Case Name: Bonnie RICHMOND v. MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1999-07-29
Citations: 745 So. 2d 254
Docket Number: No. 96-CT-00667-SCT
Parties: Bonnie RICHMOND v. MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
Judges: PRATHER, C.J., MILLS AND WALLER, JJ., CONCUR.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 745
Pages: 254–263

Head Matter:
Bonnie RICHMOND v. MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
No. 96-CT-00667-SCT.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
July 29, 1999.
Rehearing Denied Oct. 7, 1999.
Susan M. Brewer, Hernando, Attorney for Appellant.
Gloria J. Green, Eduardo V. Martinez, Jackson, Attorneys for Appellee.

Opinion:
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI
PITTMAN, Presiding Justice,
for the Court:
¶ 1. Bonnie Richmond was dismissed from her employment as a social worker with the Department of Human Services (DHS) for a comment made during a meeting with two high level officials of the department. Richmond appealed her dismissal to the Mississippi Employee Appeals Board (EAB) where a hearing officer reinstated her to her previous position with back pay. The EAB sitting en banc, affirmed the decision of the hearing officer, and DHS filed for certiorari in the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi. The circuit court found the decision of the board was arbitrary and capricious and reversed the decision of the EAB. Bonnie Richmond appealed, and the case was assigned to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals found that the decision of the EAB was not arbitrary and capricious and reinstated the decision of the board. DHS filed a timely Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was granted. Finding error, we reverse and remand.
FACTS
¶ 2. On May 23, 1994, Bonnie Richmond and her co-worker, Renee Elmore, met with Joyce Johnson, the Director of DHS' Division of Family and Children Services, and Jerald Everett, a personnel officer for DHS. During the conference, Bonnie Richmond indicated that she would like to discuss other office concerns with Ms. Johnson which were not on the agenda. Johnson had another previously scheduled matter to attend to, but informed Richmond and Elmore that she would speak with them later in the day.
¶ 3. Later that day, when Bonnie Richmond and Elmore were speaking to Johnson and Everett regarding their concerns with their local office in DeSoto County, Johnson inquired why Varrie Richmond, who was assigned to DHS' Tate County office, was traveling to DHS' office in De-Soto County to review cases. Bonnie Richmond replied, "all I can say about Varrie, she's a good ole nigger." The meeting ended shortly thereafter, and Bonnie Richmond and Renee Elmore left to return to the DeSoto County office, at which point Johnson and Everett discussed Richmond's comment. Johnson and Everett then pulled out a dictionary to look up the meaning of the word. Johnson told Everett to think about the situation since he was in personnel and let her know what came about.
¶ 4. The next morning, Tuesday May 24, 1994, Varrie Richmond went to the DeSoto County DHS office to review cases, as she had done in the past. She was informed during a conversation with Bonnie Richmond and Renee Elmore that there might be a problem with her coming from the Tate County office to review cases in the DeSoto County office. At some point during the conversation, Elmore said something to the effect of, "guess what Bonnie said about you," or "you will never believe what Bonnie said to Ms. Johnson about you." There is a dispute in the testimony as to who then told Varrie Richmond about Bonnie Richmond's comment to Johnson. Elmore testified that Bonnie Richmond told Varrie Richmond the contents of the statement, while Varrie Richmond and Bonnie Richmond testified that Elmore actually told her the contents of the statement. Varrie Richmond informed Bonnie Richmond that she thought that the word was derogatory and that did not appreciate being referred to in that manner. Bonnie Richmond apologized to Varrie Richmond and told her that she did not mean it in a derogatory manner.
¶5. The next day, calls began coming into Ms. Johnson's office inquiring as to whether she approved of Bonnie Richmond's comment. Johnson testified that she assured the callers that the comments were not condoned. She further testified that approximately sixty percent of the four to five thousand workers in her agency are of African American descent, and that it was felt by her and others that the perception or appearance that the agency condoned the comment could cause, "a very severe, very critical problem."
¶ 6. The agency made the decision to terminate Bonnie Richmond from her employment, and a termination notice was given to Bonnie Richmond. The termination letter charged Bonnie Richmond with a Group III Offense, Number 11 which provides:
Acts of conduct occurring on or off the job which are plainly related to job performance and are of such nature that to continue to employee in the assigned position could constitute negligence in regard to the agency's duties to the public or other state employees.
The termination letter also charged her with a Group III Offense, Number 16 which is a "[w]illful violation of State Personnel Board policies, rules and regulations." In support of the charges, the pre-termination letter to Bonnie Richmond alleged:
On May 23, 1994, while in a conference with Joyce Johnson, Division Director of Family and Children's Services and Jerald Everett of the Division of Human Resources, you referred to one of our black employees as a "good ole nigger." Further on May 24, 1994, upon return to DeSoto County Office, you approached this black employee and told her that you had been in a meeting in Mrs. Joyce Johnson's office and had told them that she was a "good ole nigger." Your conduct in referring to a minority employee of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) as a "good ole nigger" was offensive. It further has created a hostile, harassing and offensive environment for the subject employees and other MDHS employees and administrators. Your conduct in returning to the DeSoto Office and repeating the phrase "a good ole nigger" as though it was acceptable MDHS behavior has created a distraction within the DeSoto Office and surrounding areas, causing employees to question whether the Department condones the use of racial slurs and indignities and, thereby, calling into question the integrity of the Department. To allow you to continue in this position would discredit the agency, impair the agency's ability to provide services, violate the agency's responsibility to the public to administer non-discriminatory services, violate the agency [sic] duty to administer [a] working environment free of discriminatory practices and procedures and subject the Department to potential liability for unlawful discrimination.
¶ 7. Bonnie Richmond appealed the matter, and a hearing was held before Hearing Officer Falton O. Mason, Jr. on November 16, 1994. At the hearing, in addition to the facts previously set forth, Varrie Richmond testified that she found the comment offensive and that it "denotes everything negative in regards to an individual." She further testified, "it was not like there was any real big problem associated with the incident. I guess it could have been a real big problem as far as I was concerned, but it's not how I deal with things." She went on to say, "I tend to withdraw from things of that nature and I really don't take issue with them, and I have a hard time being overtly ugly to anybody even when I have been — when my feelings have been hurt."
¶ 8. Bonnie Richmond testified in her own behalf regarding the incident. She admitted to making the statement, but denied that it was racially motivated. She stated, "[t]hat phrase was meant not to have to do with a person's color, but it was kind of an office joke referring to Varrie Richmond's inability to assert herself." She stated, "I would never say anything derogatory that I thought someone would take in that manner. You know, I thought that we had used that terminology previously and Varrie didn't seem to have a problem with it, nor anyone else." Bonnie Richmond further testified that she had been referred to as a "honkie" and a "redneck", but that she did not take that personally. Finally, as to the setting in which the comment was made, Bonnie Richmond testified, "[t]hat setting was very I felt informal and Ms. Johnson was very good at making us feel welcomed and relaxed, and, yes, I was very open. If she had not, I probably would have been more on guard and not said that."
¶ 9. The hearing officer reinstated Richmond with backpay, and in his order equated the comment to calling a person a teacher's pet. DHS appealed to the full Mississippi Employee Appeals Board, which affirmed the decision of the Hearing Officer. DHS then filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. The circuit court, Hon. James E. Graves, Jr. presiding, reversed the decision of the EAB-finding the decision to be arbitrary and capricious and not supported by substantial evidence.
¶ 10. Bonnie Richmond appealed, and the case was assigned to the Court of Appeals which, in an unpublished 5 — 4 decision, reversed the circuit court and reinstated the decision of the Mississippi Employee Appeals Board. The majority held:
In this case, the EAB decided that this one use of a racial epithet, when viewed in the context in which it was said, did not constitute sufficient basis to terminate an employee whose service, over a number of years, was shown to have been satisfactory in all other respects. We conclude that there was evidence in the record to support this conclusion. The authority for judicial intervention does not exist in this case. Therefore when the circuit court proceeded to do so, it erred and that action must be set aside.
Richmond v. Mississippi Dep't of Human Servs., No. 96-CC-00667-COA, slip op. at 10-11(Miss.Ct.App. Aug. 4, 1998). A Motion for Rehearing was filed by DHS and denied by the Court of Appeals. DHS subsequently filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was granted by this Court.
LAW
¶ 11. Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-131(1) (1991) provides in relevant part:
The employee appeals board may modify the action of the department, agency or institution but may not increase the severity of such action on the employee. Such appointing authority shall promptly comply with the order issued as a result of the appeal to the employee appeals board.
¶ 12. In Johnson v. Mississippi Dep't of Corrections, 682 So.2d 367 (Miss.1996), we set forth the Employee Appeal Board's standard of review regarding an agency's personnel decision.
Rule 20(b) mandates that the EAB shall not alter the action taken by the agency, if the agency has acted in accordance with the published rule and if the personnel action taken by the agency is allowed under the guidelines. That is exactly what happened here. MDOC acted within the rules under which termination was allowed. There is no finding to the contrary. Johnson, having the burden of proof, failed to establish that good cause did not exist for her termination.
Johnson at 370-371.
¶ 13. In Holly v. Mississippi Dep't of Corrections, 722 So.2d 632 (Miss.1998), we spoke further on the standard of review.
Section 25-9-127, governing appeals to the EAB, requires the appealing party "to furnish evidence that the reasons stated in the notice of dismissal or action adversely affecting his compensation or employment status are not true or are not sufficient grounds for the action taken." Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127(1) (1994).
No employee of any state agency may be dismissed unless there is good cause and after written notice and hearing. Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (Supp.1990). Employees affected by adverse decisions may appeal to the Employee Appeals Board (EAB) for de novo hearing, then to circuit court for judicial review on the record, and finally to this Court. Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-131 and 25-9-132 (Supp. 1990). Review by the circuit court is limited to determinations of whether the EAB's actions are supported by substantial evidence, are arbitrary or capricious, or are in violation of some statutory or constitutional right of the employee. Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-131 (Supp.1990). Hood v. Miss. Dep't of Wildlife Conservation, 571 So.2d 263, 267 (Miss.1990).
Holly at 636.
¶ 14. Finally, regarding the burden of proof in such cases, we have stated:
The statute and administrative regulations clearly place the burden of persuasion on the aggrieved employee to demonstrate that the reasons given are not true. Rule 17, Administrative Rules of the Mississippi Employee Appeals Board; Rules Miss.Code Ann. § 25-9-127 (1972).This is not mere semantics. Under our scheme, in a nutshell, ties go to the appointing authority. That is, unless the employee carries the burden of persuasion that the alleged conduct did not occur, the employee has no right to have the employment decision overturned. Mississippi Employment Security Commission v. Collins, 629 So.2d 576, 580 (Miss.1993); Miss. Code Ann. § 25-9-127.
Mississippi Dep't of Corrections v. McClee, 677 So.2d 732, 735 (Miss.1996).
¶ 15. In the present case, Bonnie Richmond was an employee of over five years with an otherwise acceptable employment record. The case in question arose out of a single use of a racial slur. Varrie Richmond, the person in which the word was used in reference to, seemingly accepted the apology offered by Bonnie Richmond and did not feel it necessary to report the incident to her superiors. We find that Bonnie Richmond's use of the slur on a single occasion does not rise to the level of creating a hostile environment. See Vaughn v. Pool Offshore Co., 683 F.2d 922 (5th Cir.1982). Therefore, the unique circumstances of this case do not warrant imposition of the ultimate penalty of dismissal of Bonnie Richmond from her employment with the DHS.
¶ 16. However, the Hearing Officer made no finding that DHS did not act in accordance with the published rules of the State Personnel Board or the decision was not allowed under the guidelines. In addition, the EAB erred by not making sufficient findings on the record as to why there should be no penalty. This is contrary to the holdings of the Court in Johnson, McClee, and Holly, discussed previously herein. We therefore remand the present case to the EAB in order for the board to impose an appropriate penalty less than dismissal, or to make detailed findings as to why no penalty should be imposed.
¶ 17. By our decision today, we do not condone the use of slurs — racial, ethnic, or otherwise — in the workplace. We are not insensitive to the fact that the use of such words can penetrate to the deepest realms of one's emotions. Terms such as "nigger," "honkie," "redneck," and the like are unprofessional, inappropriate, and uncalled for in the workplace and should not be used either directly or indirectly. We therefore limit our holding to the unique set of circumstances in this particular case, i.e., a first offense, an otherwise good work performance record, and an apology by the offending employee. Given other circumstances, we might very well find that the single use of a racial slur warrants dismissal of an employee from his or her employment. However, in this case, we find that the harsh penalty of dismissal of Bonnie Richmond from her employment is not warranted under the circumstances.
CONCLUSION
¶ 18. Under the particular circumstances of this case, Bonnie Richmond's use of a racial slur on a single occasion does not rise to level of creating a hostile work environment, and therefore does not warrant dismissal of her from employment with DHS. However, we remand this matter back to the Employee Appeals Board for the imposition of a lesser penalty, or to make detailed findings on the record why no penalty should be imposed. Finally, we limit our holding to the unique circumstances of this particular case.
¶ 19. REVERSED AND REMANDED.
PRATHER, C.J., MILLS AND WALLER, JJ., CONCUR.
BANKS, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED IN PART BY SULLIVAN, P.J., AND SMITH, J.
SMITH, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY BANKS, J.
McRAE AND COBB, JJ., NOT PARTICIPATING.
. Bonnie Richmond and Varrie Richmond are not related.