01A35266_r
12-23-2003
Willie M. Strange v. United States Postal Service
01A35266
December 23, 2003
.
Willie M. Strange,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A35266
Agency No. 4C-280-0162-03
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated November 5, 2003, dismissing his complaint of
unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �
791 et seq.
In his formal EEO complaint, filed on September 11, 2003, complainant
alleged that he was subjected to discrimination in reprisal for prior EEO
activity when on May 31, 2003 and June 4, 2003, he requested 16 hours
of sick leave, but was charged leave without pay. The EEO Dispute
Resolution Specialist's Inquiry Report indicated that complainant
requested $5,000.00 in damages for �continuing harassment. . .� In his
formal complaint, complainant requested as a remedy that all medical
bills be paid with interest and that he �be made whole.�
In its final decision, the agency dismissed the complaint as moot, finding
that 16 hours of sick leave had been restored. The agency found that
in correspondence to complainant dated August 22, 2003, it acknowledged
the error in charging complainant leave without pay for his absences.
In addition, the agency's letter indicated that the error had been
corrected the following pay period.
The Commission finds that complainant's complaint was improperly dismissed
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(5). The regulation set forth at
29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(5) provides for the dismissal of a complaint
when the issues raised therein are moot. To determine whether the issues
raised in complainant's complaint are moot, the fact-finder 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); Kuo v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Request No. 05970343
(July 10, 1998). When such circumstances exist, no relief is available
and no need for a determination of the rights of the parties is presented.
The Commission has held that an agency must address the issue of
compensatory damages when a complainant shows objective evidence that he
has incurred discrimination. Jackson v. United States Postal Service,
EEOC Appeal No. 01923399 (November 12, 1992), req. for recons. den., EEOC
Request No. 05930306 (February 1, 1993). Because complainant requested
compensatory damages, the agency should have requested that complainant
provide some objective proof of the alleged damages incurred, as well as
objective evidence linking those damages to the adverse action at issue.
See Allen v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05970672 (June
12, 1998); Benton v. Department of Defense, EEOC Appeal No. 01932422
(December 3, 1993). Therefore, as the agency failed to address the
issue of compensatory damages, we find that dismissal of complainant's
complaint on the grounds that it was rendered moot was improper.
See Rouston v. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EEOC
Request No. 05970388 (March 18, 1999).
Accordingly, the agency's dismissal of complainant's complaint pursuant to
29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(5), as moot was improper. The agency's dismissal
of the instant complaint is REVERSED and we REMAND the complaint to the
agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and the
Order below.
ORDER (E0900)
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 (K0501)
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 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 (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 (R0900)
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 (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
December 23, 2003
__________________
Date