Shelita Turner v. Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: February 24, 2023
• Docket: 2022CA0989
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL

FIRST CIRCUIT

NUMBER 2022 CA 0989

SHELITA TURNER

VERSUS

GOVERNOR' S OFFICE OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS

Judgment Rendered: FEB 2 4 2023

Appealed from a decision of the State Civil Service Commission State of Louisiana Number S- 15802

Honorable David L. Duplantier, Chairman; D. Scott Hughes, Vice -Chairman; John McLure, Kristi Folse, G. Lee Griffin, Ronald M. Carrere, Jr., and Jo Ann Nixon, Members

Jessica M. Vasquez Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant New Orleans, LA Shelita Turner

Amanda H. Smith Counsel for Defendant/ Appellee Baton Rouge, LA Governor' s Office of Elderly Affairs

BEFORE: GUIDRY, C. J., WOLFE, AND MILLER, JJ. GUIDRY, C.J.

Plaintiff/appellant, Shelita Turner, appeals from a decision of the Civil

Service Commission Referee dismissing her appeal. For the reasons that follow, we

affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Turner was hired as an Adult Protective Specialist 2 by the Governor' s Office

of Elderly Affairs ( GOER) and began work on November 29, 2021. However, on

February 15, 2022, GOEA terminated Turner, who at that time was a probationary

employee. Thereafter, on March 15, 2022, Turner filed an appeal of her termination

with the Civil Service Commission (" the Commission") alleging that her termination

was discriminatory under Civil Service Rule 1. 14. 1 because it was based on " other

non -merit factors." Turner sought reinstatement to her position, back pay, and

benefits.

On May 11, 2022, a Civil Service Commission Referee (" the referee") issued

a notice to Turner of possible defects in the appeal. Specifically, the notice stated

that the appeal did not appear to comply with Civil Service Rule 13. 10 and 13. 11, as

Turner failed to provide specific and detailed factual allegations that she was

adversely affected by a violation of Civil Service Articles or Civil Service Rules or

was discriminated against because of her religious or political beliefs, sex, or race.

The notice gave Turner fifteen days from the date of the notice to amend her appeal

in a manner that complies with Civil Service Rule 13. 11( d) to cure the defects.

Turner filed an amended appeal on May 25, 2022, wherein she alleged her

termination was the result of political discrimination due to her " political views"

with respect to trauma informed care. ( R. 14) On July 14, 2022, the referee issued

his decision, finding that Turner' s conclusion that her views on trauma informed

care constitute " political" beliefs does not give rise to an actionable claim of political

discrimination and as such, she failed to allege any facts in support of her allegation

K of political discrimination as required by Civil Service Rule 13. 1 l( d). Therefore,

because Turner failed to allege sufficient facts supporting a conclusion that GOEA

discriminated against her based on her political or religious beliefs, sex, or race or

that a violation of a Civil Service Rule or Civil Service Article occurred, the referee

found that Turner did not establish a right of appeal to the Commission and

dismissed her appeal.

No application for review of the referee' s decision was filed with the

Commission; therefore, the referee' s decision became the final decision of the

Commission. See La. Const. art. X, § 12( A). Turner now appeals from the referee' s

decision.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Generally, decisions of Civil Service Commission Referees are subject to the

same standard of review as decisions of the Commission itself. Malouse v.

Louisiana Department of Health -Office of Public Health, 19- 1034, p. 6 ( La. App.

1 st Cir. 2/ 21/ 20), 297 So. 3d 974, 978, writ denied, 20- 00548 ( La. 9123/ 20), 301 So.

3d 1182. The factual conclusions of the referee and Commission are subject to the

manifest error standard of review, meaning that the factual determinations will be

reversed only if the appellate court finds that a reasonable basis does not exist for

the Commission' s finding and the record establishes the finding is clearly wrong.

Cole v. Division of Administration, 14- 0936, pp. 5- 6 ( La. App. lst Cir. 1126115),

170 So. 3d 180, 184.

DISCUSSION

According to State Civil Service Rule 13. 10, only the following state

employees who have probationary rather than permanent status have a right of

appeal to the Commission:

b) 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; [ and/ or]

3 c) a state classified employee who has been adversely affected by a violation of any provision in the Civil Service Article or of any Civil Service Rule other than a rule in Chapter 10.

In her amended appeal, Turner alleged that her termination was the result of

political discrimination based on her " political views" with respect to trauma

informed care for the public. Turner alleged that because of these views, she felt

strongly about governmental protection for survivors of abuse and submitted

grievances against her supervisor with regard to employment practices that

endangered survivors of abuse under GOEA' s care and violated Civil Service Rules

and GOEA policies. Turner alleged that because her supervisor disagreed with her

views, she retaliated against and harassed Turner and ultimately influenced the

Director and Executive Director of GOEA to terminate Turner.

From our review of the record, we find no error in the referee' s decision

finding that Turner failed to sufficiently allege that her views concerning support for

trauma informed care qualify as " political" beliefs and that her mere conclusion that

they constitute such does not give rise to an actionable claim of political

discrimination. Accordingly, we further find no error in the referee' s decision

finding that Turner has failed to establish a right to appeal to the Commission and

dismissing her appeal.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the Civil Service

Commission. All costs of this appeal are assessed to Shelita Turner.

AFFIRMED.