Document: 441 U.S. 750 99 S.Ct. 2066 60 L.Ed.2d 609 OSCAR MAYER & CO. et al., Petitioners,v.Joseph W. EVANS. No. 78-275. Argued Feb. 28, 1979. Decided May 21, Syllabus Section 14(b) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act 1967 (ADEA) provides that case an alleged unlawful practice occurring a State which has law prohibiting discrimination employment because age and authorizing state authority to grant seek relief from such discriminatory practice, no suit may be brought under § 7(c) ADEA before expiration days after proceedings have been commenced law, unless earlier terminated. also if any requirement for commencement is imposed by other than filing written signed statement facts upon proceeding based, shall deemed purposes at time sent registered mail appropriate authority. Respondent, who had involuntarily retired 23 years petitioner company, filed with United States Department Labor notice intent sue company ADEA, charging he forced retire his violation Act. Upon respondent's inquiry, informed him contained file complaint order preserve federal rights. After conciliation efforts failed, respondent against officials Federal District Court, denied petitioners' motion dismiss on grounds Iowa Civil Rights Commission was empowered remedy required resort this prior suit. The Court Appeals affirmed. Held: 1. Under 14(b), administrative remedies claimants agencies (deferral States) mandatory, not optional, claimant first agency. Pp. 754-758. (a) Since Title VII 1964 share common purpose elimination workplace, since language almost haec verba 706(c) VII, interpreted require individuals deferral bringing legislative history indicates its source 706(c), it properly concluded Congress intended construction should follow 706(c). 755-756. (b) Claimants do option ignore merely unlike they simultaneously. permits concurrent rather sequential jurisdiction expedite processing settling age-discrimination claims, thus possibility cognizance does support grievants altogether. A Committee Report accompanying 1978 amendments suggested optional insufficient overcome clear convincing evidence Congress, 1967, same meaning as 756-758. 2. However, grievant commence within limits specified law. 758-764. By terms, requires only "commenced" litigation instituted, use word strongly implies limitations periods are irrelevant. This implication made express provision imposes requirements "other based," and, thus, even were make timeliness precondition commencement, will soon filed. 759-760. statute consistent both ADEA's remedial stipulate exhaustion requirement, but give limited opportunity settle grievances voluntary localized manner so thereafter need or desire independent relief. structure—setting forth explicit terms §§ 7(d) (e), 14(b)—reinforces conclusion procedural defaults cannot foreclose govern efficacy remedy. 761-764. 3. Even though Iowa's 120-day run, yet comply simply Commission. That must given entertain grievance can continue. Meanwhile held abeyance, dismissed leave refile, already timely second would serve creation additional technicality. If subsequently untimely, then return court; until happens, passed without settlement, pursue 764-765. 580 F.2d 298, reversed remanded. James Gladden, Jr., Chicago, Ill., petitioners. Allan A. Ryan, Washington, D. C., U. S., amicus curiae, supporting respondent, special Court. Mark Bennett, Des Moines, Iowa, respondent. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion 1 (ADEA), 81 Stat. 607, set 29 U.S.C. 633(b), pertinent part: 2 "In establishing section 626 title sixty terminated: Provided, . [i]f subsection authority." 3 presents three questions section. First, whether aggrieved person 626(c). Second, so, whether, right action. Third, circumstances excuse failure proceedings. 4 We hold mandates bring court resorted hold, however, In light these holdings, necessary address question circumstances, any, excused. 5 * Respondent Joseph Evans employed Oscar Mayer Co. involuntary retirement January 1976. On March 10, 1976, ADEA. charged At approximately inquired obliged requirement. Relying official advice, refrained resorting 7, 1977, Southern Iowa. 6 Petitioners moved motion, Eighth Circuit affirmed.1 298 (1978). granted certiorari, 439 925, 308, 58 318 reverse. II 7 argue hand, argues proceedings, choosing wait court. close, we conclude petitioners correct. 8 patterned virtually (formerly 706(b)), 78 259, redesignated, 86 104, 42 2000e-5(c).2 relevant portion reads follows: 9 State, ., charge terminated ." 10 through screen courts those problems civil rights could settled satisfaction "a manner." See 110 Cong. Rec. 12725 (1964) (remarks Sen. Humphrey). resolve thereby unnecessary, victims discrimination. Voutsis v. Union Carbide Corp., 452 889 (CA2 1971). Because attempt complaints their attention, VII. Love Pullman Co., 404 522, 92 616, 30 679 (1972); Olson Rembrandt Printing 511 1228 (CA8 1975).3 11 purpose, Northcross Memphis Board Education, 412 427, 428, 93 2201, 2202, 37 48 (1973). therefore like might further just 12 contrary arguments advanced construing persuasive. notes persons antidiscrimination agency Equal Opportunity (EEOC). 2000e-5(c). contrast, 626(d) 633(b).4 From concludes pays less deference that, consequence, remedies. 13 disagree. claims. premise difference delay inherent particularly prejudicial "older citizens whom, definition, relatively few productive left." 113 Cong.Rec. 7076 (1967) Javits). 14 expeditious disposition frustrated Indeed, simultaneous well facilitate rapid settlements. There reason conclude, therefore, supports 15 between 14(a) 633(a), counterpart, action all superseded. this, exercise futility may, days, abort 16 find merit argument. Unless stripped meaning, least some solve While act, decision apparently thought sufficient. As Senator Dirksen told Senate during debates 14(b)'s predecessor, VII: 17 "[A]t local level many cases disposed matter certainly more weeks. 18 California, FEPC average about days. my own days." 13087 (1964). 19 finally accompanied 14(b).5 14(b). S.Rep.No. 95-493, pp. 6-7 (1978), adopted Joint Explanatory Statement Conference, H.R.Conf.Rep.No. 95-950, (1978); U.S.Code Admin.News 1978, 528, 534. 20 persuaded. 95-493 "[l]egislative observations sense part history." Airlines, Inc. McMann, 434 192, 200 n. 98 444, 449, 54 402 (1977). "It enacted [the section] controls." Teamsters States, 431 324, 354 39, 97 1843, 1864, 52 396 Whatever provided plainly individual optional.6 III 21 consider now consequences see Code 601A.14(1), (15) (1975), too late omission jurisdictionally barred. pleads due incorrect advice Labor, tardiness 22 Both miss mark. Neither nor arise mandated State. construe Nothing whatever here 120 allotted 7(c). start provides, part, 24 "no terminated." 633(b) (emphasis added). 25 then, instituted; besides obligation placed grievant. particular, there rights, Rather, opposite—that irrelevant—since, way analogy, Rules Procedure time-barred complaint. Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 3; Magalotti Ford Motor 418 F.Supp. 430, (ED Mich.1976). 26 last sentence specifically provides: 27 "If 633(b). 28 are, course, based." Therefore, typical pattern making untimeliness affirmative defense, prevailing interpretation Nickel Shatterproof Glass 424 884 Mich.1976); supra.7 It contains identical definition commencement. Davis Valley Distributing 522 827, 831-833 (CA9 1975), cert. denied, 429 1090, 1099, 51 535 (1977); F.2d, 1232; Pinckney County Northampton, 433 373, 376 Pa.1976); McAdams Thermal Industries, Inc., 428 156, 161 (WD Pa.1977); De Gideo Sperry-Univac 415 227, 229 White Dallas Independent School Dist., 581 556, 562 (CA5 1978) (en banc) (filing EEOC tolls period purposes); Ferguson Kroger 545 1034 (CA6 1976) (EEOC's negligent refer claim). But Richardson Miller, 446 1247 (CA3 EEOC's Case KC7-5-315, CCH Decisions (1973) ¶ 6024 (1969), "entitled great deference." Griggs Duke Power 401 424, 434, 91 849, 855, 128 (1971). 31 fully "in statutory scheme laymen, unassisted trained lawyers initiate process." U.S., 527, S.Ct., 619. 32 Individuals penalized decline, reason, take advantage opportunities. Pacific Maritime Assn. Quinn, 465 108 1972). did intend foreclosed. 893.8 33 structure reinforces 626(d)9 (e),10 Sections (e) adequately protect defendants stale attribute add incorporate reference into various statutes limitations. Cf. Occidental Life Ins. EEOC, 432 355, 371, 2447, 2457, 53 consign lawsuits "vagaries diverse statutes," ibid., since, including considerably shorter 180-day allowed nondeferral 626(d)(1). supra, F.Supp., 231 n.9. 34 regarded incorporation inconsistent 706(c)'s commencement—the later used Proponents concerned localities hostile enact sham ordinances frustrating vindication B. Schwartz, Statutory History States: 1330 (1970). requiring nothing meet concern while avoiding burdensome case-by-case inquiry reasonableness requirements. NAACP Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 357 1163, 1488 (1958). Humphrey explained Senate: 35 "[T]o avoid possible imposition onerous initiating proceeding, agency, send mail." 1352. 36 strongest argument permit intervention waiting expired suit, resort. No suggests itself, why employee wish forgo available Prior impair availability remedy, two supplementary, mutually exclusive. complainant save bypassing must, event, defer longer. 827 1975); Mich. 1976).11 38 Meanwhile, abeyance. If, fears, court.12 39 Accordingly, judgment reversed, remanded instructions enter directing abeyance complied mandate 14(b).13 40 ordered. 41 BLACKMUN, concurring. My preference affirm Appeals. I am inclined regard liberally construed, feel affirmance full recognition character. addition, persuaded procedures existence helpful procedurally frustrating; fact supersedes one side dominant; analogy Fair Standards proceedings; (whereas, striking exclusive days); reasonably affording either side, constraints applicable pursues remedy; seems needless untimely inevitably, automatically, rejected; amendments, ante, 758,* course conclusive, regarded, positiveness clarity, shedding illumination persistent continuing congressional 1967; Government's participation curiae affords indication interplay legislation. 43 acknowledges "question close." Ante, 755. occasionally appears area where important decided (in dispel existing conflict, 760-761, n.7) correctly. 44 Inasmuch live Court's long justice anyone possessed valid claim, join judgment. 45 STEVENS, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE, POWELL, REHNQUIST join, concurring dissenting part. 46 explicitly states brought" concededly never judgment, means dismissed. 47 Throughout parties assumed dismissal construed States. Part opinion, construes statute. volunteers detailed legal effect conduct orders follows advice. Regardless accurate—a answered litigant raised it—I unable III. decide point remedies, found barred, court, addressed opinion—whether "within State"—would presented. presented now, decline render advisory merits. accordance "the 14(b)." 765. initially rehearing withdrew substituted affirming Hearings S. 830 al. Subcommittee Public Welfare, 90th Cong., 1st Sess., 102 (testimony Biemiller); id., 228 Conway). concedes optional. Brief 18. Secretary Labor. themselves "are case." rule, governs claims relief, present case. our anywise disturbs rule Albemarle Paper Moody, 422 405, 414 8, 95 2362, 2370 280 concerning unnamed plaintiff class actions. number reached similar result slightly different theories. e. g., Skoglund Singer 403 797 (N.H.1975) (timely deliberate bypass procedure); Bertsch 619 Mich.1976) significantly 180 days). Vaughn Chrysler 382 143 Mich.1974) detrimentally relied mistaken advice). Two results. Graham FEP Cases 876 McGhee 869 Humphrey's remarks 706(c): "[W]e recognized absolute necessity providing Government act instances choose opportunities problem manner. basic protected [Title VII] accrue States; protected. unwilling provide protection, act." "No days' Such filed— "(1) hundred eighty occurred, "(2) applies, occurred thirty receipt termination whichever earlier. "Upon receiving sue, promptly notify named therein prospective eliminate informal methods conciliation, conference, persuasion." 626(e) "Sections 255 259 apply actions chapter." "Any 14, 1947 "(a) cause accrues accrued, every forever barred except arising out willful accrued." Moreover, danger inadvertently bypassed otherwise proper plaintiffs become nonexistent. July 1, 1979, administer Reorg. Plan CFR 321 (1979). charges regular procedure whereby automatically referred received. Pullman, 1601.13 Thus, automatic. risk real, not, readily extending tolling Burnett New York Central R. 380 85 1050, 941 (1965). Whether toll date contacted decision. Comm'n Massey-Ferguson, 207 N.W.2d 5, (Iowa 1973). Suspension preferable refile. Respondent's satisfied 626(e). "To 'filing' party technicalities inappropriate 526-527, (charge suspended animation period). For suspension pending preferred courts. Crosslin Mountain Tel. 400 1004, 562, 618 (1971) (judgment want vacated; consideration stay deferral); Gabriele 573 949, 956 1978); Oubichon North American Rockwell 482 569, 571 1973); Parker General Telephone Northwest, 476 595, 596 Mitchell Mid-Continent Spring Ky., 466 24, 26-27 1972), 410 928, 1363, 589 (1973); Motorola, 460 1245, 1246 1972); Bertrand Orkin Exterminating 419 1123, 1130 (ND Ill.1976); Winsey Pace College, 394 1324, 1329 (SDNY1975). "[A]n discriminated free proceed choice up individual." S.Rep.No.95-493, p. H.R.Conf.Rep.No.95-950, 510.

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