Decision A318E – Los Angeles Unified School District

LA-CE-4355-E

Decision Date: February 6, 2003

Decision Type: Administrative Appeal

Description: Bailey requests the Board to excuse the late filing of the appeal of the dismissal of her charge. She claims confusion regarding timeliness and the mailing procedure arose out of a conversation with Board staff. At the time, of the conversation, she was not represented by counsel.

Disposition: The Board excused Bailey’s late-filed appeal, finding good cause to excuse the late filing and that the late filing was due to honest error.

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Perc Vol: 27
Perc Index: 31

Decision Headnotes

1503.00000 – MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES; REGULATIONS
1503.03000 – Regulations Considered (By Number) (Continued)

The Board found good cause where a late filing is the result of “honest error” created by a reasonable misunderstanding in communication between a party and Board staff about the filing deadlines in PERB Regulation 32135 that results in a mailing error. Under PERB Regulation 32136, the Board may excuse a late filing for good cause.

1107.00000 – CASE PROCESSING PROCEDURES;PROCEDURES BEFORE THE BOARD
1107.01000 – Exceptions; Responses to Exceptions; Standing; Extensions of Time/Late Filing/Waiver

The Board found good cause where a late filing is the result of “honest error” created by a reasonable misunderstanding in communication between a party and Board staff about the filing deadlines in PERB Regulation 32135 that results in a mailing error. To determine whether good cause exists to excuse a late filing, the Board took into account the fact that Bailey was not represented by counsel at the time she spoke with Board staff to determine the deadline for filing the appeal. Under PERB Regulation 32136, the Board may excuse a late filing for good cause. Additional factors to consider in determining whether good cause exists to excuse a late filing are whether the appeal was mailed on or before the filing deadline and whether the party’s explanation of the delay is reasonable. The Board found that there was no showing of prejudice to the opposing party. The Board found that the untimely filing was a result of honest error by Bailey resulting from misunderstood communications that occurred before she was represented by counsel.