Court Opinion

ID: 4166102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-04 13:17:56.120832+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:38.054521
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Peter Sisofo,                          :
                     Petitioner        :
                                       :
                v.                     : No. 1260 C.D. 2016
                                       : SUBMITTED: January 20, 2017
State Civil Service Commission         :
(Pennsylvania Department of            :
Transportation),                       :
                    Respondent         :

BEFORE:         HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
                HONORABLE JULIA K. HEARTHWAY, Judge
                HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
JUDGE HEARTHWAY                          FILED: May 4, 2017

                Peter Sisofo (Sisofo) petitions for review of the June 28, 2016,
adjudication and order of the State Civil Service Commission (Commission)
dismissing Sisofo’s appeal and sustaining the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation’s (PennDOT) action suspending Sisofo for five days, without pay,
due to Sisofo’s inappropriate behavior and safety violations.    We vacate and
remand.

                At all relevant times, Sisofo was employed with PennDOT as an
Assistant Highway Maintenance Manager at the Philadelphia County Maintenance
Unit. (See Commission’s Findings of Fact (F.F.) Nos. 1 & 3.) By letter dated
April 6, 2015, PennDOT informed Sisofo that “an investigation to date of the
incident described below has brought forth evidence to support the charge(s) of: 1.
Inappropriate Behavior 2. Safety Violations 3. Threatening employees.”
(Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 316a.) There was no incident described below. The
letter further informed Sisofo that a pre-disciplinary conference (PDC) was
scheduled for April 9, 2015. The letter stated that the purpose of the meeting was
to afford him an opportunity to discuss the allegations and to respond to them; that
he would be asked to provide his account of the incident(s) and to offer any
explanation, facts and evidence he wished to have considered before a final
decision would be rendered; that he would have the opportunity to present any
documentation he wished to have considered; and that discipline may or may not
be imposed pending the outcome of the PDC. (R.R. at 316a.)

              On April 9, 2015, Sisofo attended the PDC.1 (See F.F. No. 52.) By
letter dated September 1, 2015, PennDOT informed Sisofo that he was being
suspended without pay from his position for a period of five days, effective
September 14, 2015, due to “inappropriate behavior and safety violations.” The
letter further stated that the response Sisofo provided at the PDC was “not
acceptable.” The letter also notified Sisofo that this was a final warning, and that
any subsequent offenses of a similar nature would result in termination. (R.R. at
317a.)

1
 The Commission states the PDC occurred on April 9, 2016, which must be incorrect because it
post-dates the hearing before the Commission; the notice itself says April 9, 2015. (R.R. at
316a.)

                                             2
              Sisofo appealed to the Commission, and a hearing was held on
December 8, 2015, at which Sisofo represented himself. PennDOT’s evidence
included the testimony of six witnesses who testified concerning various instances
of alleged misconduct and the investigation by human resources. The testimony
included five separate incidents. Although the record is unclear on the exact date
of some of the incidents, each of them resulted in grievances being filed against
Sisofo in October 2014, and it appears that each of the grievances was filed either
the same day or in close proximity to the underlying event. 2 (F.F. Nos. 5, 16, 36,
& 43; see F.F. Nos. 17, 37-38 & 41.)                 PennDOT also presented evidence
concerning its investigation, which appeared to commence in October 2014.3
Sisofo cross-examined each of PennDOT’s witnesses. Sisofo also testified on his
own behalf. (R.R. at 256a.) At various points throughout the hearing, Sisofo
acknowledged he knew the charges, but he maintained the charges were an

2
   Equipment Operator Myseam White testified concerning an interaction with Sisofo on
September 24, 2014, and stated he filed a grievance on October 7, 2014. (R.R. at 123a, 125a.)
We note the Commission’s Findings of Fact No. 17 contains a typographical error because it
states this interaction occurred on September 24, 2015. Additionally, Findings of Fact No. 37,
consistent with Myseam White’s testimony, states that a grievance was filed on October 7, 2014,
(R.R. at 125a) but states it concerned Sisofo’s behavior on September 24, 2015; it does not make
sense that a grievance could predate the grieved behavior. Acting Assistant District Executive
John Krafczyk testified concerning another event but did not give a date and it appears no
grievance was filed in connection with that. (R.R. at 185a-86a.) Although the Commission
discusses this event in its adjudication, it did not make any findings of fact concerning it.
3
  The Findings of Fact concerning PennDOT’s investigation into the allegations cover a time
period from October 9, 2015 through January 30, 2016. (F.F. Nos. 42, 44-55.) However, Field
Human Resource Officer Karen Brown referred to a meeting on November 18, 2014, which was
seemingly early on in the investigation. (R.R. at 144a.) Moreover, some of the dates simply do
not make sense, because they post-date the hearing before the Commission. As already pointed
out, the Commission’s Findings of Fact appear to contain several typographical errors
concerning the years in which certain events occurred. While this causes confusion, it does not
prohibit our review.

                                               3
“umbrella” and not specific, and he questioned how he would know how to
respond to the charges. (R.R. at 250a-51a.) He further maintained that he was
never informed why he was suspended other than the “the big umbrella; the
inappropriate behavior and safety violations.” (R.R. at 275a.)

               On June 28, 2016, the Commission dismissed Sisofo’s appeal,
concluding that PennDOT established good cause for Sisofo’s suspension. Sisofo
now petitions this Court for review.4

               Sisofo first argues that PennDOT failed to provide him with proper
notice before suspending him without pay.                Sisofo argues that Pennsylvania
requires state employers to provide notice with a clear statement of the reasons
before suspending their employees. Sisofo maintains that the notice must contain
an explanation of the charges so he can know what charges he must defend against,
and the notice must describe the incident(s) leading to the suspensions.5 Sisofo
maintains that because the notice merely listed charges of misconduct, the notice
was insufficient. Sisofo also maintains that he was similarly denied a meaningful
opportunity to contest his suspension at the hearing on December 8, 2015, because

4
  This Court’s scope of review is limited to determining whether constitutional rights have been
violated, whether errors of law have been committed, or whether the findings of the Commission
are supported by substantial evidence, and where appropriate, consideration of the regularity of
practice and procedure of the Commission. Bosnjak v. State Civil Service Commission, 781 A.2d
1280 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001).
5
  Sisofo maintains that PennDOT’s Policy #D6-14-01 (Policy) mandates the use of standard
notification letters in the event of suspension and further maintains that these standard letters
require PennDOT to “specifically describe the incident that is leading to the suspension.”
(Sisofo’s brief at 14.) We may not consider this Policy, however, because it was not introduced
as evidence before the Commission and it is not part of the Certified Record; even if it had been,
we would not be bound by this Policy as it does not have the force and effect of law.

                                                4
the suspension notice merely listed charges and failed to include any specific
description of the particular incidents that led to his suspension.             Sisofo also
maintains that his confusion was compounded, because while the PDC listed three
charges, he was being suspended based on two charges. Sisofo maintains that
when he appealed his suspension, PennDOT submitted evidence concerning at
least four discrete incidents and that he was not equipped to defend against these
allegations.

                 PennDOT does not dispute that due process requires notice and a
hearing prior to suspension without pay, but maintains that the formality and
procedural requisites may vary depending upon the importance of the interests
involved and the nature of subsequent proceedings. PennDOT maintains that
Sisofo’s argument ignores the process, in particular, the PDC which Sisofo
attended, and the post-disciplinary hearing, in which Sisofo attended and
participated.

                 Section 950 of the Civil Service Act6 requires that the employee be
provided with written notice of any personnel action. 77 P.S. § 741.950; see also 4
Pa. Code § 105.1. Further, the regulations of the Commission, in the case of
suspension of a regular employee, require that advance written notice be given to
the affected employee, see 4 Pa. Code § 105.1, and that such written notice
“include a clear statement of the reasons therefore, sufficient to apprise the
employee of the grounds upon which the charges are based.” 4 Pa. Code § 105.3;
see also Chavis v. Philadelphia County Board of Assistance, Department of Public

6
    Act of August 5, 1941, P.L. 752, as amended, 77 P.S. §§ 741.1 - 741.1005.

                                                 5
Welfare, 370 A.2d 445, 447 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1977). “The purpose of the notice
requirement is to satisfy due process by affording an employee reasonable notice
of the charges against him so that he will have sufficient opportunity to answer the
charges and contest his removal.” Woods v. State Civil Service Commission, 912
A.2d 803, 811–12 (Pa. 2006). “For such notice to be adequate, it must at the very
least contain a sufficient listing and explanation of any charges so that the
individual involved can know against what charges he must defend himself if he
can.” Id. at 812 (quotation marks and citation omitted). While a “notice need not
be drafted with the certainty of a bill of information, … it must be framed in a
manner which enables the employee to discern the nature of the charges and
adequately to prepare a defense.” Bosnjak v. State Civil Service Commission, 781
A.2d 1280, 1284 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001); see also Chavis, 370 A.2d at 447.

            In Chavis, we held that a notice was deficient because it was
retroactive, and also found a “more serious defect” in the content of the notice.
Chavis, 370 A.2d at 447.      The notice listed the reasons for the employee’s
demotion and removal from his position as:

            Falsification of official documents and records;
            concealment of material fact by omission and without
            adequate justification; failure to be at work on tasks
            assigned; gross negligence resulting in monetary loss to
            Commonwealth and Welfare Recipients; neglect of duty;
            failure to comply with job instruction resulting in service
            delayed or not delivered; failure to observe the client's
            rights.

Id. We held that the reasons listed in the notice were much too general to allow the
employee to prepare an adequate response. We stated that a listing of specific
                                         6
incidents may be unnecessary but stated that the reasons listed should at least refer
to those specific aspects of the employee’s responsibility in which he was found
deficient and should identify the deficiencies with much more particularity than
was done. Therefore, we reversed the Commission’s order and remanded the
matter for another hearing; we directed the appointing authority to provide a new
notice prior to the hearing.

              Similarly, here, the content of the notice to Sisofo was too general to
allow Sisofo to prepare an adequate response. This is particularly so where there
were multiple events serving as the basis for the charges and the events occurred
several months prior to PennDOT issuing the notice. As stated in Chavis, while a
listing of the specific incidents on which the charges are based may be
unnecessary, the notice should have identified the grounds with much more
particularity. In other words, it should have provided an “explanation” of the
charges. See Woods. Simply put, the notice failed to include “a clear statement of
the reasons,” as required by the Commission’s regulations.7 See 4 Pa. Code §
105.3.

              We acknowledge the post-disciplinary process after the suspension;
however, that does not cure the defect here. The September 1, 2015, notice
informed Sisofo only that he was being suspended without pay from his position
for a period of five days due to his “inappropriate behavior and safety violations.”

7
  Compare Bosnjak (finding notice was sufficient where it informed employee of the specific
section of the employer’s code of ethics which he was alleged to have violated, and of the
manner in which the alleged violations occurred).

                                            7
It, too, failed to provide “a clear statement of the reasons for the charges,” and
therefore, was similarly deficient.         See Chavis.       At the hearing, PennDOT
presented evidence of several distinct events, yet the notice failed to provide a
single detail concerning any of these events on which the charges were based to
enable Sisofo to discern the nature of the charges and adequately prepare a
defense.8

               Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, we must conclude the notice
provided to Sisofo was insufficient. While the notice requirements are mandatory,
the failure to adhere to them is not grounds to automatically nullify the personnel
action.     Bosnjak.   Therefore, similar to Chavis, we vacate the order of the
Commission and remand the case for another hearing.9 Prior to the hearing, the
Commission shall direct PennDOT to provide Sisofo with notice clearly stating the
specific reasons for his suspension.

                                           __________________________________
                                           JULIA K. HEARTHWAY, Judge

8
  We reject PennDOT’s argument that due process, and in particular, the notice requirement, was
satisfied by Sisofo’s participation in the PDC and post-suspension hearing before the
Commission. PennDOT points out Sisofo had advance notice of the witnesses to be called by
PennDOT. This simply does not satisfy the requirement of advance written notice setting forth a
clear statement of the reasons for the employer’s action. See 4 Pa. Code §§ 105.1 & 105.3,
Chavis.
9
  Because of our disposition, it is not necessary to address the other issues Sisofo raises.

                                              8
          IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Peter Sisofo,                                :
                      Petitioner             :
                                             :
                v.                           : No. 1260 C.D. 2016
                                             :
State Civil Service Commission               :
(Pennsylvania Department of                  :
Transportation),                             :
                    Respondent               :

                                        ORDER

                AND NOW, this 4th day of May, 2017, the order of the State Civil
Service Commission (Commission) in the above-captioned matter is hereby
vacated and this case is remanded to the Commission for another hearing. Prior to
this hearing, the Commission shall direct the appointing authority, the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, to provide Peter Sisofo with notice
clearly stating the specific reasons for his suspension as outlined in this opinion.

                Jurisdiction relinquished.

                                             __________________________________
                                             JULIA K. HEARTHWAY, Judge