Robinson v. Boyer

643 F. Supp. 975, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 126, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20524
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Mississippi
DecidedSeptember 11, 1986
DocketCiv. A. No. GC 84 90 GD 0
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 643 F. Supp. 975 (Robinson v. Boyer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Robinson v. Boyer, 643 F. Supp. 975, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 126, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20524 (N.D. Miss. 1986).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DAVIDSON, District Judge.

The plaintiff Clarence A. Robinson brings this action for alleged violations of his First Amendment rights of free speech and association and his Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of procedural and substantive due process and equal protection. Robinson alleges that Dr. Joe L. Boyer, President of Mississippi Valley State University, violated his constitutional rights under color of state law, entitling him to monetary and injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court, having heard the matter without a jury, and concluding that it has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, hereby records its findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Findings of Fact

Robinson was hired by Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU or “State”) on September 25, 1978 as a law enforcement officer. Prior to that time, Robinson had served in the United States Army with 20 years of experience as a military policeman and had attained the rank of Sgt/lst Class E-7. Robinson was employed on a year to year basis since he was neither a faculty member nor the recipient of a tenure position. Robinson continued in his employment as a law enforcement officer for [977]*977State until December 1, 1982 when he was promoted to the position of Acting Coordinator of Security. On June 30, 1983, Robinson and Dr. Boyer signed a contract for the period July 1, 1983 through June 30, 1984. Some time during this period, Finley Horton, Chief Fiscal Officer of Mississippi Valley State University and the plaintiffs immediate supervisor, became dissatisfied with Robinson, not because of his law enforcement abilities, but because Robinson persisted in refusing to implement Horton’s orders and recommendations. Horton testified that Robinson refused to conduct fire drills on a regular basis, failed to adequately warn and discipline officers for breaches of duty, failed to develop a fire prevention plan for the campus, failed to develop a building security plan, failed to submit copies of staff meeting minutes to Horton, refused to conduct seminars with students, refused to employ a foot patrol on campus and refused to implement a five-man patrol to reduce overtime to aid the University in acting within its budgetary constraints. Horton testified that the state had no money budgeted for overtime and that Robinson had never requested Horton’s permission to work employees overtime. As a result of Robinson’s actions, Horton verbally told Robinson that he would recommend termination if Robinson continued to refuse to comply with Horton’s orders and requests. Horton testified that when it finally become apparent to him that Robinson would never comply with his recommendations and operate the security force as necessitated by economic restrictions, Horton recommended in writing to Dr. Boyer that Robinson be terminated for “contumacious conduct,” giving several examples to support this charge.

In response to Horton’s recommendation, Dr. Boyer testified that it was his duty to receive recommendations from supervisors who wished to terminate employees and to advise them of the procedures to be taken for termination. After reviewing the information, Dr. Boyer notified Robinson by letter that he was being terminated effective January 31, 1984. In the letter, Dr. Boyer also notified Robinson of his right to appeal the decision using the procedures outlined in the “Personnel Factbook.” By letter dated January 24, 1984, Robinson requested a hearing on his termination and by letter dated January 27, 1984, Percy Washington, Director of Personnel at State, notified Robinson that the reason for his termination was a charge of “Contumacious Conduct”. In his letter, Washington also notified Robinson that the principal witness for the University would be Finley Horton, Robinson’s immediate supervisor. Washington stated therein that other administrative and staff personnel might be called to testify on behalf of the University as well. (Plaintiff’s exhibit 3).

The hearing on the matter took place on February 6, 1984. The committee, in compliance with the Mississippi Valley State Personnel Factbook, was composed of three persons from the faculty and University staff. These individuals were Dr. David Wicks, Dr. Joe Curtis and Ms. Doris Jackson. The plaintiff was allowed to call several witnesses, to cross-examine Horton and introduce matters into evidence. At the conclusion of the testimony, the arbiters were again informed that the termination was due to contumacious conduct and were asked to respond to the question, “Does the evidence presented support the rationale for the decision made?” In response, Dr. Wicks stated:

No, the evidence presented did not support the decision made because it (the evidence) was not preponderant and convincing. In addition, the “Termination of Employment” procedures outlined on pages 15-18 in the MVSU Personnel Factbook, 2 n.d. ed., were not followed.

Dr. Curtis similarly stated:

In my opinion, the evidence presented does not support the rationale for the decision made.
The evidence presented does not substantiate insubordinate conduct, except in the failure of Mr. Robinson to conduct fire drills in August and September of 1983. However, in reviewing the job description for Director of Security on page 133 of the Administrative Handbook, I [978]*978found no reference to fire protection. In addition, no evidence was presented to show that Mr. Robinson was told in writing that his conduct was insubordinate, nor that further conduct of a similar nature would lead to his termination.
There does not appear to be a clear pattern of disregard for supervisory directives. There does, however, appear to be areas of legitimate disagreement.

Doris Jackson replied in response to the query:

Yes — As an employee in the Personnel Office, I am aware that most positions, teaching & non-teaching, require flexibilities in duties — All employees are often asked to perform some task that may not be considered as having direct relationship to their routine duties. Also, with recent cut back in staff and the period of austerity we are facing, I feel any additional duty assigned by supervisors should be accepted in a positive manner by the employee and performed to the best of their knowledge and/or ability.

Though there was only one clear affirmative answer, Dr. Boyer testified that he treated the responses as one and one-half of the responses as supporting the rationale for the decision and one and one-half opposed to the rationale. Dr. Boyer explained, in essence, that Dr. Curtis’ answer indicated that he somewhat believed that Robinson had committed some acts of insubordination, contrary to Curtis’ overall conclusion. As a result of the votes of the arbiters and Dr. Boyer’s interpretation of their votes, Boyer decided to uphold the decision to terminate the plaintiff as expressed in a letter to Robinson dated February 13, 1984. (Plaintiff’s exhibit 8).

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Related

Ishee v. Moss
668 F. Supp. 554 (N.D. Mississippi, 1987)
Clarence A. Robinson v. Joe L. Boyer
825 F.2d 64 (Fifth Circuit, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
643 F. Supp. 975, 35 Educ. L. Rep. 126, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20524, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/robinson-v-boyer-msnd-1986.