Court Opinion

ID: 9847877
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:09:04.841776+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:41.919835
License: Public Domain

NEELY, Justice,
dissenting:
This case requires the Court to decide which of two conflicting rights should be protected. Because I believe the majority does not choose wisely, I dissent.
W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977] provides in pertinent part:
[A]n employee shall be notified in writing by the superintendent on or before the first Monday in April if he is being considered for transfer or to be transferred. Any teacher or employee who desires to protest such proposed transfer may request in writing a statement of the reasons for the proposed transfer. Such statement of reasons shall be delivered to the teacher or employee within ten days of the receipt of the request. Within ten days of the receipt of the statement of the reasons, the teacher or employee may make written demand upon the superintendent for a hearing on the proposed transfer before the county board of education. The hearing on the proposed transfer shall be held on or before the first Monday in May. At the hearing, the reasons for the proposed transfer must be shown.
The superintendent at a meeting of the board on or before the first Monday in May, shall furnish in writing to the board a list of teachers and other employees to be considered for transfer and subsequent assignment for the next ensuing school year. All other teachers and employees not so listed shall be considered as reassigned to the positions or jobs held at the time of this meeting. The list of those recommended for transfer shall be included in the minute record of such meeting and all those so listed shall be notified in writing, which notice shall be delivered in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to such persons’ last known addresses within ten days following said board meeting, of their having been so recommended for transfer and subsequent assignment and the reasons therefor.
This Court has held that the notice and hearing provisions of W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977] “must be complied with strictly.” Syl.Pt. 2, Morgan v. Pizzino, 163 W.Va. 454, 256 S.E.2d 592 (1979). In Lavender v. McDowell County Bd. of Education, 174 W.Va. 513, 327 S.E.2d 691 (1984), we stated:
The statute [W.Va. Code 18A-2-7 [1977]] establishes an orderly procedure which must be strictly followed before a nonprobationary school employee may be properly transferred. The first step of this procedure requires that the employee be notified of a contemplated transfer in writing by the superintendent before the first Monday in April.
174 W.Va. 516, 327 S.E.2d at 693.
As the majority notes, W.Va.Code 18A-4-8b [1983] requires that the least senior secondary principal in Kanawha County be transferred and that Mr. Gillespie assume that principalship. However, because it is now. later than the first Monday in April of 1985, the board cannot notify the least senior principal in Kanawha County in time to satisfy the requirements of W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977]. Thus, if we now order the board to comply with W. Va. Code 18A-4-8b [1983], we require it to violate the notice requirement of W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977]. On the other hand, if we require (as we have in the past) strict compliance with the notice provisions of W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977], we deny Mr. Gillespie his rights under W.Va.Code 18A-4-8b [1983]. Someone — either Mr. Gillespie or the least senior principal in Kanawha County — will be denied his rights. The question is simply, whose ox shall we gore? I believe that the *740correct answer can be found by reference to time-honored principles of equity.
It is well recognized in this State that “the extraordinary remedy of mandamus, though on the law side of the court, is limited as to time by the equitable doctrine of laches.” State ex rel. Waller Chemicals v. McNutt, 152 W.Va. 186, 160 S.E.2d 170, 175 (1968). In McNutt, we held at Syl. Pt. 3:
The writ of mandamus will be refused when the petitioner has unreasonably delayed his application for such writ and by reason of the delay the rights of the defendant or innocent third parties will be prejudiced by the issuance of the writ.
In this case, Mr. Gillespie sat on his rights to the legal detriment of an innocent third party, viz., the least senior secondary principal in Kanawha County. Mr. Gillespie was notified that he was to be considered for placement on administrative transfer on 27. February 1985 — more than a month before the April notification deadline. He elected not to pursue the administrative remedies provided by W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977]. Mr. Gillespie did not file his petition for a writ of mandamus until 1 July 1985 — a full three months after the board was required under W.Va.Code 18A-2-7 [1977] to notify employees being considered for transfer. Not only did Mr. Gillespie fail to exhaust his administrative remedies, he failed to seek any remedy at all until well after notification was required. Had Mr. Gillespie sought relief in a more timely fashion, the Court would not now be faced with this unnecessary dilemma.
“Mandamus will be denied where its issuance would be unavailing, or where it would require respondent to perform an act illegal, or in contravention of public policy.” Syl. Pt. 1, State ex rel. Pardue v. County Court, 105 W.Va. 235, 141 S.E. 874 (1928). There may indeed be times when it is necessary to compel the performance of one illegal act in order to avoid sanctioning the performance of another. However, when the relief sought would not have compelled the performance of an illegal act had such relief been sought in a timely manner, I believe that the writ of mandamus is barred by laches. Accordingly, I dissent.
I. am authorized to say that Mr. Justice Brotherton joins in this dissent.