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

Heading: Thomas Ray

Text: Meanwhile, budget cuts were forcing a reorganization within another office in the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism—the Office of Cultural Development. In July 2008, Landrieu appointed Scott Hutcheson Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cultural Development. Hutcheson was informed that the budget for the office was being slashed, and the number of positions within the office had to be cut down from 49 to 31 for the next fiscal year. In response to those budget cuts, Hutcheson formed a layoff plan for the Office of Cultural Development (“Cultural Development Layoff Plan”). The Cultural Development Layoff Plan proposed abolishing several positions, 2Specifically, the notification provided: “This plan is being submitted to the Director of the State Civil Service and must be approved by the Director before layoff actions can be taken. Any comments regarding the layoff may be made in writing to me, Pam Breaux, or Jan Ramezan, Human Resources Director. You may also address your comments to Ms. Shannon Templet . . . . You are urged to provide any responses you may have to one or both of the above-stated persons within five (5) days of receipt of this notice.” 4 Case: 13-31252 Document: 00512782407 Page: 5 Date Filed: 09/25/2014 No. 13-31252 including Ray’s. Hutcheson sent the Cultural Development Layoff Plan to Templet at the Department of State Civil Service on May 20, 2009. On May 27, 2009, Hutcheson, Ramezan, and Desiree Honore, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism met with the Office of Cultural Development employees who would be laid off. It was a group meeting, and Ray attended. Hutcheson explained the reason for the layoff—the budget cuts—and provided the employees with a packet of layoff material. That packet included a layoff notice and the Cultural Development Layoff Plan. Ray’s layoff notice informed him that he could comment on the Cultural Development Layoff Plan in writing, stating “[a]ny comments regarding the layoff may be made in writing to myself Scott Hutcheson or Jan Ramezan, Human Resources Director. You may also address your comments to Ms. Shannon Templet . . . . You are urged to provide any responses you may have to one or both of the above-stated persons within five (5) days of receipt of this notice.” Hutcheson also informed the employees of their right to respond and comment on the Cultural Development Layoff Plan to him, Ramezan, and Templet at that meeting. Ray neither sent comments to Hutcheson, Ramezan, or Templet in writing, nor did he attempt to meet with any of them in person to comment on the proposed layoffs. Ray also did not attend the Civil Service Commission meeting about the proposed layoffs that Babin attended on June 3. The Civil Service Commission approved the Cultural Development Layoff Plan on June 3, 2009, and Ray’s last day of work was June 28, 2009. Prior to the budget cuts and subsequent layoffs, a situation occurred within the Office of Cultural Development that forms the basis for Ray’s retaliation claim. Ray alleged that another employee within the department, Kathleen Pheney, was abusing the payroll system by being paid for days she did not work. His initial complaint was made in February 2007, and the 5 Case: 13-31252 Document: 00512782407 Page: 6 Date Filed: 09/25/2014 No. 13-31252 investigation lasted until January 2008. At that point, HR was unable to prove the accusations against Pheney, and Ray claims that he was targeted by Breaux, allegedly a friend of Pheney’s, and others within the Office of Cultural Development. After Hutcheson became Assistant Secretary in July 2008, Ray was investigated for improper computer usage and Hutcheson issued him a reprimand. Ray alleges he was investigated as retribution for having reported Pheney. Ray also claims that he was laid off in retaliation for reporting Pheney. Pheney was also laid off on June 28, 2009.