Opinion ID: 538363
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the time limit for filing eeoc appeals

Text: 8 Under Title VII and its implementing regulations, a federal sector complainant can seek review of a final agency decision in three ways. 2 The complainant may go directly to federal court by filing a complaint [w]ithin 30 days of receipt of notice of final action taken by a[n] agency.... See 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e-16(c). Or, a complainant can choose to file an appeal of the agency's final decision with the EEOC, and then subsequently file a civil action within 30 days of final action taken by the Commission. Finally, a complainant may go directly to district court if after 180 days either the agency or the EEOC has not taken final action on the complaint. See 29 C.F.R. Sec. 1613.281. 9 Pertinent to this case, EEOC regulations require complainants to file an appeal of a final agency decision to the EEOC at any time up to 20 calendar days after receipt of the agency's notice of final decision on his or her complaint. 29 C.F.R. Sec. 1613.233(a) (emphasis supplied). 3 That regulation does not state whether the notice must be personally received by the plaintiff, or whether receipt by a designated representative triggers the 20-day limitations period. The regulation does, however, allow for equitable tolling of the time limitation under limited circumstances, where, for example, the claimant fails to receive notice due to circumstances beyond his or her control. 29 C.F.R. Sec. 1613.233(c). 4