Opinion ID: 801202
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The July 10, 2007 Incident

Text: On the morning of July 10, 2007, Whitmore went to Dubois's office to discuss a leave request and the discussion became heated, with Dubois ordering Whitmore to leave his office. Whitmore later encountered Dubois in the hall and called Dubois a chickenshit for not allowing them to meet with Goddard together, and Dubois retorted you're chickenshit. A318, A417-18. As Dubois walked away, Whitmore followed closely behind in a prancing fashion, mimicking Dubois until Dubois turned around and Whitmore went back to his office. Later, Whitmore came back to Dubois's office to discuss a work assignment and Dubois dismissively told him that the instructions were clear. When Whitmore attempted to broach the subject of the leave request again, an argument ensued and Dubois told him to leave or he would call security. Whitmore complied and waited outside Dubois' office, then sparked another argument by suggesting that he should submit a new complaint to the DOL IG regarding Dubois's illegal use of government resources to produce literature for his wife's election campaign. At that point, Whitmore testified that Dubois briskly walked up to Whitmore, made a hawking sound, and intentionally spit on his chest. Whitmore then yelled out: I can't believe you spit on me! A421, A496. Dubois testified that Whitmore had also spit on him. The AJ later found that both men's spitting on the other was not likely intentional, but was an inadvertent consequence of their high tempers and yelling in close proximity to each other. When Dubois attempted to close the door, Whitmore put his foot in the way and told Dubois that if he ever spit on him again, he would knock him into the basement. A420-21. Whitmore testified that this was the first time and only time ... I threatened someone with physical violence. A420. Whitmore then removed his foot from the door and walked down the hallway, yelling for someone to call security. In the hallway Whitmore encountered Dave Schmidt, director of OSA, standing in a narrow passageway between a wall and some filing cabinets. On the other side of the narrow passageway was Goddard's office, and Whitmore wanted to show Goddard the spit on his shirt and explain the situation. Whitmore claimed Schmidt would not allow him to pass to Goddard's office. Whitmore then physically pushed past Schmidt while yelling get out of my way, and possibly also spit on Schmidt. A423-24. Whitmore expressed that he was so angry he could have just cold cocked [Mr. Schmidt] right then and there for blocking his way out of the area. A424. On July 12, 2007, David Schmidt sent a memorandum to the Director of OSHA's Directorate of Administrative Programs complaining of [u]nacceptable conditions associated with workplace violence. A756, A1038. The memorandum indicated that Whitmore's actions ha[d] led to a genuine feeling of fear by several employees, and that those employees requested OSHA to take action that would keep the office free of fear and violence. A756-57, A1038. A week after the July 10, 2007 incident, Whitmore was placed on paid administrative leave, where he remained for two years until his ultimate removal. Dubois was never subject to any disciplinary action.