Kubicki v. Brady

813 F. Supp. 1270, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2130, 66 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 841, 1993 WL 47346
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedFebruary 16, 1993
DocketCiv. A. No. 92-75546
StatusPublished

This text of 813 F. Supp. 1270 (Kubicki v. Brady) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kubicki v. Brady, 813 F. Supp. 1270, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2130, 66 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 841, 1993 WL 47346 (E.D. Mich. 1993).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

GADOLA, District Judge.

Plaintiff Kubieki filed the instant complaint September 15, 1992. On November 18, 1992, defendant Brady (“the government”) filed this motion to dismiss based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff filed a response December 4, 1992; and the government filed a reply December. 14, 1992. Pursuant to LR 7.1(e)(2) (E.D.Mich. Jan. 1, 1992), no oral argument was heard.

BACKGROUND FACTS

Plaintiff was a special agent employed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“BATF” or “agency”) in 1986 when she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), alleging sex discrimination. In February 1987 plaintiff voluntarily withdrew her discrimination complaint.

Plaintiff subsequently filed two discrimination complaints with BATF on August 24, 1987, and January 16, 1988. The two complaints were consolidated (hereinafter “Complaint I”) for processing and hearing. The agency issued a proposed disposition of no discrimination on the complaints, and plaintiff requested a hearing.

Prior to the hearing plaintiff was transferred from Detroit to Chicago. Plaintiff objected to her transfer and ultimately resigned from the agency, alleging that the transfer ■ constituted a constructive discharge. Processing on Complaint I continued; and a hearing was set for January 31, 1989.

During a prehearing telephone conference, plaintiff raised the issue of constructive discharge and requested that it be one of the issues adjudicated at the hearing on Complaint I. The agency objected to that issue being heard as part of Complaint I because plaintiff, not having filed a complaint on that issue, had not satisfied the administrative prerequisites for litigating that claim.

The administrative law judge remanded Complaint I to the agency to allow plaintiff to file a second complaint (“Complaint II”) on the issue of constructive discharge. The agency initially rejected Complaint II as untimely; however, the EEOC reversed the agency on that point, and Complaint II was accepted for processing by the agency and investigated.

The agency subsequently issued a proposed disposition finding no discrimination on Complaint II. Plaintiff failed to respond; and, in accordance with the notice contained in the proposed disposition, the agency adopted that proposed finding as the agency’s final decision.

An allegation of constructive discharge, if properly pleaded, is an action appealable to the Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”). Dumas v. Merit Sys. Protection BcL, 789 F.2d 892 (Fed.Cir. 1986). Thus, Complaint II constituted what is known as a mixed case appeal. See 5 U.S.C. § 7702; 5 C.F.R. §§ 1201.151 et seq. The final agency decision in Complaint II notified the plaintiff of the appeal rights associated with mixed cases.

Plaintiff, while alleging that her complaint was not a mixed case, nonetheless [1272]*1272filed an appeal of the agency’s final decision to the MSPB on July 13, 1990. An administrative law judge dismissed the appeal October 11, 1990. Plaintiff appealed that decision to the full board, but the MSPB found her appeal untimely in its February 22, 1991 opinion. 47 M.S.P.R. 118. Using the unique appeal process for mixed cases, plaintiff appealed the MSPB decision to the EEOC. However, the EEOC, in its August 21, 1991 decision, found that appeal to be untimely as well.

The EEOC mailed two copies of its August 21, 1991 decision by certified mail to Prather G. Randle, who had been plaintiff’s designated representative throughout the administrative process. The first letter was addressed to plaintiff Kubicki in care of Prather Randle, Memphis, Tennessee. The mailing receipt was signed by Prather Randle on August 24, 1991. The second letter was addressed to Prather Randle at his Memphis address; and the second mailing receipt was signed by him on August 26, 1991.

Plaintiff contends that “[o]n May 10, 1990[,] Prather Randle was advised by plaintiff in writing that he was not to act in her behalf beyond the appeal to the MSPB without her express authority.” Plaintiff’s resp. at 3; Gov’t ex. P. Plaintiff’s response continues, “On July 11, 1990[,] plaintiff executed an Appeal Form of the MSPB appeal. [Gov't, ex. G] Part V of this form is a designation of personal representative. Plaintiff designated Prather Randle to ‘serve as my representative during the course of this appeal.' ” Plaintiff’s resp. at 3.

On September 24, 1991, a civil complaint for the purpose of reviewing the EEOC decision was filed on plaintiff’s behalf by attorney Gilbert Douglas in United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Plaintiff contends that the complaint was filed without her consent. Plaintiff acknowledges that she “first learned of the [cjomplaint on or about October 31, 1991.” Plaintiff’s resp. at 4. The response continues

In November[] 1991 plaintiff was told that service had not been completedQ] however[,] she received strong assurances from Randle that the problem was being corrected. On February 9, 1992[,] plaintiff telephoned Randle[;] and he told her that her case had been dismissed without prejudice on January 24, 1992. Randle told the plaintiff that documents were being prepared to correct the situation.
From April 23, 1992[,] until August 11, 1992[,] plaintiff attempted to determine the status of her case by repeatedly contacting Randle. Each time Randle assured her that the matter was being corrected. (EX. 5) On July 21, 1992, plaintiff wrote to the Clerk of the Court of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in an effort to determine the status of the case. (G.EX. Q) At that time she learned that no action had been initiated by Randle to correct service or re-instate the case. [Footnote omitted.]
On August 7, 1992[,] plaintiff telephonically requested a copy of the Right to Sue Letter from the EEOC. On August 17, 1992[,] plaintiff received a photocopy of the EEOC’s Right to Sue Letter____ On September 15, 1992, within thirty days of the receipt of the EEOC Right to Sue Letter, plaintiff filed the instant action pro se before this Court.

Id. at 4-5.

Applicable law
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1613.221(b)(1), The decision of the [EEOC] shall be in writing, shall reflect the date of its issuance, and shall be transmitted to the complainant and his or her representative either by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other method which enables the agency to show the date of receipt.

A person seeking judicial review of an EEOC decision must file a civil complaint within 30 days of receipt of notice of the decision. 5 U.S.C. §§ 7702(a)(3)(B)

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Bluebook (online)
813 F. Supp. 1270, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2130, 66 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 841, 1993 WL 47346, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kubicki-v-brady-mied-1993.