Moore v. Department of Justice

FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MAR 182009 FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NANCY MAYER WHITTINGTON CLERIc U.S. DISTRICT COUIn" IRENE MOORE, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) Civil Action No. u9 0518 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ) ) Defendant. ) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER STAYING CASE This matter comes before the Court upon review of the pro se complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis. The application will be granted, but the case must be stayed for the following reasons. Plaintiff claims that she was discriminated against when she was terminated from her employment as a Secretary at the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, on the basis of her race and age and in retaliation for pursuing a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"). The Court presumes that plaintiff brings this action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,42 U.S.c. § 2000 et seq., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, see 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq. The issuance of a right to sue letter from the EEOC is a condition precedent to the filing of an action such as this in federal court. 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-5(f), 2000e-16(d). In the absence of the issuance of a right to sue letter within 180 days of filing charges with the agency, the plaintiff is obligated to request that such a letter be issued. See 29 C.F.R. § 1601.28. 1 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED; and it IS FURTHER ORDERED that this matter is STAYED, and it is FURTHER ORDERED that, within 30 days of the date of entry ofthis Order, plaintiff must provide the Court with a right to sue letter indicating a final determination ofplaintiffs charge by the agency. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of this matter. SO ORDERED. 2