JOHANN GEORG ENGEL, PETITIONER,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND CAREER SERVICE COMMISSION, STATE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, RESPONDENTS
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Petitioner, a long-term state security guard, was transferred 38 miles away and subsequently discharged for abandonment when he did not report to the new location. The Florida District Court of Appeal held that the Career Service Commission erred in denying petitioner a hearing on the propriety of the transfer, as career employees have a statutory right to appeal transfers.
The Career Service Commission erred in denying petitioner a hearing on the transfer. As a career employee, petitioner was entitled to a hearing to determine the propriety of the transfer and whether he was constructively discharged, as required by Personnel Rule 22A-10.05A, F.A.C. Denial of the hearing violated his due process rights.
[1] A career service employee with permanent status has the right to appeal a transfer.
[2] Denying an employee a hearing on the propriety of a transfer may violate due process rights.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“By denying him a hearing, the petitioner was deprived of his constitutional right to due process; he was entitled to have a determination of the propriety of his transfer and whether or not he was constructively discharged. We agree.”
The court's holding that denial of a hearing violated petitioner's due process rights and that he was entitled to a hearing on the transfer and constructive discharge issue.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceEngel was employed as a security guard by the Department of Transportation for approximately six years at the North Miami Maintenance Yards. On Novemb…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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BARKDULL, Judge.
Petitioner seeks review of an order of the Career Service Commission, denying the petitioner’s request for a hearing.
The petitioner is a resident of North Miami, Florida. For about six years, he was employed by the Department of Transportation as a security guard in its North Miami Maintenance Yards, at 1655 N.E. 205th Terrace. During the period of his employment, the petitioner (by his own admission) filed numerous grievance petitions questioning the practice of the Department and his superior. On November 18, 1975, the petitioner was notified1 that he was being transferred to the Fort Lauderdale Maintenance Yards, at 5548 N.W. 9th Avenue, some 38 miles away. The reason for such transfer was his continuous dissatisfaction with his supervisors and their decisions. The petitioner, not having an automobile, felt that the transfer amounted to a constructive discharge because to use public transportation each way would be an intolerable burden. As a result, he did not report. He was then discharged for having abandoned his position for three consecutive days of unexplained absence.2 Thereupon, the petitioner submitted a timely appeal form to the Career Service Commission, requesting a hearing on the impropriety of the transfer. The hearing was denied, and the petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of certiorari.
The petitioner contends it was error to deny him a hearing on the propriety of the transfer when, pursuant to Personnel Rule 22A-10.05A, F.A.C., a career employee is entitled to appeal a transfer. By denying him a hearing, the petitioner was deprived of his constitutional right to due process; he was entitled to have a determination of the propriety of his transfer and whether or not he was constructively discharged. We agree. Cf. Wilson v. Pest Control Commission of Florida, 199 So. 2d 777 (Fla. 4th D.C.A.1967); Larson v. Florida Real Estate Commission, 227 So. 2d 886 (Fla. 4th D.C.A. 1969); Canney v. Board of Public Instruction of Alachua County, 278 So. 2d 260 (Fla.1973).
We return the matter to the State Personnel Director and Career Service Commission with directions to accord the petitioner a hearing, as he requested by his appeal.
. * * * * * *
“The letter you received dated November 13, 1975 in regard to your transfer to Ft. Lauder-dale Maintenance effective November 21, 1975 did not have the appeal form enclosed.
“Enclosed now is the form and a copy of said letter with the schedule.
“As you know, as a Carreer (sic) Service employee with permanent status, you have the right to appeal the transfer to the Career Service Commission within 20 days from receipt of this notice.”
* * * * * *
. **
“You have been considered to have abandoned your position with the Florida Department of Transportation effective November 21, 1975 due to your unexplained absence on November 22, 25 and 26, 1975.
“You are hereby advised of your right to petition the State Personnel Director for a review of the facts. The decision of the State Personnel Director will be final and binding on all parties. Your petition should be submitted within 20 days from the receipt of this letter to the following address:
“State Personnel Director
Division of Personne-
Carlton Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32304”
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Hadley v. Dep't OF Admin., 411 So. 2d 184 (Fla. 1982)…adley v. Department of Administration, etc., 392 So. 2d 1023 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981), on grounds that it expressly and directly conflicts with a prior decision of the District Court of Appeal, Third District (Engel v. State Department of Transportation, 341 So. 2d 1020 (Fla.3d DCA 1977)). We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla.Const. Petitioner, Howard Hadley (hereinafter petitioner), was chief counsel for the Florida Real Estate Commission headquartered in Orlando from 1974 to 1979. In 1979, as part of the…
Authorities Cited
- Canney v. Bd. OF Pub. Instruction OF Alachua Cnty., 278 So. 2d 260 (Fla. 1973)
- Wilson v. Pest Control Comm'n OF Fla., 199 So. 2d 777 (Fla. 4th DCA 1967)
- Larson v. Fla. Real Est. Comm'n & Jack King, 227 So. 2d 886 (Fla. 4th DCA 1969)