STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL L
FIRST CIRCUIT
NO. 2019 CA 0020
I in MATTHEW RAGONA
ON VERSUS
LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION
Judgment Rendered: Septembr 27, 2019
Appealed from the State Civil Service Commission,
State of Louisiana, Case No. S- 18434
Honorable David Duplantier, Chairman; D. Scott Hughes, Vice -Chairman; John McLure, G. Lee Griffin, C. " Pete" Fremin, Ronald M. Carrere, Jr., and Jo Ann
Nixon, Presiding Commissioners of the State Civil Service Commission, Byron P. Decoteau, Jr., Director, Department of State Civil Service
Allison A. Jones Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant Shreveport, Louisiana Matthew Ragona
John W. Williams, Jr. Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Melissa S. Losch Louisiana Workforce Commission Alejandro R. Perkins Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Adrienne Bordelon Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Baton Rouge, Louisiana Byron P. Decoteau, Jr., Director, Department of State Civil Service
BEFORE: HIGGINBOTHAM, PENZATO AND LANIER, JJ LANIER, J.
The plaintiff/appellant, Matthew Ragona, appeals the decision of the Civil
Service Commission of the State of Louisiana ( the Commission), which denied his
application for review of the referee' s decision to terminate his employment with
the Louisiana Workforce Commission ( LWC). For the following reasons, we
affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On May 30, 2018, Mr. Ragona received notice from the LWC that he had
been terminated from his position as a Workforce Development Specialist 2. The
LWC stated in the notice that his position was a " job appointment," which is a
temporary, non -permanent position that could be terminated at any time. Mr.
Ragona was further notified that his final day of employment would be May 31,
2018.
On June 14, 2018, Mr. Ragona sent a letter to the Commission, in which he
stated he was employed by the LWC from December 8, 2014 to May 31, 2018 as a
Workforce Development Specialist 2. He claimed to have been " laid off' due to
false allegations of sexual harassment. He also claimed that he had a physical
disability and that he was treated differently from other non -disabled employees.
Mr. Ragona filed his appeal to the Commission on June 20, 2018.
On August 7, 2018, the Commission mailed a notice of possible defects in
the appeal to Mr. Ragona, which stated that under Louisiana Civil Service Rule
23. 5, an appointing authority may terminate a " job appointment" at any time
without legal cause.' The Commission advised Mr. Ragona that he had the right to
Louisiana Civil Service Rule 23. 5( a) states, in pertinent part:
A job appointment is a temporary appointment of an employee to fill a position in the classified service for a limited period of time. An appointing authority may
2 appeal if he alleged that he had been adversely affected by a violation of the Civil
Service Rules or had been discriminated against because of his religious or
political beliefs, sex, or race, but not due to physical disability. The Commission
advised that it does not have jurisdiction to hear cases dealing with discrimination
based on a physical disability. The Commission also stated that Mr. Ragona' s
appeal did not make any specific factual allegations of discrimination as required
by Louisiana Civil Service Rules 13. 10 and 13. 11. The Commission gave Mr.
Ragona fifteen calendar days to adequately amend his appeal to prevent it from
being dismissed.
On August 20, 2018, Mr. Ragona, through his retained counsel, sent an
amended letter of appeal to the Commission, in which he expanded on his previous
appeal by including additional allegations. He stated that false allegations of
sexual harassment were brought against him by a female co- worker, Heather
Daigrepont, who he claimed befriended him and led him to believe she was
romantically interested in him. Mr. Ragona stated that Ms. Daigrepont " asked
use a job appointment to fill a position for a period not to exceed four years. For rational business reasons, an appointing authority may request a longer term job appointment. The Commission may approve such requests or delegate approval authority to the Director. An appointing authority may terminate a job appointment at any time.
2 Louisiana Civil Service Rule 13. 10 states, in pertinent part:
Only the following persons have a right of appeal to the Commission:... a state classified employee who has been discriminated against in any employment action or decision because of his political or religious beliefs, sex, or race.
Louisiana Civil Service Rule 13. 11 states, in pertinent part:
A notice of appeal must... [ c] ontain a clear and concise statement of the actions complained against and a clear and concise statement of the basis of the appeal. Where discrimination is alleged to be a basis for appeal, specific facts supporting the conclusion of discrimination must be alleged in detail. The specific facts required will vary depending on the nature of the appeal; however, the facts must be alleged in sufficient detail to enable the agency to prepare a defense. A conclusion of discrimination is not sufficient.
N him] out to lunch several times, repeatedly asked him to go out, paid for his food
every time they went out to eat, asked him to dance, talked about her personal life
with him, etc."
Mr. Ragona stated that his physical disability is cerebral palsy, and that
because of his disability he did not have much experience with romantic
relationships. He stated that he believed Ms. Daigrepont was genuinely interested
in him. Ms. Daigrepont was in a higher position of authority, so he wanted to build
upon his relationship with her. He in turn asked Ms. Daigrepont out to lunch
several times.
Mr. Ragona stated he was surprised when Ms. Daigrepont filed sexual
harassment charges against him. He stated that Ms. Daigrepont never indicated to
him that his actions were unwelcomed by her. Mr. Ragona further claimed that no
investigation was conducted regarding the allegations, and that he was never
questioned about any incident. Mr. Ragona claimed that he was treated differently
from his non -disabled female co- workers. Mr. Ragona advised that he had also
filed a charge of discrimination due to disability with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.
The Commission referee rendered a decision on Mr. Ragona' s appeal on
October 2, 2018. The referee found that since Mr. Ragona held his position due to
a job appointment, he could be terminated at any time without legal cause. The
referee advised Mr. Ragona that his only right to an appeal would be in a claim of
a violation of the Civil Service Rules or a claim of discrimination based on
religious or political beliefs, race, or sex. The referee noted that Mr. Ragona had
made a claim of discrimination based on his physical disability, over which the
referee stated the Commission had no jurisdiction. The referee further noted that
m Mr. Ragona made a sexual discrimination claim, but that he failed to support that
claim with specific factual allegations. Thus, the referee dismissed Mr. Ragona' s
appeal.
On October 16, 2018, Mr. Ragona sent a letter for application for review of
the referee' s decision, in which he included the allegation that Ms. Daigrepont was
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STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL L
FIRST CIRCUIT
NO. 2019 CA 0020
I in MATTHEW RAGONA
ON VERSUS
LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION
Judgment Rendered: Septembr 27, 2019
Appealed from the State Civil Service Commission,
State of Louisiana, Case No. S- 18434
Honorable David Duplantier, Chairman; D. Scott Hughes, Vice -Chairman; John McLure, G. Lee Griffin, C. " Pete" Fremin, Ronald M. Carrere, Jr., and Jo Ann
Nixon, Presiding Commissioners of the State Civil Service Commission, Byron P. Decoteau, Jr., Director, Department of State Civil Service
Allison A. Jones Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant Shreveport, Louisiana Matthew Ragona
John W. Williams, Jr. Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Melissa S. Losch Louisiana Workforce Commission Alejandro R. Perkins Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Adrienne Bordelon Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Baton Rouge, Louisiana Byron P. Decoteau, Jr., Director, Department of State Civil Service
BEFORE: HIGGINBOTHAM, PENZATO AND LANIER, JJ LANIER, J.
The plaintiff/appellant, Matthew Ragona, appeals the decision of the Civil
Service Commission of the State of Louisiana ( the Commission), which denied his
application for review of the referee' s decision to terminate his employment with
the Louisiana Workforce Commission ( LWC). For the following reasons, we
affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On May 30, 2018, Mr. Ragona received notice from the LWC that he had
been terminated from his position as a Workforce Development Specialist 2. The
LWC stated in the notice that his position was a " job appointment," which is a
temporary, non -permanent position that could be terminated at any time. Mr.
Ragona was further notified that his final day of employment would be May 31,
2018.
On June 14, 2018, Mr. Ragona sent a letter to the Commission, in which he
stated he was employed by the LWC from December 8, 2014 to May 31, 2018 as a
Workforce Development Specialist 2. He claimed to have been " laid off' due to
false allegations of sexual harassment. He also claimed that he had a physical
disability and that he was treated differently from other non -disabled employees.
Mr. Ragona filed his appeal to the Commission on June 20, 2018.
On August 7, 2018, the Commission mailed a notice of possible defects in
the appeal to Mr. Ragona, which stated that under Louisiana Civil Service Rule
23. 5, an appointing authority may terminate a " job appointment" at any time
without legal cause.' The Commission advised Mr. Ragona that he had the right to
Louisiana Civil Service Rule 23. 5( a) states, in pertinent part:
A job appointment is a temporary appointment of an employee to fill a position in the classified service for a limited period of time. An appointing authority may
2 appeal if he alleged that he had been adversely affected by a violation of the Civil
Service Rules or had been discriminated against because of his religious or
political beliefs, sex, or race, but not due to physical disability. The Commission
advised that it does not have jurisdiction to hear cases dealing with discrimination
based on a physical disability. The Commission also stated that Mr. Ragona' s
appeal did not make any specific factual allegations of discrimination as required
by Louisiana Civil Service Rules 13. 10 and 13. 11. The Commission gave Mr.
Ragona fifteen calendar days to adequately amend his appeal to prevent it from
being dismissed.
On August 20, 2018, Mr. Ragona, through his retained counsel, sent an
amended letter of appeal to the Commission, in which he expanded on his previous
appeal by including additional allegations. He stated that false allegations of
sexual harassment were brought against him by a female co- worker, Heather
Daigrepont, who he claimed befriended him and led him to believe she was
romantically interested in him. Mr. Ragona stated that Ms. Daigrepont " asked
use a job appointment to fill a position for a period not to exceed four years. For rational business reasons, an appointing authority may request a longer term job appointment. The Commission may approve such requests or delegate approval authority to the Director. An appointing authority may terminate a job appointment at any time.
2 Louisiana Civil Service Rule 13. 10 states, in pertinent part:
Only the following persons have a right of appeal to the Commission:... a state classified employee who has been discriminated against in any employment action or decision because of his political or religious beliefs, sex, or race.
Louisiana Civil Service Rule 13. 11 states, in pertinent part:
A notice of appeal must... [ c] ontain a clear and concise statement of the actions complained against and a clear and concise statement of the basis of the appeal. Where discrimination is alleged to be a basis for appeal, specific facts supporting the conclusion of discrimination must be alleged in detail. The specific facts required will vary depending on the nature of the appeal; however, the facts must be alleged in sufficient detail to enable the agency to prepare a defense. A conclusion of discrimination is not sufficient.
N him] out to lunch several times, repeatedly asked him to go out, paid for his food
every time they went out to eat, asked him to dance, talked about her personal life
with him, etc."
Mr. Ragona stated that his physical disability is cerebral palsy, and that
because of his disability he did not have much experience with romantic
relationships. He stated that he believed Ms. Daigrepont was genuinely interested
in him. Ms. Daigrepont was in a higher position of authority, so he wanted to build
upon his relationship with her. He in turn asked Ms. Daigrepont out to lunch
several times.
Mr. Ragona stated he was surprised when Ms. Daigrepont filed sexual
harassment charges against him. He stated that Ms. Daigrepont never indicated to
him that his actions were unwelcomed by her. Mr. Ragona further claimed that no
investigation was conducted regarding the allegations, and that he was never
questioned about any incident. Mr. Ragona claimed that he was treated differently
from his non -disabled female co- workers. Mr. Ragona advised that he had also
filed a charge of discrimination due to disability with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights.
The Commission referee rendered a decision on Mr. Ragona' s appeal on
October 2, 2018. The referee found that since Mr. Ragona held his position due to
a job appointment, he could be terminated at any time without legal cause. The
referee advised Mr. Ragona that his only right to an appeal would be in a claim of
a violation of the Civil Service Rules or a claim of discrimination based on
religious or political beliefs, race, or sex. The referee noted that Mr. Ragona had
made a claim of discrimination based on his physical disability, over which the
referee stated the Commission had no jurisdiction. The referee further noted that
m Mr. Ragona made a sexual discrimination claim, but that he failed to support that
claim with specific factual allegations. Thus, the referee dismissed Mr. Ragona' s
appeal.
On October 16, 2018, Mr. Ragona sent a letter for application for review of
the referee' s decision, in which he included the allegation that Ms. Daigrepont was
not being disciplined for the inappropriate advances she had made towards him.
Mr. Ragona further outlined instances where other female employees joked or
acted with sexual undertones in the workplace around him and were not
disciplined, which he claimed were proof that he was singled out when terminated
from his employment. Mr. Ragona also stated that another male employee, who
was initially terminated for video voyeurism, eventually had his employment
reinstated. Mr. Ragona contended the he also should have his employment
reinstated.
On November 7, 2018, the Commission filed a notice of action on Mr.
Ragona' s application for review of the referee' s decision, in which the
Commission denied the application.' Mr. Ragona then filed the instant appeal.
3 The denial of the application for review made the referee' s decision the final decision of the Commission. See Louisiana Constitution Article 10 § 12( A) which provides, in pertinent part:
The State Civil Service Commission shall have the exclusive power and authority to hear and decide all removal and disciplinary cases, with subpoena power and power to administer oaths. It may appoint a referee, with subpoena power and power to administer oaths, to take testimony, hear, and decide removal and disciplinary cases. The decision of a referee is subject to review by the commission on any question of law or fact upon the filing of an application for review with the commission within fifteen calendar days after the decision of the referee is rendered. If an application for review is not timely filed with the commission, the decision of the referee becomes the final decision of the commission as of the date the decision was rendered. If an application for review is timely filed with the commission and, after a review of the application by the commission, the application is denied, the decision of the referee becomes the final decision of the commission as of the date the application is denied. The final decision of the commission shall be subject to review on any question of law or fact upon appeal to the court of appeal wherein the commission is located, upon application filed with the commission within thirty calendar days after its decision becomes final.
0 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Mr. Ragona assigns the following errors:
1. The Commission committed legal error by denying Mr. Ragona a right to appeal the termination of his employment.
2. Mr. Ragona alleged sufficient facts supporting a claim that he had been discriminated against on the basis of sex.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Generally, decisions of Civil Service Commission Referees are subject to the
same standard of review as decisions of the Commission itself. Decisions of the
Civil Service Commission are subject to the same standard of review as a decision
of a district court. Johnson v. Department of Health and Hospitals, 2000- 0071
La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 16/ 01), 808 So. 2d 436, 437- 438. When reviewing the
Commission' s findings of fact, the appellate court is required to apply the
manifestly erroneous or clearly wrong standard of review. Usun v. LSU Health
Sciences Center Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, 2002- 0295 ( La.
App. 1 Cir. 2/ 14/ 03), 845 So. 2d 491, 494.
DISCUSSION
In the written notice of termination that the LWC delivered to Mr. Ragona,
the reason given for his termination is that his " job appointment" had ended. The
LWC did not make any allegations of sexual harassment in their notice, nor do any
allegations of sexual harassment appear anywhere else in the record, other than in
Mr. Ragona' s own statements. Thus, there is no factual basis for Mr. Ragona to
state he was terminated for committing sexual harassment. According to Rule
23. 5, a job appointment position is a temporary position not to exceed four years in
duration. The notice states that Mr. Ragona had been employed as a Workforce
Development Specialist 2 job appointment beginning on December 8, 2014, and
1 that his employment was to end on May 31, 2018. His term of employment was
seven months short of the four-year mark as provided by Rule 23. 5, which also
states that non -permanent employment, such as Mr. Ragona' s can be terminated at
any time. Mr. Ragona' s termination, therefore, was in compliance with Rule 23. 5.
In his initial appeal to the Commission, Mr. Ragona claimed his
employment was terminated due to the allegations of sexual harassment against
him and due to his physical disability. The Commission correctly found
deficiencies in this appeal. As stated above, there is no evidence that Mr. Ragona
was terminated for sexual harassment. Furthermore, Mr. Ragona does not
challenge the Commission' s decision on the physical disability discrimination
allegation in this appeal.
Mr. Ragona' s claim of sexual discrimination was likewise made initially
without any specific factual allegations as required by Rule 13. 11. In his
application for review of the referee' s decision, Mr. Ragona makes the argument
that while he was disciplined for allegedly inappropriate behavior, his female co -
employees, Ms. Daigrepont in particular, were not disciplined for the same or
similar inappropriate behavior. Again, these are Mr. Ragona' s own unfounded
allegations. Mr. Ragona has presented no evidence of any charges of sexual
harassment brought against him or Ms. Daigrepont. Further, he has not presented
any specific evidence of any other inappropriate behavior committed by his female
co- workers.
Rule 13. 11( d) provides that a notice of appeal must:
Contain a clear and concise statement of the actions complained against and a clear and concise statement of the basis of the appeal. Where discrimination is alleged to be a basis for appeal, specific facts supporting the conclusion of discrimination must be alleged in detail. The specific facts required will vary depending on the nature of the appeal; however, the facts must be alleged in sufficient detail to
7 enable the agency to prepare a defense. A conclusion of discrimination is not sufficient. The types of facts which must be included are:
1. the date, time and place the discriminatory action took place;
2. the name of the person or agency alleged to have taken the discriminatory action;
3. a description of how appellant' s action, conduct or performance was the same as that of other persons who were treated differently;
4. the names of other persons treated differently and the dates the different treatment occurred;
5. a description of events, including the dates and circumstances thereof, which led appellant to believe that the adverse decision was based on his religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non -merit factor.
We find, based on the record in the instant case, that Mr. Ragona has merely
made a conclusion of sexual discrimination. He has not provided any specific
dates of instances where he was discriminated against based on his sex. While he
does name Ms. Daigrepont, he has not given the names of the other female co-
workers who he claims were given different treatment. His claim that another
male co- worker was reinstated to his position after being terminated for
inappropriate behavior does not explain how Mr. Ragona himself was a victim of
sexual discrimination.
Based on our review of the entire record, we find that the Commission was
not manifestly erroneous in its finding that Mr. Ragona did not present specific
facts of sexual discrimination, and the denial of his application for review was
appropriate. Furthermore, the LWC was well within its authority to terminate Mr.
Ragona as a temporary " job appointment" under Rule 23. 5.
s DECREE
The decision of the Louisiana Civil Service Commission to deny the
application for review of the appellant, Matthew Ragona, is affirmed. All costs of
this appeal are assessed to Mr. Ragona.
AFFIRMED.