Court Opinion

ID: 9579575
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:56:23.48018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:35:35.977157
License: Public Domain

McGRAW, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I disagree with the conclusion of a majority of the Court that there was no error in the hospital’s failure to afford the appellant a pretermination hearing. Such a hearing is clearly contemplated under the provisions of W.Va.Code § 29-6-10(11) (1980 Replacement Vol.) and under the Department of Health’s Policy 8000. As the majority notes, the failure of the hospital to follow its own properly established procedures constitutes reversible error. Trimboli v. Board of Education, 163 W.Va. 1, 254 S.E.2d 561 (1979); Powell v. Brown, 160 W.Va. 723, 238 S.E.2d 220 (1977).
*286For this reason, I am of the opinion that the appellant’s discharge from employment without a pretermination hearing was wrongful in the first instance, and I would reverse the decision of the Civil Service Commission on that ground. I concur in the majority opinion, however, insofar as it affirms the Commission’s finding, after a full and fair hearing, that the appellant was dismissed for good cause. Accordingly, I would affirm the Commission’s decision to uphold the appellant’s discharge, but I would remand the case with directions that the appellant be awarded back pay for the period between the date of his wrongful discharge and the date of the completion of the Commission’s hearings, with proper consideration being given to mitigation of damages. See Clarke v. West Virginia Board of Regents, 166 W.Va. 702, 279 S.E.2d 169 (1981).