Database Search Result Details

First Name P.J.
Last Name Vijay
Decision Date 12/30/2024
Docket Number 2024-0391-WVU
ALJ JSF
Respondent West Virginia University
Employment Type Higher Education
Job Title Professor
Topics Non-Disciplinary Employment Actions/Reduction in force
Primary Issues Whether Respondent's Reduction in Force protocol was arbitrary and capricious or in violation of Grievant's contractual tenure rights?
Outcome Granted, in part, and Denied, in part.
Statutes W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 156-1-3; W. VA. CODE § 6C-2-5(a) (2024); §51-11-4(b)(4) §51-11-4(b)(4); W. VA. CODE § 6C-2-5(b). . W. VA. CODE § 29A-5-4(b) (2024).
Related Cases State ex rel. Eads v. Duncil, 196 W. Va. 604, 474 S.E.2d 534 (1996) (citing Arlington Hosp. v. Schweiker, 547 F. Supp. 670 (E.D. Va. 1982)). Blake v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 01-20-470 (Oct. 29, 2001), aff’d Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 01-AA-161 (July 2, 2002), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup. Ct. App. Docket No. 022387 (Apr. 10, 2003).Jones v. W. Va. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 96-HHR-371 (Oct. 30, 1996); See Stamper v. W. Va. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 95-HHR-144 (Mar. 20, 1996); Womack v. Dept. of Admin., Docket No. 93-ADMN-430 (Mar. 30, 1994). See Perdue v. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, Docket No. 93-HHR-050 (Feb. 4, 1994).” Aglinsky v. Bd. of Trustees, Docket No. 97-BOT-256 (Oct. 27, 1997), aff’d, Monongalia Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 97-C-AP-96 (Dec. 7, 1999), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup Ct. App. Docket No. 001096 (July 6, 2000). Gonyo v. Drake Univ., 837 F. Supp. 989, 994 (S.D. Iowa 1993). Cohen v. Brown Univ., 101 F.3d 155, 187 (1st Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1186 (1997). Krotkoff v. Goucher College, 585 F.2d 675 (4th Cir. 1978). Jenkins v. West Virginia University, Docket No. 2008-0158-WVU (June 2, 2009) (citing Skaff v. Pridemore, 200 W. Va. 700, 490 S.E.2d 787 (1997) (per curiam)) Leichliter v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993), aff’d, Pleasants Cnty. Cir. Ct. Civil Action No. 93-APC-1 (Dec. 2, 1994). Powell v. Brown, 160 W. Va. 723, 238 S.E.2d 220 (1977).Dyer v. Lincoln County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 95-22-494 (June 28, 1996). Cohen v. Brown Univ., 101 F.3d 155, 187 (1st Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1186 (1997). Jenkins v. West Virginia University, Docket No. 2008-0158-WVU (June 2, 2009) (citing Skaff v. Pridemore, 200 W. Va. 700, 490 S.E.2d 787 (1997) (per curiam)) (other citations omitted).Bedford County Memorial Hosp. v. Health and Human Serv., 769 F.2d 1017 (4th Cir. 1985); Yokum v. W. Va. Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Docket No. 96-DOE-081 (Oct. 16, 1996).” Trimboli v. Dep’t of Health and Human Res., Docket No. 93-HHR-322 (June 27, 1997), aff’d Mercer Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 97-CV-374-K (Oct. 16, 1998). Syllabus Point 3, In re Queen, 196 W.Va. 442, 473 S.E.2d 483 (1996).’” Syl. Pt. 1, Adkins v. W. Va. Dep't of Educ., 210 W. Va. 105, 556 S.E.2d 72 (2001) (per curiam). Syl. Pt. 1, Powell v. Brown, 160 W. Va. 723. 238 S.E.2d 220 (1977). Dyer v. Lincoln County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 95-22-494 (June 28, 1996).
Keywords Promotion, tenure, accomplishments, standards, tenure-track, knowledge, qualifications, formal reviwew, reccomendations, reductions & eliminations, budgetary issues, evaluation process, criteria, seniority; at-will employees; retention, promotion, reduction in force, arbitrary and capricious.
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Grievant was tenured when dismissed via RIF over non-tenured faculty. RIF protocol requires that WVU “give consideration” to “performance,” “knowledge & qualifications,” and “seniority” (but not tenure) “as part of a holistic assessment.” Grievant claims that WVU violated RIF protocol and his constitutional tenure rights. While the Grievance Board cannot order that WVU change RIF protocol even if it is unconstitutional, Grievant proved that WVU violated protocol in failing to consider his “seniority” “as part of a holistic assessment.” Accordingly, this grievance is GRANTED, IN PART, and DENIED, IN PART.

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