Court Opinion

ID: 9533923
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:35:32.091763+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:13.296021
License: Public Domain

Gunderson, J.,
concurring:
I reluctantly agree that the record may be read to support the discharge of Paulson, whose offense was briefly to place his own life-long ambitions and long-term interests ahead of short-term concerns of Reno, a city he admittedly had served faithfully for over 17 years.
I will not endeavor to state all of the equities of Paulson’s position that the majority opinion does not mention. Still, I think it should be said that, prior to his making plans to attend Northwestern, Paulson’s superiors had informally advised him he could have leave; that Paulson’s age made 1971 the last year he could attend the school; that there is evidence his application to utilize his vacation time was prepared in mid-October, although not received until after November 1; that quite arguably Paulson reasonably believed the city would at least authorize him to take vacation time he had already earned; and that evidence suggested his superiors did not initially view Paulson’s absence without leave as particularly serious, and arguably led him to believe such absence was being condoned.
Unfortunately for Paulson, the Reno Civil Service Commission did not accord these equities the weight they arguably deserved. However, although the Commission’s decision was *45not clearly erroneous, I think our opinion should at least note that a decision in Paulson’s favor would have been quite justified also.