Opinion ID: 616359
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Hair-Touching Incident

Text: When Tepperwien returned to work, he was able to avoid working with Messina for some months. On August 29, 2005, however, he was assigned to drive Messina to a post, where he would stay and Messina would take over the vehicle. During the ride, they were engaging in cordial conversation when, as Tepperwien described it: Vito started telling me that he found things about me attractive, a number of things; the way I looked, the way I presented myself. And in particular, he liked my hair style. And we're driving up to the post. And the next thing I knew, he had his hands on my shoulder and going up my neck and into the back of my head. Tepperwien told Messina not to touch him, and Messina responded I'm going to touch you as much as I want. They arrived at their destination and parted. The next day, Tepperwien reported the incident to the site security superintendent, John Cherubini. Cherubini confronted Messina, and Messina admitted touching Tepperwien's hair, although he contended he was just removing something from Tepperwien's hair. Messina also admitted telling Tepperwien he had nice hair. Later that day, Messina was walked off post. He was put on paid administrative leave pending investigation and was referred (by Barry) for a mandatory psychological evaluation to ensure his fitness for duty. Messina returned to work on November 9, 2005, after he was found fit for duty. He was issued a Letter of Discipline, signed by Barry; this was a written reprimand to be placed in Messina's personnel file. The letter advised Messina that Entergy expected him to refrain from any type of inappropriate behavior and conduct in the workplace. It advised him that [f]ailure to comply with the terms of this reprimand will result in your termination of employment as an Entergy Nuclear Security Officer. [4] In November 2005, shortly after Messina returned to work from his administrative leave, Tepperwien met with Barry, a site security supervisor, and union representatives. Barry told Tepperwien that he had wanted to fire Messina, but after consulting with others, he decided to impose a ten-week suspension instead. At one point, Tepperwien said to Barry, facetiously, Terrence, what are you going to do now? Give me a letter that says I can protect myself? That I canI can kick Vito in the groin if he comes after me? Barry responded, [N]o, no, no. If Vito ever touches you again or anybody ever touches you again, I want you to secure your post and go and tell management and report it. He added that he thought Tepperwien was being overemotional and said I don't think I'm going to let you back on site. Tepperwien responded by denying he was being overemotional and stated that he had every intention of going back on site.