Database Search Result Details

First Name Nicholas
Last Name Trimble
Decision Date 2/13/2026
Docket Number 2025-0103-DHS
ALJ JSF
Respondent Department of Homeland Security/ Charleston Correctional Center and Jail
Employment Type STATE
Job Title Correctional Officer (CO)
Topics Termination/ Disciplinary
Primary Issues Whether Grievant can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that retaliation or that mitigation was warranted. Whether Respondent can prove that the dismissal of Grievant was for good cause.
Outcome DENIED
Statutes West Virginia Code §61-5-8(c)(1) & (h)(6), W.VA. CODE ST. R. § 156-1-3; W. VA. CODE § 6C-2-3(h); W. VA. CODE § 6C-2-2(o);
Related Cases Leichliter v. W. Va. Dep't of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993); Oakes v. W. Va. Dep't of Finance and Admin., 164 W. Va. 384, 264 S.E.2d 151 (1980); Guine v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 149 W. Va. 461, 141 S.E.2d 364 (1965); Sloan v. Dep't of Health & Human Res., 215 W. Va. 657, 600 S.E.2d 554 (2004) (per curiam). See also W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 143-1-12.2.a. (2016); Drown v. W. Va. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 180 W. Va. 143, 145, 375 S.E.2d 775, 777 (1988); Freeman v. Fayette Cty. Bd. of Educ., 215 W. Va. 272, 277, 599 S.E.2d 695, 700 (2004); Frank's Shoe Store v. Human Rights Comm’n, 179 W. Va. 53, 365 S.E.2d 251 (1986); Syl. Pt. 1, Brammer v. Human Rights Comm’n, 183 W. Va. 108, 394 S.E.2d 340 (1990); Syl. Pt. 10, Hanlon v. Chambers, 195 W. Va. 99, 464 S.E.2d 741 (1995)); Martin v. W. Va. Fire Comm'n, Docket No. 89-SFC-145 (Aug. 8, 1989).” Conner v. Barbour County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 94-01-394 (Jan. 31, 1995), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No 95-AA-66 (May 1, 1996), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup. Ct. App. (Nov. 19, 1996); Overbee v. Dep't of Health and Human Resources/Welch Emergency Hosp., Docket No. 96-HHR-183 (Oct. 3, 1996); Olsen v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 02-20-380 (May 30, 2003), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 03-AA-94 (Jan. 30, 2004), appeal refused, W.Va. Sup. Ct. App. Docket No. 041105 (Sept. 30, 2004); Phillips v. Summers County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 93-45-105 (Mar. 31, 1994); Cooper v. Raleigh County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 2014-0028-RalED (Apr. 30, 2014), aff’d, Kanawha Cnty. Cir. Ct. Docket No. 14-AA-54 (Jan. 16, 2015).
Keywords Retaliation, prison, academy training, weapons, transgression, repercussion, firearm, hunting knife, discipline, reprimand, Policy Directive 129.00, 311.00, Workplace Security policy
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
Supreme Court
Synopsis Grievant was employed by Respondent as a Correctional Officer. Following multiple disciplinary incidents, Respondent terminated Grievant’s employment after Grievant brought a knife to work. Respondent proved good cause for dismissal. Grievant did not prove retaliation or that mitigation was warranted. Accordingly, this grievance is DENIED.

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