ORDER (E0408)
The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue
to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
complainant 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 complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant 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 (K1208)
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 77960, Washington,
DC 20013. 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.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M1208)
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 77960,
Washington, DC 20013. 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 (R0408)
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 (Z1008)
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 from the Court that
the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also
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 with
the Court 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
January 9, 2009
__________________
Date
2
0120083535
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
5
0120083535