01a02636
07-24-2000
Victor W. Williams, Complainant, v. Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.
Victor W. Williams, )
Complainant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01A02636
) Agency No. 00-67001-002
Richard J. Danzig, )
Secretary, )
Department of the Navy, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DECISION
Complainant filed the instant appeal from the agency's decision dated
January 2000, dismissing his complaint pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,
37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as EEOC
Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)), due to the untimely filing of
the formal complaint.<1> Complainant alleges that he was discriminated
against on the bases of color (black), age (56), and reprisal for prior
EEO complaints when on February 19, 1998 he was non-selected for the
position of Industrial Equipment Mechanic Supervisor I.
The record discloses that complainant received the notice of right to
file a formal complaint on May 6, 1998. Although the notice indicated
that complainant must file a formal complaint within fifteen (15) calendar
days of its receipt, complainant did not file his formal complaint until
January 14, 2000, which is beyond the limitation period. On appeal,
complainant claims that his attorney had a nervous breakdown and was
suspended from practicing law on April 6, 1999. Complainant argues that
he was unaware that his case was not being pursued..
It is well settled that an appellant is responsible for the actions or
inactions of his/her attorney. See Burton v. Department of the Navy,
EEOC Request No. 05940615 (March 20, 1995) (citing Johnson v. Department
of the Treasury, 721 F.2d 361, 365 (Fed. Cir. 1983)). Further, we note
that under the regulation set forth at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661
(1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as EEOC Regulation
29 C.F.R. � 1614.605(d)), when a complainant designates an attorney as
representative, time frames for receipt of materials shall be computed
from the time of receipt by the attorney.
After review of the instant case the Commission finds complainant's appeal
does not present a sufficient argument warranting an extension of time.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing appellant's complaint
is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0300)
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 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 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).
COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)
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:
July 24, 2000
________________________________
Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision
was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that
the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative
(if applicable), and the agency on:
_______________ __________________________
Date 1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's
federal sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations
apply to all federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in
the administrative process. Consequently, the Commission will apply
the revised regulations found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where
applicable, in deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended,
may also be found at the Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.