McPherson v. Mims

385 So. 2d 44, 1980 Ala. LEXIS 2916
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedJune 20, 1980
Docket79-279
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 385 So. 2d 44 (McPherson v. Mims) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McPherson v. Mims, 385 So. 2d 44, 1980 Ala. LEXIS 2916 (Ala. 1980).

Opinion

EMBRY, Justice.

This is an appeal from a summary judgment entered in behalf of the City of Mobile which dismissed the petition for declaratory judgment of the Personnel Board of Mobile County, Alabama, that sought to enforce its order requiring the City of Mobile to put intervenor, William F. Vickery, back to work as a police officer.

Simply stated, the issue is whether under the facts of this case, a pertinent rule of the Mobile County Personnel Board, and applicable law, Vickery effectively withdrew his resignation from employment by the City and was entitled to reinstatement.

Vickery was employed by the City of Mobile as a police officer and his employment was governed by the Merit System administered by the Mobile County Personnel Board. On the date shown Vickery executed the following document:

“March 16, 1979
“TO: Chief of Police
“FROM: Officer William Vickery
“Please accept this as my resignation from Mobile Police Department, effective at the end of my tour of duty on March 30, 1979.
“As I have given the necessary two weeks notice, I hope my name will remain in good standing with the Mobile County Personnel Board.
“Respectfully,
“s/ William F. Vickery
Officer William Vickery
Badge # 131”

On the date shown the members of the City Commission of Mobile directed the following letter to the person indicated thereon with a copy of their letter to Vickery attached:

“March 21, 1979
“Mr. Bernard M. Richardson, Jr.
Personnel Director
“Dear Mr. Richardson:
“Attached please find letter of resignation from officer William Vickery, Mobile [45]*45Police Department, to become effective at the end of his tour of duty on March 30, 1979.
“As Officer Vickery is giving the required notice, we respectfully request that his resignation be accepted in good standing.
“Very truly yours
“s/ Lambert C. Mims
Mayor
“s/ Gary A. Greenough
Commissioner
“s/ Robert B. Doyle, Jr.
Commissioner
“RBD:r
Att.
cc: Chief Donald M. Whittle
Mrs. Agnes Whiteside
Budget”
“March 21, 1979
“Officer William Vickery
Mobile Police Department
“Dear Officer Vickery:
“We have received your letter of resignation. In view of the results of the Internal Affairs Investigation, file # IAU 508, based upon the complaint of W. C. Porter, we hereby accept your resignation. We will recommend that this resignation be accepted in good standing; but at the same time will oppose your being allowed to be placed on the reemployment list for a police officer in the City of Mobile.
“Very truly yours,
“s/ Gary A. Greenough
Mayor [Sic]
“s/ Lambert C. Mims
Commissioner [Sic]
“s/ Robert B. Doyle, Jr.
Commissioner
“RBD:r
cc: Mr. Bernard M. Richardson, Jr.
Chief Donald M. Riddle”

Subsequently, the Personnel Director sent the following letter to the City Commission:

“March 22, 1979
“Board of City Commissioners
City Hall
Mobile, Alabama
“Gentlemen:
“Re: Resignation of William Vickery
“In accordance with your letter of March 21, 1979, we are posting our records to show the resignation ‘In Good Standing’ of Mr. William Vickery, Police Officer, I SWAT, with the City of Mobile Police Department, effective March 31, 1979.
“Sincerely
“Bernard M. Richardson, Jr.
Personnel Director
“BMR/mos
cc: Mr. Patrick W. Kelly
Chief Donald M. Riddle
Mr. William Vickery”

Later, Officer Vickery sent the following letter to the Mobile City Commission:

“William F. Vickery
Badge 131
Mobile City Police Department
Mobile, Alabama
March 29, 1979
“Mobile City Commission
P. 0. Box 1327
Mobile, Alabama
“Attention: Commissioner Robert B. Doyle
“Gentlemen:
“This is to advise that I am withdrawing my letter of resignation, dated March 16, 1979, submitted to you through Chief Donald M. Riddle. My action comes after careful consideration. At the time of the submission of my letter, I was under extreme mental pressure due to an impending domestic matter.
“I wish to continue to serve as an officer on the Mobile Police Force as law enforcement is my choice career and I believe I can continue to render effective service to the Department, the city and the citizens of Mobile.
“Yours very truly,
“s/ William F. Vickery
William F. Vickery
Badge 131
[46]*46“cc: Donald Riddle, Chief of Police
Marvin Richardson
“P.S. Since his attempted resignation was not accepted according to the rules of the Personnel Board, I feel that the resignation is ineffective.
“JG”
[The initials “JG” quite obviously are those of one of the attorneys for the Personnel Board: John Grow.]

This was followed by a letter to the City Commission from the Personnel Director:

“March 30, 1979
“Board of City Commissioners
City Hall
Mobile, Alabama
“Gentlemen:
“I am in receipt this date of a letter from Police Officer William F. Vickery withdrawing his letter of resignation dated March 16, 1979.

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Related

Rhea v. City of Bessemer
426 So. 2d 838 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1982)
Ex Parte Rhea
426 So. 2d 838 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1982)
Ex Parte City of Bessemer
426 So. 2d 835 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1982)
Head v. Gadsden Civil Service Bd.
389 So. 2d 516 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1980)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
385 So. 2d 44, 1980 Ala. LEXIS 2916, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcpherson-v-mims-ala-1980.