01994891
04-18-2002
Vickie L. Burns, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Vickie L. Burns v. United States Postal Service
01994891
April 18, 2002
.
Vickie L. Burns,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01994891
Agency No. 4-G-752-0448-97
Hearing No. 310-98-5369X
DECISION
After receiving an unfavorable decision on her claim by an Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge (AJ), the
complainant filed a premature appeal. The agency then issued a final
decision adopting the AJ's decision. As the appeal was pending at the
time the final decision was issued, it is deemed timely and accepted
under 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.
The complainant, a distribution/window clerk, claimed that she was
discriminated against based on her race (black), sex (female) and
disability (reproductive organs) when management allegedly failed to
adhere to a verbal agreement for the distribution of flats in June 1997.
Following an investigation and the complainant's request for a hearing,
the AJ issued a decision without a hearing finding no discrimination.
The agency then issued a final decision adopting the AJ's decision.
We will assume, without deciding and for analysis purposes only, that
the complainant is an individual with a disability. We agree, for the
reasons found by the AJ, that summary judgment was appropriate because
there are no genuine issues of material fact and the complainant failed
to prove she was a victim of unlawful discrimination. There is no
evidence that any unlawful criteria was used by management officials.
After a through review of the record, the Commission finds that the
complainant failed to establish race, sex or disability animus<1> when
she was assigned to distribute flats.
The final agency decision finding no discrimination 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
April 18, 2002
__________________
Date
1The complainant does not claim that the agency failed to reasonably
accommodate her disability.