Database Search Result Details

First Name Radhey
Last Name Sharma
Decision Date 12/18/2025
Docket Number 2025-0522-WVU
ALJ RLR
Respondent West Virginia University
Employment Type Higher Education
Job Title Associate Professor
Topics Termination, Backpay, Disciplinary
Primary Issues Whether Grievant can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the reassessment of the seniority factor was arbitrary and capricious or clearly wrong.
Outcome DENIED
Statutes W. Va. Code § 6C-2-5(b), W. Va. Code § 51-11-4(b)(4), W. Va. Code § 29A-5- 4(b).
Related Cases Howell v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 89-DHS-72 (Nov. 29, 1990); Holly v. Logan County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 96-23-174 (Apr. 30, 1997); Hanshaw v. McDowell County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 33-88-130 (Aug. 19, 1988); Leichliter v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993); 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)); 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); Burgess v. Div. of Highways, Docket No. 2019-0576-DOT (Nov. 22, 2019); Adkins v. W. Va. Dep’t of Educ., 210 W. Va. 105, 556 S.E.2d 72 (2001); Griffon v. Div. of Motor Vehicles, Docket No. 2008-1271-DOT (Aug. 17, 2009).
Keywords Reduction in Force, termination, criteria, ranking, seniority, tenure.
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Grievant was employed by West Virginia University as an Associate Professor with tenure in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the Statler College of Engineering. West Virginia University in 2023 conducted a reduction in force in the department and ranked for termination 4 of the 18 faculty members in the department. Grievant was one of the faculty members who was terminated. In response to a Grievance Board order, West Virginia University conducted a second reduction in force ranking on February 6, 2025. Grievant was again terminated pursuant to this ranking. The record of this case does not establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the actions of West Virginia University were arbitrary and capricious. This grievance is denied.

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