Opinion ID: 2737215
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ira Babin

Text: The layoffs in the Marketing Division of the Office of Tourism originated in mid- to late-2008. In July 2008, then-Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu appointed Defendant-Appellee Pam Breaux Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. 1 From the start of Breaux’s tenure, Landrieu expressed concerns about the organization and efficiency of the Throughout Breaux’s tenure, there was no Assistant Secretary for the Office of 1 Tourism within the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. As the secretary of the department, Breaux therefore was also ultimately in charge of managing that office. 2 Case: 13-31252 Document: 00512782407 Page: 3 Date Filed: 09/25/2014 No. 13-31252 Marketing Division of the Office of Tourism. Landrieu charged Breaux, as the new head of the department, with evaluating the department’s structure and reporting back to him with a plan for a reorganization of the Office of Tourism. Thereafter, Breaux developed just such a plan, which involved substantial layoffs in the Marketing Division. Breaux consulted with the Louisiana Department of State Civil Service in formulating the reorganization and layoff plan in order to be sure that it complied with all Louisiana Civil Service Rules (“Civil Service Rules”). On May 26, 2009, Breaux submitted the proposed reorganization and layoff plan (“Tourism Layoff Plan”) to the Department of State Civil Service. The next day, May 27, 2009, Breaux told Babin that he would be laid off. Babin was given a copy of the Tourism Layoff Plan and a Notification of Impending Layoff. The Tourism Layoff Plan contained several paragraphs explaining the rationale behind the proposed layoffs and reorganization, including specific information about the purpose and nature of the restructuring. For example, the plan states that “deeper tourism research is sorely needed. . . . For this reason, it is important for the State to supply this level of research.” Later, the plan explains “that agency efforts need to be redirected largely away from sales missions” towards other areas. The plan also speaks specifically to marketing jobs—Babin’s area—stating, among other things: “Marketing series and public information series job fields will be abolished . . . . because we will no longer need Office of Tourism staff to mostly perform marketing . . . . Instead . . . the new structure will require agency staff to manage sponsorships, contracts and partnerships.” The accompanying notification stated that comments on the Tourism Layoff Plan could be made in writing to Breaux, the head of the department, 3 Case: 13-31252 Document: 00512782407 Page: 4 Date Filed: 09/25/2014 No. 13-31252 Jan Ramezan, the Director of Human Resources (“HR”); and to Shannon Templet, the Director of the Department of State Civil Service. 2 Babin took advantage of that offer and met with Breaux to discuss the proposed layoffs on May 29, 2009, though he submitted no written comments. On June 3, 2009, Breaux appeared before the Civil Service Commission at their general business session to address the proposed layoffs. Babin was also present, and his attorney appeared before the Commission on his behalf to protest the Tourism Layoff Plan. That same day, the Tourism Layoff Plan was approved by the Department of State Civil Service, and Templet, the director of that department, authorized Breaux to go forward with the Tourism Layoff Plan. Babin was laid off on June 28, 2009.