THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL and GOBEI L, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

p h y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 1, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 03 1 . ASHLEY v

. CARSTARPHEN.

B E T H E L , J u d g e.

M i ch ael As h l ey p et i t io n ed t h e s u p eri o r co u rt fo r a wri t of m an d am u s t o co m p el

M eri a Cars t arp hen

, i n h er o ffi ci al cap aci t y as Su p eri n t en den t o f At l an t a Pu b l i c

Sch oo l s (APS), 1 t o h o l d a d u e p ro c e s s h e a ri n g reg ard i n g th e n o n -ren ewal o f h i s

em pl o y m en t co n t ract as a p ub l i c s ch o o l ad m i n is t rat o r p u rs u an t to t h e Fai r D i s m i s s al

Act

. 2 Cars t arp h e n m o v ed to d i s m i s s t h e p et i t io n arg ui ng th at

, b ecau s e As h l ey

v o l u n t ari l y ret i red t h ro u gh t h e Teach ers Ret i rem en t Sy s t em of Geo rg i a (TRS), h e was

1 “ M a n d a m

u s i s a p ers o n al act i on ag ai n s t a p u bl i c o ffi cer, n o t ag ai n s t t h e

o ffi ce. A cco rd i n g l y

, [APS] i s n o t s u b ject to m an dam

u s, al t h o ug h i t s ex ecu t i v e o ffi cer,

[M eri a Cars t arp hen ] , a n am ed p art y i n t h i s act i o n, i s.” Ha l l v. Nel s o n

, 2 8 2 Ga. 4 4 1,

4 4 4 (4 ) (6 5 1 SE2 d 7 2) (2 00 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 S ee OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 et s eq

.n o l o ng er a n e m p l o y ee o f APS, an d t h erefo re no l o n g er el i g i b l e fo r a d u e p ro ces s

h e a r i n g

. Th e s u p eri o r co u rt gran t ed t h e m o t i on

, fi n d i ng th at As h l ey d i d n o t h av e a

c l ear l eg al ri gh t t o h av e an y act p erfo rm ed by Cars t arp hen i n h er o ffi ci al cap aci t y

wi t h APS i n reg ard t o t h e ren ewal o f As h l ey ’ s co n t ract

. On ap p eal , we are as k ed t o

d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at As h l ey effect i v el y wai v ed h i s

ri gh t t o a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g wh en he vo l un t ari ly fi l ed fo r re t i r e m e n t a n d b eg an

recei v i ng ret i rem en t b en efi t s th ro u g h TRS. W e ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co urt t h at As h l ey ’ s

v o l u n t ary ret i rem en t wai v ed h i s ri gh t t o a d ue p ro ces s h eari n g an d t h erefo re affi rm

.

“ A m ot i o n t o di s m i s s m ay b e g ran t ed o n l y wh ere a co m p l ai n t s h o ws wi th

cert ai n ty t h at t h e pl ai n t i ff w o ul d n o t b e en t it l ed t o rel i ef u n der an y s tat e o f fact s t h at

co u ld b e p ro v en i n s u p p o rt o f h i s cl ai m .” Al ca t ra z Med i a, LLC v. Y a h o o ! In c.

, 2 9 0

Ga. Ap p

. 8 82

, 8 8 2 (6 6 0 SE2 d 7 9 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ). “ W e ap p l y a d e no v o st an d ard of rev i ew

t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

. ” Id

.

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at As h l ey w as em p l o y ed wi th APS fo r o v er 3 0

y ears

. Du ri ng t h e 2 0 1 5

- 2 01 6 acad em i c y ear, As h ley wo rk ed as an as s i s t an t p ri n ci p al

at an APS m id dl e s ch o ol

. O n M ay 6

, 2 0 1 6

, APS s en t a l et t er t o As hl ey i n fo rm i n g h i m

t h at APS was reco m

m en d i n g t o t h e At l an t a Bo ard o f Ed ucat i o n (t h e Bo ard ) t h at h i s

em pl o y m en t co n t ract n o t be ren ewed fo r t h e 2 0 1 6

- 2 0 1 7 acad em i c y ear b ecau s e h i s

2cu rren t po si t i o n was b ei n g ab o l i s h ed

. Th e l et t er we n t o n t o i n fo rm As h ley t h at h i s

em pl o y m en t co nt ract wi t h APS wo u l d en d J u ne 3 0

, 2 0 1 6

, bu t t h at h e was el i g i b l e fo r

re-h ire. Th e l et ter al s o s t at ed t h at As h l ey was en t i t l ed t o cert ai n p ro ced u ral s afeg u ard s

b efo re h e co u l d b e dem o t ed o r d i s m i s s ed fro m APS, wh i ch i n cl u ded a ri g h t t o a d u e

p ro ces s h eari n g.

Pu rs uan t to OCGA §§ 20 -2 -9 4 0 an d 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (b ) (1 ), As h l ey t i m el y s u b m i t t ed

a req ues t fo r a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g t o ch al l en ge t h e n o n -ren ewal o f h i s em p l o y m en t

co n tract wi t h APS. 3 Th e heari n g

, o ri g in al ly s ch ed ul ed fo r J u n e 2 8

, 2 0 1 6

, was

co n ti n u ed to J u l y 2 7

, 2 01 6

, an d co n t i n u ed ag ai n p en d i n g s et t l em en t d i s cu ss i o n s

. On

o r ab o u t J u l y 1 3

, 2 0 1 6

, As h l ey s u b m i t t ed an o nl i n e ap p l i cat i o n to fi l e fo r ret i rem en t

wi t h TRS, l i st i n g Ju l y 1

, 2 0 1 6, as t h e effect i v e d at e o f h i s ret i rem en t

. Th at s am e d ay

,

As h ley l o g ged o n t o t h e APS p o rt al

, co m p l et ed t wo req u ired s t ep s

, an d ret i red fro m

APS. W h i l e s et t lem en t n eg o t i at i o n s we r e pe nding, A P S notif ie d A sh l ey o n Sep t em

b er

3 Al t h o ug h As h l ey was an as s i s t an t p ri n ci p al at t h e t i m e h i s c o n t ract was n ot

ren ewed

, h e ret ai n ed t he fai r d is m i s s al ri gh t s s et fo rt h u n d er OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 as a

t each er. See OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (c) (2 ) (“ A t each er w h o had acq ui red an y ri g h t s to

co n ti n u ed em

p l o y m en t u n d er t hi s Co d e s ect i o n p ri or to Ap ri l 7

, 1 9 9 5

, an d wh o i s o r

b e c o m es a s ch o o l ad m i n is t rat o r wi th o u t an y b reak i n em p l oy m en t wi t h t h e l o c a l

b o ard fo r wh i ch t h e p ers o n h ad b een a t each er sh al l ret ai n t h o s e ri gh t s u n d e r t h i s

Co d e s ect i on t o co n t i nu ed em p l o y m en t i n t h e p o s i ti o n as t each er wi t h s u ch l o cal

b o ard .”).

39

, 2 0 1 6, th at i t h ad learn ed o f h i s ret i rem en t fro m T RS, effect i v e J ul y 1

, 2 0 1 6

. In an

em ai l ex ch an g e b et w een at t o rn ey s fo r t h e part i es

, A PS ex p l ai n ed t h at d u e t o As h l ey ’ s

ret i rem en t

, APS wo u l d n o l o n g er co n t i n u e s et t l em en t d is cu s s i o n s o r p ro ceed wi t h t h e

d u e p ro ces s h eari n g reg ard i n g t h e n o n -ren ewal o f h i s em p l o y m en t co n t ract

.

As h l ey t h en fi l ed a v eri fi ed p et i t i o n fo r m an d am us as k i n g t he su p eri o r co u rt to

co m p el Cars t arp h en t o h o ld t h e d u e p ro ces s h eari n g. Cars t arp h en f i l e d a m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s t h e p et i t i o n

, w h ich was g ran t ed fo l l o wi ng a h ea r i n g

. T h i s ap peal fo l l o wed

.

In h i s s o l e en u m erat i o n

, A s h l ey arg u es t h at h is ret i rem en t th ro u g h T RS d i d n ot

wai v e h i s ri g h t t o a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g

, an d t h u s t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d is m i s s i n g

h i s p et i t i o n fo r m an d am

u s. W e d i sag ree.

M an d am us i s an ex t rao rd i n ary rem ed y t o co m p el a pu b l i c o ffi c e r t o

p erfo rm a req u i red d u t y

wh en t h ere i s n o o t h er ad eq uat e l eg al rem ed y

.

It i s a di s cr e t i o n a r y rem ed y t h at co u rt s m ay g ran t o nl y wh en th e

p et i t i o n er h as a c l ear l eg al ri g h t t o t h e rel i ef s o u g h t [.]

. . . In g en eral

,

m an d am u s rel i ef i s n o t av ai l ab l e t o co m p el offi ci al s t o fo l l o w a gen eral

co u rs e o f co n d u ct , p erfo rm a d i s cret i on ary act , o r u n d o a p as t act

.

S ch ren ko v. DeKa l b Ct

y. S ch

. Di s t.

, 2 7 6 Ga. 7 86

, 7 9 4 (3 ) ( 5 8 2 SE2 d 1 0 9) (2 0 0 3 )

(fo o t no t es o m i t t ed ).

4U n d e r Geo rg i a l aw, l o cal b o ard s o f ed u cat i o n are au t h o ri zed t o t ak e

em pl o y m en t act io n s wi t h res p ect t o s ch o o l pers o n nel

, b ut ab sen t a reco m m en d at i o n

b y t h e sch o o l s u p eri n t en d e n t

, i t h as n o i n d ep en d en t au t h o ri ty to h i re, fi re, o r

o t h erwi s e as s i g n p ers o n n el

. S ee O CGA § 2 0 -2 -2 1 1 (a). S ee a ls o

, Li b er t

y Ct y. S ch

.

Di s t

. v. Ha l l i b u r t o n

, 32 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 2

, 4 2 9 (4 ) (7 6 2 SE2 d 1 38 ) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ), ov erru l ed o n ot h er g ro u nd s b y Ri ver a v. W a s hi n g t o n

, 2 9 8 Ga.

7 7 0 (7 8 4 SE2 d 7 7 5) (2 0 1 6 ). Th e au t h o ri t y ves t ed i n s ch o o l s u p eri n t en d en ts an d l o cal

s ch o ol b o ard s wi t h res p ect t o em p l o y m en t d eci s i o n s i s l i m it ed b y s t at u t e.

Pu rs uan t t o Geo rg i a’ s Fai r D i s m i ss al Act

, OCGA § § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 t h ro u g h 2 0 -2

-

9 4 8

, aft er a t each er’ s fo u rt h co n s ecu t i v e co nt ract w i t h a l ocal b o ard o f ed u cat i o n

, t h e

t each er i s en t i t l ed t o cert ai n “ t en u re ri g h t s” wh i ch

, u n der t h e Act

, m an dat e th at a l o cal

b o ard can on l y d em o t e o r fai l t o r e n e w t h e co n t ract of t h e t en u red t each er fo r t h e

reas on s s p eci fi ed i n OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 an d aft er p r o v i d i n g s p eci fi ed p ro ced u ral

s afeg u ard s

. S

ee Cl a yt o n Ct y. Bd

. o f E d u c. v. W i l mer

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 63 7

, 6 3 8 (7 5 3

SE2 d 4 5 9 ) (2 0 14 ). Th e p ro ced u ral s afeg u ard s o u t l i n ed i n t h e s t at u t e i n cl u d e

p ro v id i n g t h e t en ured t each er wi t h wri t ten n ot i ce an d an o p p o rt u ni t y t o ch al len g e t h e

n o n -ren e w a l o f hi s co n t ract at a d u e p ro ces s h eari ng b efo re th e lo cal s ch o o l b o ard

5p ri o r t o an y fi n al act i on b ei n g t ak en b y t h e lo cal s ch o o l b o ard

. S ee OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2

(b ); s ee a l s o OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 40 (b ) t h ro u g h (f).

In t h i s cas e

, w h i l e a wai t i n g t h e o u t co m e o f t h e ad m in i s t rat iv e pro ces s fo r

ch al l en g i n g t h e n o n -ren ewal o f h i s co n tract

, As h ley ap pl i ed fo r ret i rem en t wi t h T RS

t o b eg i n recei v i n g ret irem en t b en efi t s. OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 0 1 (a), t h e s t at u t e th at o u t l i n es

t h e req ui rem en t s fo r el i g i b le em p l o y ees t o recei v e ret i rem en t ben efi t s t h ro ug h TRS,

p ro v id es i n p art t h at

An y m em b er 4 i n s erv i ce m ay ret i re u p o n wri t t en ap p l i cat i o n t o t h e b oard

o f t ru s t ees [.]

. . . Th e effect i v e d at e of ret irem en t wi l l b e t h e fi rs t of th e

m o n t h i n w h ich t h e ap p l i cat i o n i s recei ved b y t h e b o ard o f t ru s t ees [.]

.

. . Each em

p l o y er sh al l cert i fy t o t he b o ard o f t ru s t ees t h e d at e o n wh ich

t h e em pl o y ee’ s em

p l o y m en t i s o r wi l l b e s ev ered an d t hat n o ag reem en t

ex i s ts t o al l ow t h e em

p l o y ee t o ret u rn to s erv i ce, i n cl u d i n g s erv i ce as o r

fo r an i n d ep en d en t co n t ract o r.

Here, th e q ues ti o n p res en t ed i s wh et her As h l ey ’ s s u bs eq u en t ret i rem en t

t h ro u g h TRS wai v ed hi s ri gh t t o a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g. Becau s e t h e i s s u es i n t h i s cas e

cen t er o n t h e i n terp l ay bet w e en OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 01 (a) an d OCGA § § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (b )

4 A “ m em b er ” i s d e f

i n ed as “ an y t each er i n cl u ded i n t h e m em b ers h i p o f t h e

ret i rem en t s y s t em .” OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 (1 5 ). Th e t erm “ t each er” i s d e f i n e d as “ a

p erm an en t s t at u s em

p lo y ee em

p l o y ed n ot l es s t h an h al f t im e” an d is an em p l o y ee o f

“ a p u b l i c s ch o ol o r a l o cal b o ard o f ed ucat io n .” OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 (2 8) (A).

6(1 ) an d 2 0 -2

- 9 4 0 ( b ) t h r o u gh (f), th i s Co u rt m u s t ab i d e by t h e s et t l ed pri n ci p l es o f

s t at u to ry co n st ru ct io n. Th at i s

, a s t at u t e d raws i t s m ean i n g fro m i t s tex t an d “ we m u s t

read t h e s t at u t o ry t ex t

, i n i t s m o s t n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e way

, as an o rd in ary s p eak er

o f t h e En g l i s h l an g u ag e wo ul d .” Ti b b les v. Tea ch er s R e t

. S y s

. o f Ga

. , 29 7 Ga. 5 5 7,

5 5 8 (1 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d 5 27 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

W i t h t h e ab o v e i n m i n d

, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h at aft er recei v i n g no t i ce t h at h i s

em pl o y m en t co n t ract wo u l d n o t b e ren ewed b y A PS, As h l ey

, an em p l o y ee o f APS,

t i m el y fi l ed a req u es t fo r a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g in acco rd an ce wi t h OCGA § § 2 0 -2

-

9 4 2 (b ) ( 1 ) an d 2 0-2 -9 4 0 (b ) th ro ug h (f). As h l ey cl ai m s t h at h e d i d n ot ret i re fro m

APS. He i ns t ead arg u es t h at b y v i r t u e o f t he May 20 1 6 l et t er, h e was effect i v el y

t erm i n at ed b y APS as o f J u ne 3 0

, 2 0 1 6

, an d w a s t h u s el i g ib l e to b eg i n recei v i n g

ret i rem en t b e n e f

i t s w h i l e h e awai t ed t h e o u t co m e o f t h e p en d i n g set t l em en t

n eg ot i at i on s w i t h APS. W h i l e i t i s t ru e t h at as o f J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 6

, As h ley was no l o n g er

u n d er co nt ract wi th APS b y v i rt u e o f h i s ex p i red em

p l o y m en t co n t ract

, t h e ab s en ce

o f a n ew co n t ract d i d n o t eq u at e t o a t erm i n at i o n b y APS. U n d er OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2

(b ) (1 ), As h l ey

ret ai n ed t h e ri g ht t o ch al l en ge t he reco m m en d at i o n t h at h i s co n t ract

n o t b e ren ewed b efo re h e co u l d b e d em o t ed o r n o n

- r en ewed

, an d t h u s rem ai n ed

7el i g i b l e t o recei v e a n ew em p lo y m en t co n tract at an y t i m e b y APS. M ore i m p o rt an t l y

,

t h e reco rd s h o ws th at n o act io n h ad been t ak en b y t h e Bo ard reg ard i n g Cars t arp h en ’ s

reco m m en d at i o n t h at As h l e y’s co n t ract n o t b e ren ewed

. Th us

, t h e t ri al co u rt was

co rrect i n fi n d i n g t h at u n t i l h e el ect ed t o ret i re fro m APS, As h l ey was en t i t l ed t o t h e

p ro ced ural s afeg u ard s o u tl i n ed i n t h e s t at ut e. 5

Fu rt her, t h e rel ev an t s t at u t es m ak e cl ear t hat t h e p ro ced u ral s a f e gua r ds outline d

t h erei n are o n l y affo rd ed t o i n d i v id u al s wh o are em pl o ye e s o f APS p ri o r t o t h ei r

d i s ch arg e or s u s pen s i on

. S e e O C GA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (a) (4 ) (“ T each er” m ean s an y

p ro fes s i on al s ch o o l emp l o yee cert i fi ca t e d by t h e Pro fes s i on al St an d ard s

Co m m i s s i o n [.] ” (em

p h a s i s s u p p l i ed )); s ee al

so OCGA § 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 (b ) (“ Befo re t h e

d i s c h a r g e o r s u s p en s i o n o f a t each er, ad m i ni s t rat o r, o r o t h er em p l o y ee h av i ng a

co n tract o f em

p lo y m en t fo r a d efi n i t e t erm

, w ri t t en n o t i ce o f t h e ch arg es s h al l b e

g i v en [.] ”). W h en As h l ey ap pl i ed fo r ret i rem en t wi t h TRS on J u l y 1 3

, 2 0 1 6

, as a

co n di t i o n p reced en t t o recei v i n g ret i rem en t ben efi t s u n d er OCGA § 47 -3 -1 01 (a), h e

5 W e are u n pers u ad ed b y As h l ey ’ s arg u m en t th at b ecau s e APS d i d n o t p ay h i m

b ey o n d th e ex p i rat i o n o f h i s em p l o y m en t co n tract

, t h at s u ch l ack of p ay m en t b y A PS

was ev i den ce o f h is t erm i n at i o n

. W e fi n d n o s u p p o rt in th e st at ut e to s u g g es t t h at A PS

was req u i red t o co n t i n ue t o p ay As hl ey b ey on d t h e t erm o f h i s em p l o y m en t co n t ract

wh i le t h e d u e p ro ces s p ro ceed i n g s were p en d in g. Th e o nl y rel ev an t req u i rem en t was

t h at A s h l ey b e an em

p lo y ee o f APS i n o r d e r t o a v ai l h i m s el f t o t h e p ro ced u ral

s afeg u ard s o u t li n ed i n t he s t at u t e.

8co u ld n o l o n g er b e an em p lo y ee o f APS an d “ [a] n y ret u rn t o em p l o y m en t o r ren d eri n g

o f an y p ai d s erv i ce . . . fo r [APS] d u ri n g t h e cal en d ar m o n t h o f t h e effect i v e d at e o f

ret i rem en t [wo u l d ]

. . . n u ll i fy th e ap p l i cat i o n fo r ret i rem en t .”OCGA § 4 7-3 -1 0 1 (a).

Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at wh en s u b m i t ti n g h is ap p l icat i o n t o TRS, As h l ey

ack n owl ed ged t hat u p o n t h e s u b m i s s i o n o f hi s ap p l i cat i o n t o recei v e ret i rem en t

b en efi t s

, t h at APS wo u ld b e n o t i f i e d o f h i s el ect i on t o recei v e b en efi t s

, t h at A PS

wo u l d cert ify t h e d at e o n wh i ch As h l ey ret i red

, an d t h a t n o a g r e e m en t ex i s t ed t h at

wo u l d al l o w As h l ey t o ret urn t o s erv i ce. Th e reco rd fu rt h er s ho ws t h at As h l ey l o g g ed

o n t o t h e A PS web p o rt al an d affi rm at i v el y e l e c t e d t o ret i re fro m A PS s o t h at A PS

co u ld cert i fy h e was n o l o n g er em p l o y ed an d was el i g i b l e t o b eg i n recei v i n g

ret i rem en t b en efi t s s h o rt l y t h ereaft er. D es p i t e A s h l ey ’ s co n t en t i on t h at h i s

em pl o y m en t was t erm i n at ed b y o p erat i o n o f t h e ex pi rat i on o f h i s em p l o y m en t

c o n t ract

, i t was n o t u n t i l A s h l ey v o l u n t ari l y s ub m i t t ed h i s req u es t t h ro ug h t h e A PS

web po rt al t o ret i re, t h at h is em p l o y m en t rel at i o n sh i p wi t h APS was s ev ered

. Th ere

i s n o d i sp u te t h at As h l ey b eg an recei v i n g ret irem en t b en efi t s i n J u l y 2 01 6

, wh i ch by

o p erat i o n o f OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 0 1 (a) m ean s t h at h e was n o lo n g er an em pl o y ee o f A PS

an d

, acco rd i n g l y

, n o l on g er en t i t l ed t o a d ue p ro ces s heari n g

. Th us

, wh en A s h l ey

ap p li ed fo r an d b eg an recei v in g ret i rem en t ben efi t s t h ro u g h TRS, h e was n o l o n g er

9an em

p lo y ee o f APS an d n o l o n g er en t i t l ed t o t h e p ro ced u ral safeg uard s as s et fo rt h

i n t he Act

.

M o reo v er, we fi nd u n av ai l i n g As hl ey ’ s arg u m en t t h at b ecau s e OCGA § 4 7 -3

-

1 2 7 al l o ws h i m t o s u s pen d o r t erm i n at e h i s ret i rem en t i f h e is reh ired b y APS, h i s

ret i rem en t d i d no t fo rfei t h i s ri gh t t o a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g

. In m ak i n g t hi s arg u m en t

,

As h ley effect iv el y co nced es t h at

, as o f t h e d at e of hi s ret i rem e n t

, h e was n o t an

em pl o y ee o f APS, an d as ex p l ai n ed s u p r a

, no t en ti t led t o t h e pro ced u ral s afeg u ard s

o u t l i ned in t h e Act

. Des p i t e As h l ey ’ s reas o n s fo r ap p l y in g fo r ret i rem en t

, h e can n ot

h av e i t bo t h way s wi t h res pect t o h i s em p l o y m en t s t at u s

. Th e co n d it i on s ex p l ai n ed in

t h e rel ev an t s t at u t es are cl ear an d d o no t co n fl i ct

. To b eco m e el i g i bl e t o recei v e

ret i rem en t ben efi t s u nd er OCGA § 4 7 -3 -1 0 1 (a), A s h l ey co u l d n o t be an em p l o y ee o f

APS. To ch al l en g e th e n on -ren ewal o f h i s em p lo y m en t co n t ract an d b e en t i t l ed t o a

d u e p ro ces s h eari n g an d o t h er p ro ced u ral s afeg u ard s u n der OCGA § § 2 0 -2 -9 4 2 (b )

(1 ) an d 2 0 -2 -9 4 0 (b ) - (f), As h l ey h ad t o rem ai n an em p l o y ee o f APS. Acco rd i n g l y

,

we ag ree wi t h t h e tri al co u rt t h at wh en As h l ey v o lu n t ari l y ret i red an d b eg an recei v i n g

ret i rem en t b en efi t s

, h e s urren d ered h i s ri g h t t o a d u e p ro ces s h eari n g b ecau s e h e was

n o lo n ger an APS em

p l o y ee. As h l ey t h erefo re h as n o cl ear l eg al ri g h t t o h av e an y act

p erfo rm ed b y

Cars t arp h en an d i s t h u s n o t en t i t led t o a wri t o f m an d am u s

.

10Ju d

g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Go b ei l , J., co ncu r

.

11