with the USDA prior to July 1, 1997, which alleged discrimination by the USDA at any time between January 1, 1981, and July 1, 1997. See § 741(e); 7 C.F.R. § 15f.2. “Eligible complaints” may be brought in a civil action or in an administrative proceeding. See § 741(a) & (b). The Viscontis’ discrimination complaint, submitted to the Office of Civil Rights on August 1,1997, is not eligible for consideration under § 741 because it was filed after July 1, 1997. In addition, the Viscontis’ letters dated October 31, 1988, June 17, 1991, and April 1, 1997, are not “eligible complaints.” Although these letters meet the time-filing requirements of § 741, none alleges discrimination, even when construed broadly. Cf. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema, 534 U.S. 506, 512, 122 S.Ct. 992, 152 L.Ed.2d 1 (2002) (<HOLDING>). In the October 1988 letter, addressed to the
holding uncharged acts of violence evidence of  the background of the charges the parties familiarity with one another and their concert of action  quoting united states v oleary 739 f2d 135 136 3d cir1984 cert denied 469 us 1107 105 sct 782 83 led2d 776 1985 cert denied 493 us 821 110 sct 78 107 led2d 44 1989 holding that notice must state the specific grounds for the departure holding that a charge of discrimination must give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiffs claim is and the grounds upon which it rests quoting conley v gibson 355 us 41 47 78 sct 99 2 led2d 80 1957 recognizing some lower court cases that found a sixth amendment violation under geders v united states 425 us 80 96 sct 1330 47 led2d 592 1976one of the cases cited along with herring in cronicas footnoteto be harmless recognizing that the supreme court disavowed the oftquoted rule 12b6 standard of conley v gibson 355 us 41 4546 78 sct 99 2 led2d 80 1957