Peterson v. Department of Natural Resources

219 N.W.2d 34, 392 Mich. 68, 1974 Mich. LEXIS 169

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: June 25, 1974
• Docket: 14 May Term 1974, Docket No. 54,989
• Status: Published

Opinions

Levin, J. Richard G.

Peterson seeks reinstatement with back pay as a conservation officer with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Civil Service Commission, adopting the opinion of a hearing officer, affirmed DNR’s dismissal of Peterson. The Circuit Court of Alpena County reversed and ordered Peterson reinstated. A divided panel of the Court of Appeals reversed the circuit court and upheld DNR’s dismissal of Peterson. 47 Mich App 336; 209 NW2d 511 (1973).

We reverse, again, and order reinstatement. Peterson’s dismissal is not supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence on the whole record.¹

I

Peterson was a conservation officer for two and a half years before this controversy began in early 1969. His duties necessitated that he carry a gun and arrest persons who violate the game laws. MCLA 300.16; MSA 13.1226.

The controversy had its genesis when Bernard Morgan, Peterson’s District Law Supervisor, criticized him in a department memorandum for filing an overbearing report on a game violation. Morgan’s memorandum, which was placed in Peterson’s permanent file, concluded: "If you are going to be a successful conservation officer you are going to have to be more tolerant and stop feeling that everyone is against you.”

Peterson objected and at a conference with department supervisors sought to have Morgan’s memorandum removed from his file. There was no record made of this conference; what occurred is in dispute.

Peterson claims it was agreed that if he presented a statement from a psychiatrist that he was not suffering from a "persecution complex”, the objectionable memorandum would be removed. He regarded his going to a psychiatrist as voluntary.

M. E. Southworth, Chief of DNR’s Personnel Division, regarded Peterson’s seeing a psychiatrist as mandatory. Two weeks after the conference he wrote requesting Peterson to supply, within a week, the name of the psychiatrist he was going to see and asking for a copy of the psychiatric report.

Peterson, then in the process of arranging such an appointment, regarded Southworth’s time pressuring and mandatory language as negating their agreement and decided to abandon the agreement and instead, pursuant to department regulations, filed a written grievance requesting that Morgan’s memo be removed and that he be transferred from Morgan’s supervision.

In the meantime, unbeknownst to DNR, Peterson followed through with the psychiatric examination and was examined by Dr. Ali Guner. Guner wrote a one-page report which generally discusses his interview with Peterson; the report does not indicate a psychiatric problem. Guner’s report also contained statements attributed to Peterson regarding DNR officials: "[Peterson] indicated that Mr. Morgan who is the one that engineered those things needs psychiatric help himself. * * * He indicated that his department is 'corrupt.’ ”

Southworth was the grievance hearing officer. At the grievance hearing, Peterson explained he had seen a psychiatrist but on the advice of counsel declined to submit the complete psychiatric report. He offered to submit the "psychiatric evaluation portion of the report.”

When the grievance board failed to decide this grievance, Peterson filed an appeal with the Civil Service Commission and then filed a second grievance with DNR asserting the failure to answer his first.

The grievance board’s decision on the first grievance followed shortly thereafter. Besides withholding the relief Peterson had requested— removal of the memorandum and a transfer — the grievance board, in effect, initiated proceedings against Peterson. It ordered Peterson "to be examined by a psychiatrist selected by the Department of Civil Service to determine his fitness to continue employment as a Conservation Officer.” If this test proved Peterson "mentally fit to continue as an Officer,” he would be granted a transfer; if the examination showed Peterson "not mentally fit” this would be "a basis for separating [Peterson] from the Officer position.”

Pursuant to this order, Peterson was examined by a psychiatrist selected by the Civil Service Commission, coincidentally, Dr. Guner. Guner’s second report generally discussed Peterson’s displeasure at being forced to submit to a second examination, and concluded: "I was inclined to diagnose Mr. Peterson as having personality disorder— paranoid personality. People who suffer from this condition require psychiatric help.”

Peterson was apprised of this diagnosis at a meeting with Southworth and others. Southworth offered Peterson a choice — accept a lateral transfer (at the same level, pay and seniority) as a water safety officer (a "desk” job which necessitated moving to Lansing) or be separated from DNR.

Peterson at first accepted the water safety position, but the next day changed his mind and filed his third grievance, this time against his discharge. In an effort to rebut Guner’s second report, Peterson produced Guner’s first report at the hearing on the third grievance. This grievance was decided against Peterson and he then sought review by the Civil Service Commission.

At a hearing conducted by a Civil Service Commission hearing officer, DNR produced Guner’s second report. Guner did not testify.²

Peterson produced three psychiatric reports from two psychiatrists (neither was present at the hearing) whom he had visited subsequent to his discharge. Dr. Irving Edgar’s report was favorable to Peterson, stating in part:

"He was orientated as to time, place and person. He was not depressed. He showed no undue anxiety. There was no evident obsession or compulsions, and no phobias. He expresses no hallucinations or delusions. He is not psychotic.”

These "impressions” of Dr. Edgar were confirmed by subsequent clinical psychological testing: "[Peterson] is not psychotic.”

Peterson also produced an extensive four-page report by Dr. William Bedwell which similarly concluded: "Diagnosis: No psychiatric disorder.”

Peterson additionally presented letters from the Michigan State Medical Society indicating that Drs. Edgar and Bedwell, but not Dr. Guner, were "board-certified psychiatrist[s]” requiring "several years of advanced study in the field of psychiatry and serving] a residency.”

Several fellow DNR employees testified praising Peterson’s professional dedication and competence. Peterson submitted numerous DNR service ratings and other documents from DNR and his previous employment experiences similarly praising his work.

In evaluating Peterson’s work habits the hearing officer made "an affirmative finding that Peterson’s prior record of employment both with [DNR] and with another Department have been exemplary. His file contains laudatory statements which would be the envy of any employee anywhere. One official went so far as to suggest that Peterson was among the top two out of approximately 100 employees in a similar capacity. His record is one of extreme efficiency and intelligence and dedication to duty. He has no prior record of difficulty in getting along with fellow employees and there have been no incidents of his abusing the public or having unsatisfactory relationships with the public.” (Emphasis supplied.)

II

Section 10 of the Rules of the Civil Service Commission concerns "paid sick leave”. Rule 10.16³ under that heading provides:

"Evidence of Fitness — An appointing authority may require that an employee present medical certification of his physical or mental fitness to continue working.”

This rule does not grant authority to require a psychiatric examination where no question has been raised regarding paid sick leave benefits. Just as clearly it does not authorize the "appointing authority” to require an employee to submit to an examination by a doctor chosen by the appointing authority.

The promulgation of civil service rules is designed to prevent state agencies, and the Commission itself, from exceeding their authority and acting arbitrarily. Allowing subordinate entities as they encounter specific situations to develop usages regarding fundamental matters, not formally promulgated, is inconsistent with the purpose of advance rule making.

In limited circumstances it may be appropriate for a state agency to require an employee to submit to a psychiatric examination as a condition of continued employment. The procedures for requiring such an examination should, however, be formalized and published as a civil service rule.

Before promulgation of such a rule, it would be necessary to address and resolve important policy questions. Who is to make the initial determination of whether a particular employee must submit to an examination? What raises a "bona fide question” (the Court of Appeals’ term) or constitutes "substantial cause” (the hearing examiner’s term) to suspect a mental problem? The character and scope of the psychiatric examination? Who is to analyze the data and opinion obtained from the psychiatrist?

These basic policy questions, as the instant case illustrates, are too complex to be left to the ad hoc discretion of persons who may themselves be involved in the controversy or who may easily be overwhelmed by the semantics of psychiatry.

Further, a departmental grievance board should not have the authority to order a grievant to submit to a psychiatric examination. Knowledge of such bizarre dispositions would "chill” exercise of the employee’s right to access to the grievance machinery.

III

The grievance board’s order requiring a mental examination was predicated on seven grounds which, it is asserted, put in question Peterson’s mental fitness:

"(1) It appears he resents being supervised.

"(2) It appears he resents having to operate within administrative policies and procedures.

"(3) It appears that both items (1) and (2) were evident during his previous employment with the Little-field Public School System and with the Department of Social Services.

"(4) The possibility that this problem of inability to adapt to policies and procedures existed during his short service with the Air Force: (served from 7-18-56 to 11-5-56 and given an honorable discharge under Regulation AFR 39-16, Paragraph 4a, item 4, and not eligible for reenlistment).

"(5) His apparent tendency to consistently misinterpret statements in memoranda (Morgan’s memo of January 9, 1969, and Southworth’s memorandum of March 19, 1969).

"(6) His apparent tendency to misinterpret meanings of words (Peterson’s memo of March 24, 1969 to South-worth).

"(7) His apparent tendency to misinterpret statements by supervisory personnel, including statements made by Bennett, Morgan and Southworth during March 6, 1969 meeting at Roscommon Regional Office.”

Grounds (1), (2), (5), (6) and (7) all relate to Peterson’s differences with his supervisors and the filing of his grievance. Generally, when a grievance is filed there has been a misunderstanding and different emphases placed on words or actions. If people did not disagree concerning the meaning of words and actions there would be little need for a grievance system.

Ground (3) refers to Peterson’s employment experience with the Department of Social Services and the Littlefield Public School System.

Walter Minor, Director of Schoolcraft County, Department of Social Welfare, concluded an evaluation of Peterson in April, 1966: "I do not hesitate to most highly recommend Mr. Peterson to any potential employer and I consider his leaving our agency a real loss.”

In 1964, five years before Peterson’s alleged paranoia, the superintendent of the Littlefield school system had written that Peterson "was not suited to the life of an educator” and "consistently resented administrative policies.” This bears no relevance to his mental stability in 1964, and most certainly is not probative of his mental reliability as a conservation officer.

The circumstances of Peterson’s separation from the military service (ground [4]) were not brought out at the hearing.

IV

DNR’s dismissal is grounded on Dr. Guner’s second psychiatric evaluation: "I was inclined to diagnose Mr. Peterson as having personality disorder — paranoid personality. People who suffer from this condition require psychiatric help.”

This diagnosis standing by itself, even if unrebutted or uncontradicted, is insufficient to sustain the dismissal of an employee on mental grounds.

Although "only” Peterson’s job is technically involved in this litigation, in essence his entire career is at stake. The black mark which DNR has imposed on Peterson’s employment status is a stigma not easily removed or overcome. Many employers would be most wary to employ a person who has previously been terminated for having a "paranoid personality.”

Dr. Guner spent less than an hour with Peterson at the second examination. He conducted no clinical tests. His conclusion is far from definitive. He did not explain the significance of his terms or findings in the context of Peterson’s employment.

Before a public employer may properly consider dismissing an employee on psychiatric grounds, a complete psychiatric report based on an intensive examination and, if necessary, clinical tests should be required. The report should relate its findings to the position held by the employee. If the doctor’s report is adverse, the employee should promptly be apprised of it. The doctor should be produced at a hearing where he can be questioned by the employee or his counsel.⁴

In this case, there was no evidence whatsoever that Peterson had ever misused his authority. The reports of the other psychiatrists, the testimony and reports of Peterson’s fellow officers, the record of Peterson’s exemplary work experience clearly outweigh whatever probative value may be attributed to Guner’s evaluation.

V

DNR contends that Drs. Edgar’s and Bedwell’s reports and the other evidence adduced by Peterson at the Civil Service Commission hearing may not be considered. It asserts that the justification for dismissing Peterson is to be reviewed as of the time he was dismissed.

Acceptance of this argument would in many cases prevent a discharged civil service employee from proving that the discharge was unjustified and would unduly impair his right under civil service rule 33.2 to appeal to the Civil Service Commission from an "involuntary separation from employment without just cause”.

The issue on appeal to the Civil Service Commission is not whether on the limited facts which may have come to the attention of the appointing authority was dismissal justified but, rather, whether on all the evidence, including facts of which the appointing authority may not have become aware, should the involuntary separation have been sustained.

The Court of Appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded to the Alpena County Circuit Court for the entry of an order reinstating Peterson with back pay as determined by the circuit court.⁵

T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and T. G. Kavanagh, Swainson, Williams, M. S. Coleman, and J. W. Fitzgerald, JJ., concurred with Levin, J.

1 Viculin v Department of Civil Service, 386 Mich 375; 192 NW2d 449 (1971), holds that the scope of review from a final decision of the Civil Service Commission is the constitutional standard, "whether the same are supported by competent, material and substantial evidence on the whole record.” Const 1963, art 6, § 28.

2 Southworth testified that he and other personnel officers had personally discussed Peterson’s situation with Guner and were reinforced in their belief that their action was proper. The Civil Service Commission hearing officer excluded this testimony as hearsay.

3 Numbered 10.18 at the time of the hearing.

4 If the employee offers the testimony of witnesses, expert or non-expert, opposing the public employer’s evidence, they too would, of course, be subject to cross-examination.

DNR complains that it did not have an opportunity to speak to Peterson’s expert witnesses before they examined him and made their evaluation. The civil service hearing procedure might appropriately provide for prehearing depositions, particularly of expert witnesses. But affording a public employer an opportunity to speak to witnesses, apart from a deposition procedure, is not a precondition to the employee’s putting in a defense.

5 Peterson’s refusal to accept a lateral transfer does not bar his recovery of back pay. All wages in fact earned by Peterson shall be deducted from the back pay award. The record presented on the other aspects of the mitigation issue is not sufficiently developed to warrant an expression from this Court.