Henry v. MISSISSIPPI DEPT. OF EMPLOYMENT

962 So. 2d 94, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 487, 2007 WL 2177959
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedJuly 31, 2007
Docket2006-CC-01129-COA
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 962 So. 2d 94 (Henry v. MISSISSIPPI DEPT. OF EMPLOYMENT) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Henry v. MISSISSIPPI DEPT. OF EMPLOYMENT, 962 So. 2d 94, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 487, 2007 WL 2177959 (Mich. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

962 So.2d 94 (2007)

Mary E. HENRY, Appellant
v.
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, Appellee.

No. 2006-CC-01129-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

July 31, 2007.

*96 Mary E. Henry, Appellant, pro se.

Albert B. White, Madison, attorney for appellee.

Before MYERS, P.J., ISHEE and CARLTON, JJ.

CARLTON, J., for the Court.

¶ 1. The George County Circuit Court affirmed the decision of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security's Board of Review to deny Mary Henry the unemployment benefits she requested. Henry presents for our review evidentiary matters in the agency's appeals process and alleges judicial impropriety. Finding that the decision of the Board is supported by substantial evidence, we affirm the decision of the circuit court.

FACTS

¶ 2. In October 2002, Henry began her employment at the George County Regional Correctional Facility. On February 2, 2005, Henry's employment as an assistant food service manager was terminated. Henry then filed for benefits. A claims *97 examiner interviewed Henry and Terry Rogers, an administrative assistant at the correctional facility. As a result of this investigation, the claims examiner concluded that Henry was disqualified from receiving benefits due to her employment terminating because of misconduct. Henry appealed the decision of the examiner.

¶ 3. On March 14, 2005, an appeals referee held a telephonic hearing. Henry notified the Department in writing that she would not be participating in the hearing because she was accompanying her husband to his medical appointment. Henry notified the Department that Mr. Richard Henry would represent her in the hearing. Richard Henry was a former security officer at the correctional facility, and therefore was familiar with the operations, policies, and procedures there. Preston Goff, Jr., the warden of the correctional facility, represented the employer in the hearing. Henry's immediate supervisor, Darryl Thomen, was available to testify at first, but Warden Goff decided not to produce his testimony. The appeals referee concluded that Henry's employment was terminated because of misconduct.

¶ 4. On April 14, 2005, the Board adopted and affirmed the factual findings and the opinion of the referee. The findings of the Board include:

On January 25, 2005, the claimant asked permission to have a specific inmate in the kitchen to assist in cleanup. Permission was granted for the inmate to help in the kitchen after all the other inmates had left. The other inmates leave between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. This particular inmate was brought to the kitchen between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on three separate days. On January 31, 2005, it was discovered the computer in the kitchen had several programs added to it. These programs were installed without authorization. All the programs were installed during times the claimant was on duty. Prior to this the claimant had been advised that no programs could be added to this computer. On February 2, 2005, the claimant was searched as she entered the facilities. This search revealed three paperback books and one bottle of flavoring. Prior to this the claimant had been advised that she could not bring anything in except cigarettes and then only if she smoked, daily medication that she might need, and a snack. Everything else is considered contraband. The claimant was discharged on February 2, 2005.

The referee's opinion, as adopted by the Board, stated the definition of "misconduct," citing Wheeler v. Arriola, 408 So.2d 1381 (Miss.1982). The opinion of the Board, as adopted from the referee concludes that:

the claimant was discharged for adding programs to the computer without authorization, bringing contraband to the facility, and allowing an individual in the kitchen at times when he was not supposed to be there. The claimant's actions do rise to the level of misconduct as that term is used in the law. Therefore, the decision of the claims examiner is in order.

¶ 5. Henry then appealed to the George County Circuit Court. Henry argued that the decision of the Board was not supported by substantial evidence. She also alleged unlawful activity on the part of certain officials at the correctional facility. The circuit court found that the decision of the Board was supported by substantial evidence and that the perjury allegations Henry made were beyond the circuit court's scope of review. Aggrieved, Henry appeals.

*98 ¶ 6. On appeal, Henry's arguments include: that the circuit court initiated ex parte off the record communication with the employer, without Henry's knowledge, in order to gather additional information; that the circuit court erred in not attending to Henry's complaint that the employer's representative, Warden Goff, committed perjury during the appeals hearing; that the referee erred in allowing the employer to withdraw a proposed witness; and that the referee erred in excluding vital documented evidence submitted by Henry. The appeal has been assigned to this Court.

DISCUSSION

1. Judicial Impropriety

¶ 7. The record is silent as to whether Henry filed a complaint with the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance outlining the arguments below. Henry argues that Circuit Court Judge Robert Krebs must have initiated ex parte communication with a representative of the employer. She reaches this conclusion because the circuit court's order states that the court "having considered the matter, and having been further fully advised in the premises, finds that Plaintiff's appeal is hereby denied." (emphasis added). She concludes that the circuit judge's alleged ex parte contact tainted the review of Henry's case, impugning the integrity of that court.

¶ 8. We read the statement of the trial court, that it had "been further fully advised in the premises," to indicate that the circuit judge fully read and processed through the pleadings of the parties in addition to the record of the proceedings which had previously taken place. Other than the statement of the court, Henry advances no evidence of an ex parte communication. Henry's argument does not present an issue for review.

¶ 9. Henry also argues that a "bizarre occurrence" took place after she appealed to the circuit court. Henry alleged in her appeal to the circuit court that Warden Goff committed perjury during the Department's hearing. Henry argues that some unknown party in the circuit clerk's office alerted Warden Goff to the allegation of perjury in Henry's complaint. To substantiate this claim, Henry directs our attention to a motion for a hearing made by Warden Goff and George County Sheriff Garry Welford in response to Henry's allegations. George County Prosecutor George Maples signed this motion as counsel for Warden Goff and Sheriff Welford. Henry further argues that any pursuit of justice will be obstructed due to a direct familial relationship between Warden Goff and Justice Court Judge M.L. Goff.

¶ 10. Court filings are public records unless such filings are excluded from the Public Records Act. See Miss.Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 to -17 (Rev.2006). Henry's pleading to the circuit court was a public record. Henry's argument does not present an issue for review.

¶ 11. Henry further argues that any court should diligently address an allegation against a person that is accused of committing perjury.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Estate of Cole v. Ferrell
163 So. 3d 921 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2012)
City of Vicksburg v. Mississippi Department of Employment Security
178 So. 3d 737 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2012)
Sun Vista, Inc. v. Mississippi Department of Employment Security
52 So. 3d 1262 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
962 So. 2d 94, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 487, 2007 WL 2177959, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/henry-v-mississippi-dept-of-employment-missctapp-2007.