Opinion ID: 556612
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Treatment of Vasbinder After Revelation of His FBI Contact

Text: 15 After Vasbinder informed Scott in late October 1982 that he had spoken to the FBI, his evaluations by Scott and Switzer deteriorated dramatically. Though all of their prior ratings of Vasbinder's job performance had been very high (the then-most recent evaluation rated his performance exceptional, consistently exceed[ing] the requirements for all ... tasks, making exceptional contributions), and though they had just promoted him to permanent statewide coordinator in September, their review dated November 22, 1982, rated his job performance as barely effective. 16 In December 1982, Scott and Switzer stripped Vasbinder of his duties with respect to the placement plans for the various OVR district offices, i.e., his most significant duties as statewide coordinator. In January 1983, Switzer extended Vasbinder's probationary period from the 12-week minimum to the maximum period allowable, 52 weeks. In a January 28, 1983 probationary evaluation report, Vasbinder was rated just average in most categories and was rated below average in another. He was rated satisfactory only in attendance. Scott refused to discuss the evaluation with Vasbinder. Vasbinder testified that in a meeting on March 23, 1983, Scott said 17 he had been very upset that I'd gone to the FBI and that he knew that Mr. Switzer and Mr. Ambach, the Commissioner of Education, were very upset that I had gone to the FBI, that they would not ever be able to trust me again, that I should look for other employment. They wouldn't be able to trust me again because I had gone to the FBI. That this had created a lot of problems for him. He now has to write a report to Commissioner Ambach and the US Attorney. 18 Scott admitted in his testimony that he had expressed concern, I guess would be the word I would use, to Vasbinder about Vasbinder's decision to contact the FBI. 19 In the spring of 1983, the FBI took the results of its investigation to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, who determined that there was not a prosecutable case. One of the agents testified at trial that this determination did not mean that no wrongdoing had been found, but only that the prosecutors' assessment was that they didn't feel they had a case that they could have successful prosecution on. On June 1, 1983, Scott received a letter from the FBI stating that the United States Attorney's office had advised that based on the results of the investigation provided to [it], there is no indication of a violation of law which would merit federal prosecution. Nine days later, Vasbinder was terminated from his position as statewide coordinator. 20 The termination notice stated that Vasbinder had not satisfactorily completed his probationary period (which was not scheduled to end for several months) and that, therefore, he would be returned to his position of senior vocational rehabilitation counselor (a position from which, under the New York Civil Service Law, he could not be terminated except for cause, see N.Y.Civ.Serv.Law Sec. 75). This constituted a demotion from grade 25 to grade 22 and resulted in a decrease in salary.