Steve A. Silvers, Complainant,v.Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 21, 2012
0120114305 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 21, 2012)

0120114305

02-21-2012

Steve A. Silvers, Complainant, v. Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration), Agency.




Steve A. Silvers,

Complainant,

v.

Ray H. LaHood,

Secretary,

Department of Transportation

(Federal Aviation Administration),

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120114305

Agency No. 201123862FAA05

DISMISSAL OF APPEAL

By Notice of Appeal postmarked September 13, 2011, Complainant filed an

appeal with this Commission from the July 7, 2011 final Agency decision

(FAD) concerning his EEO complaint of unlawful employment discrimination

in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA),

as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.

It is undisputed that the Agency mailed the FAD to Complainant and that

it was received by him on July 14, 2011. A review of the FAD reveals that

the Agency properly advised Complainant that he had thirty (30) calendar

days after receipt of its final decision to file his appeal with the

Commission. However, Complainant did not file his appeal until September

13, 2011, approximately one month beyond the 30-day limitation period.

Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604, the time limitation for filing appeals

is subject to waiver, estoppel and equitable tolling. Complainant

requests that his untimely filing be excused because he misplaced the

decision from the Agency while moving to a new residence. He provides

proof that on August 16, 2011, he sent an email to the Agency requesting

another copy of the decision. The record establishes that the Agency

responded by email on August 17, 2011, by transmitting Complainant another

copy of its decision. However, it took Complainant nearly another month

to file his appeal. Under these facts, we find that Complainant has not

offered adequate justification for an extension of the applicable time

limit for filing his appeal.

Accordingly, Complainant's September 13, 2011 appeal is hereby DISMISSED.

See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(c).

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0610)

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), at 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 (S0610)

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 (Z0610)

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

February 21, 2012

__________________

Date

2

0120114305

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

2

0120114305