Harrison v. Potter

323 F. Supp. 2d 593, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12448, 2004 WL 1496918
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJuly 2, 2004
Docket03 CIV. 6435(VM)
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 323 F. Supp. 2d 593 (Harrison v. Potter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harrison v. Potter, 323 F. Supp. 2d 593, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12448, 2004 WL 1496918 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).

Opinion

*595 DECISION AND ORDER

MARRERO, District Judge.

Plaintiff Monique Harrison (“Harrison”) brings this action against her former employer, the United States Postal Service (the “USPS”) and John E. Potter, the United States Postmaster General, (collectively, the “Defendants”) alleging discrimination and retaliation on the basis o'f gender in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq., the corresponding New York State Executive Law § 296; and in violation of the United States Constitution under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985. Although the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) found merit to Harrison’s sexual harassment claims and awarded her damages, she sought reconsideration of the decision of the EEOC’s Office of Field Operations (“OFO”) to confine her compensation to the seven-day period for which she was suspended from her employment. In her motion for reconsideration, Harrison sought compensation for the entire span of time that she was sexually harassed. The OFO ruled the request untimely and dismissed the motion for reconsideration. Harrison then filed the instant action asserting her Title VII and constitutional claims.

Defendants move to dismiss Harrison’s complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a cause of action for which relief can be granted under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) respectively, or in the alternative, for summary judgment under Rule 56(c). Defendants seek dismissal or summary judgment on the grounds that Harrison’s action before this Court is untimely and that her constitutional tort claims should be dismissed because they are preempted by Title VII.

As discussed in greater detail below, the Court grants the Defendants’ motion to dismiss Harrison’s complaint under Rule 12(b)(1), or in the alternative, grants the Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the grounds that Harrison has failed to exhaust administrative remedies prior to seeking relief in federal court, and because there no basis to equitably toll the applicable deadlines. In addition, Harrison, cannot rely upon 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985 to pursue her claims of sexual harassment against the federal government. Harrison’s complaint is dismissed.

I. BACKGROUND 1

A. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Harrison, who was employed at the USPS as a machine operator, claims to have been sexually harassed by her supervisor, Freddie Burroughs (“Burroughs”), from 1986 until she retired on disability in 1992. In May 1991, Harrison attended a counseling session with an EEOC counsel- or regarding the alleged sexual harassment. 2 After' her session with the EEOC *596 counselor, the USPS suspended Harrison for seven days, citing poor work performance. Harrison claims that Burroughs suspended her not for her work performance, but rather, in retaliation for her EEOC activity. Harrison filed a formal EEOC complaint pro se in January 1992.

In response to Harrison’s complaint, the USPS conducted an investigation of Harrison’s claim through its internal agency (the “Agency”). The Agency issued its final decision in January 1993 and found no discrimination. Harrison appealed the Agency’s decision to the OFO in June 1993, which affirmed the Agency’s findings in September 1993. Harrison filed a timely request for reconsideration with the OFO in October 1993. The OFO granted Harrison’s motion for reconsideration, vacated the Agency’s decision, and remanded the claim to the Agency for further investigation.

After completing a supplemental investigation, the Agency informed Harrison that she could pursue her claim in a hearing before an administrative law judge of the EEOC or request the Agency to issue another final decision. In May 1995, Harrison’s attorney requested a hearing before the EEOC. The EEOC conducted a hearing in November 1995 and rendered its decision in July 1996 finding that Burroughs had sexually harassed Harrison and that her suspension was in retaliation for her EEO activity. The EEOC recommended various monetary awards and remedial measures. 3 On September 10, 1996, Harrison’s counsel submitted a supplemental brief to the EEOC requesting additional damages for back pay, front pay and compensatory damages.

In a second final decision of the Agency issued on September 30, 1996, the Agency disagreed with the EEOC’s finding of discrimination and closed the case. Harrison received notice of this decision on October 7, 1996 and timely appealed to the OFO on October 22, 1996. In a decision issued on October 22, 1999, the OFO reversed the final Agency decision and ordered the USPS to compensate Harrison for the period she was suspended. 4 The OFO’s decision notified Harrison that her options were to either seek reconsideration of the Agency’s decision by making such a request within thirty days of receipt of the decision, or initiate a civil action in federal court within ninety days of receipt of the decision. The OFO’s decision prominently cautioned that late filings would be dismissed as untimely. The decision further provided for a petition for attorney fees if timely filed within thirty days. The record reflects that Harrison’s attorney received the decision on October 28, 1999 and forwarded it to Harrison two days later. 5 On November 22, 1999, Harrison’s attorney submitted a timely petition for attorney fees.

In June 2001, Harrison, proceeding with new counsel, filed a request for reconsideration of the October 22, 1999 OFO deci *597 sion, approximately nineteen months after the filing deadline. In her motion for reconsideration, Harrison sought additional damages beyond the those awarded for the seven-day period for which she was' suspended. 6 The Agency subsequently filed a motion opposing Harrison’s motion for reconsideration on the grounds that it was untimely.

On May 23, 2003, the OFO, agreeing with the Agency, denied Harrison’s request because she had failed to meet the EEOC filing deadline. The OFO specifically rejected Harrison’s claim that the deadline should be tolled on the grounds that she encountered difficulties in obtaining documents.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Bosman v. McDonough
E.D. New York, 2025
Ercole v. Wilkie
S.D. New York, 2023
Turner v. McDonough
S.D. New York, 2023
Stricklin v. United States
N.D. California, 2022
Emmons v. City University of New York
715 F. Supp. 2d 394 (E.D. New York, 2010)
Cochran v. Holder
564 F.3d 318 (Fourth Circuit, 2009)
Celestine v. Cold Crest Care Center
495 F. Supp. 2d 428 (S.D. New York, 2007)
Nicholson v. Johanns
511 F. Supp. 2d 1193 (S.D. Alabama, 2007)
Lorenzo v. Rumsfeld
456 F. Supp. 2d 731 (E.D. Virginia, 2006)
Ghosh v. New York City Department of Health
413 F. Supp. 2d 322 (S.D. New York, 2006)
Jones v. National Communication & Surveillance Networks
409 F. Supp. 2d 456 (S.D. New York, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
323 F. Supp. 2d 593, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12448, 2004 WL 1496918, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harrison-v-potter-nysd-2004.