01975551
03-12-1999
Kimberly D. Trotter Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Allegheny/ Mid-Atlantic Areas) Agency.
Kimberly D. Trotter v. United States Postal Service
01975551
March 12, 1999
Kimberly D. Trotter )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. #01975551
) Agency No. 4C-080-1199-94
William J. Henderson, ) Hearing No. 170-96-8299X
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
(Allegheny/ Mid-Atlantic Areas) )
Agency. )
________________________________)
DECISION
On July 1, 1997, appellant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission ("Commission") from the final decision of the
United States Postal Service ("agency"), concerning her allegation that
the agency violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title
VII"), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. In her complaint, appellant
alleged that the agency discriminated against her on the basis of her race
(Black) and sex (female), when on May 27, 1994, she was issued a Notice
of Removal, subsequently reduced to a Warning, for failure to follow
instructions and vehicle safety practices. This appeal is accepted by
the Commission in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960.001.
Following an investigation of this complaint, appellant requested a
hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission administrative
judge (AJ). Pursuant to appropriate EEOC regulations, the AJ issued
findings of fact and conclusions of law from the bench. On March
31, 1997, the AJ issued a Recommended Decision (RD) finding no
discrimination.
The AJ found that appellant failed to establish a prima facie case of race
and sex discrimination. Assuming that appellant had established a prima
facie case of race and sex discrimination, the AJ found that appellant
failed to establish that the agency's legitimate, non-discriminatory
reasons for its actions were pretextual. On June 3, 1997, the agency
issued a final decision, adopting the AJ's finding of no discrimination.
It is from this decision that appellant now appeals.
After a careful review of the entire record, including arguments and
evidence not specifically addressed in this decision, the Commission
finds that the AJ's RD sets forth the relevant facts, and properly
analyzes the appropriate regulations, policies, and laws applicable to
appellant's complaint as a disparate treatment claim. Therefore, the
Commission discerns no basis in which to disturb the agency's finding
of no discrimination. Accordingly, it is the decision of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to AFFIRM the agency's final decision.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)
It is the position of the Commission that 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.
You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have
interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that
a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the
date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action
is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)
CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult
an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction
in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)
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:
March 12, 1999
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations