Lillie B. Halbert v. City of Columbus, Mississippi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 97-CC-00450-SCT
LILLIE B. HALBERT
v.
CITY OF COLUMBUS
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/07/97
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JOHN M. MONTGOMERY
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: LOWNDES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: CHARLES D. EASLEY, JR.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: THOMAS G. WALLACE
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - OTHER
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 10/8/98
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED: 10/29/98
EN BANC.
SMITH, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. This case comes to this Court on appeal by Lillie B. Halbert from an adverse ruling by the Circuit
Court of Lowndes County which reversed the findings of the Mississippi Employment Security
Commission (MESC) Board of Review which had allowed Halbert to receive unemployment benefits.
The lower court held that Halbert had violated the City's established written substance abuse policy
because she had been provided statutorily adequate notice to take a random drug test, but that she
failed to submit to a urine sample within the three hour time frame required by the written policy.
After thorough consideration, we hold that the circuit court was correct to reverse the MESC Board
and we therefore affirm.
FACTS
¶2. Lillie B. Halbert was employed by the City of Columbus as a truck driver in the sanitation
department. The City adopted a substance abuse policy in 1992 and amended the policy on August
28, 1995. The policy required random selection drug testing at least once a month. The policy
required testing of fifty percent of its employees on an annual basis. A three hour time frame within
which to complete the drug test was required by the written policy. The policy further provided that
any employee who refuse to consent to a drug test would be subject to immediate termination of
employment.
¶3. Linda Moore, the City's personnel manager sent a copy of the amended policy to all newly
affected employees by including a copy in their payroll check envelopes on September 8, 1995. The
City street department office manager posted the policy in several appropriate and conspicuous
places in the Sanitation Department, including the time clock area and the employee bulletin board.
¶4. On December 29, 1995, Halbert was advised that she had been selected for random drug testing
in accordance with the City's established written policy. She was provided with written notice and
advised that she had three hours within which to complete drug testing. Halbert then requested and
was allowed to speak with her attorney. She then requested and was allowed to visit her attorney's
office. She returned to work with a letter from her attorney stating that he had advised Halbert not to
take the test unless he was provided with a copy of the City's written drug testing policy. Her
supervisor, Jim Hall, advised her that she could get a copy of the policy at the personnel department.
¶5. The City claims that Halbert did not submit to and complete drug testing within the prescribed
time period of three hours. Halbert claims that Hall told her that she could go home, and she never
refused to take the test.
¶6. A due process hearing was conducted on February 6, 1996, and Halbert was discharged due to
failure to take the requisite random drug test within the prescribed time frame in violation of the
City's Substance Abuse Policy. Halbert filed for unemployment benefits on February 7, 1996. A
subsequent MESC investigation presented to the Claims Examiner determined that she had been
discharged for misconduct related to her work and was thus disqualified from receiving
unemployment benefits.
¶7. Halbert appealed to the Appeals Referee and at a hearing on April 2, 1996, the Referee reversed
the findings of the Claims Examiner and reinstated Halbert's unemployment benefits.
¶8. The City appealed to the MESC requesting that the Referee's decision should be reversed, that
Halbert was not entitled to any benefits, or in the alternative, that a re-hearing should be ordered. The
MESC Board remanded to the Referee for the limited purpose of taking the testimony of Jim Hall.
During a hearing on June 5, 1996 the Board affirmed the findings of the Referee, holding that Halbert
had not refused to take a random drug test and was thus eligible for unemployment benefits.
¶9. The City appealed to the Circuit Court of Lowndes County on July 2, 1996. The court heard the
matter on February 21, 1997 and held that the MESC decision was in error, reversed its finding and
denied Halbert any unemployment benefits.
DISCUSSION OF LAW
¶10. This Court's review of appeals from the decisions of the Commission is limited:
Judicial review of an Employment Security Commission ruling is limited to determination of
whether the decision is supported by substantial evidence.... This Court must review the record
to determine whether there is substantial evidence to support the Board of Review's findings of
fact, and further, whether, as a matter of law, the employee's actions constituted misconduct
disqualifying him from eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits.... Miss. Code Ann. §
71-5-513(A)(1)(b) (Rev.1989) provides that an individual may be disqualified for
unemployment benefits if he was discharged "for misconduct connected with his work." The
employer has the burden of showing by "substantial, clear, and convincing evidence" that the
former employee's conduct warrants disqualification from eligibility for benefits....
City of Clarksdale v. Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n, 699 So. 2d 578, 580 (Miss. 1997)
(quoting Foster v. Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n , 632 So. 2d 926, 927 (Miss. 1994)).
Further, with supporting evidence and in the absence of fraud, the factual findings of the Board of
Review are conclusive and our review is limited to questions of law. Miss. Code Ann. § 71-5-531
(1995).
¶11. This Court previously has attempted to discern what constitutes "misconduct."
The Legislature has afforded no definition of misconduct, although quite apparently the statute
imports an objective standard. The end of law is individual and hence societal adherence to
external standards. It follows that questioned acts must be judged by like standards, even where
expressed in language so open textured as "misconduct connected with his work." We have
fleshed out the term in a series of cases beginning with Wheeler v. Arriola, 408 So. 2d 1381,
1383 (Miss. 1982). See also Miss. Employment Sec. Commission v. McGlothin, 556 So. 2d
324 (Miss.1990); Shannon Engineering and Construction v. Miss. Employment Sec.
Commission, 549 So. 2d 446 (Miss. 1989); Piggly Wiggly v. Miss. Employment Sec.
Commission, 465 So. 2d 1062 (Miss. 1985); Miss. Employment Sec. Commission v. Borden,
Inc., 451 So. 2d 222 (Miss. 1984). Misconduct imports conduct that reasonable and fair-
minded external observers would consider a wanton disregard of the employer's legitimate
interests. Something more than mere negligence must be shown, although repeated neglect of
an employer's interests may rise to the dignity of misconduct. See Borden, 451 So. 2d at 225.
Allen v. Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n, 639 So. 2d 904, 907 (Miss. 1994)(quoting
Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n v. Phillips, 562 So. 2d 115, 118 (Miss. 1990)). We have
also adopted the definition of "misconduct" articulated by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
[T]he meaning of the term "misconduct," as used in the unemployment compensation statute,
was conduct evincing such willful and wanton disregard of the employer's interest as is found in
deliberate violations or disregard of standards of behavior which the employer has the right to
expect from his employee. Also, carelessness and negligence of such degree, or recurrence
thereof, as to manifest culpability, wrongful intent or evil design, and showing an intentional or
substantial disregard of the employer's interest or of the employee's duties and obligations to his
employer, came within the term. Mere inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, failure in good
performance as the result of inability or incapacity, or inadvertences and ordinary negligence in
isolated incidents, and good faith errors in judgment or discretion were not considered
"misconduct" within the meaning of the statute.
Wheeler v. Arriola, 408 So. 2d 1381, 1383 (Miss. 1982). Halbert argues that she did not refuse to
take a random drug test, but rather, because she was not handed a copy of the City of Columbus's
policy and simply went home as instructed to by Hall, that she is entitled to unemployment
compensation benefits.
¶12. Employers such as the City of Columbus have a valid, legitimate, and necessary interest in
knowing whether its employees are using drugs. City government employers must protect its citizens
by insuring the best they can that a drug free employee is behind the wheel of city-owned vehicles.
¶13. The City adopted a substance abuse policy in 1992, pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 71-7-1, and
amended the policy in 1995 to require all City employees to submit to random testing. This policy
required that fifty percent of all employees would be subject to random testing on an annual basis. A
neutral selection procedure was required whereby a random computer based number generator was
matched to an employee's social security number.
¶14. On December 29, 1995, Halbert was one of eight employees randomly selected for testing on
this occasion. There is no evidence within this record to even suggest that the selection of Halbert's
name for testing was anything more than random computer selection in accordance with the City's
policy. Even Halbert makes no such claim. Halbert, along with all other employees, was mailed a
copy of the amended policy along with her payroll check on September 8, 1995 by Linda Moore,
City of Columbus' personnel manager. It is also undisputed that the amendment was posted by the
City at several appropriate and conspicuous places, including the time clock and employee bulletin
board located in the Sanitation Department where Halbert worked.
¶15. Contrary to Halbert's claim, notice of the policy was clearly given to Halbert in advance of her
random selection for testing. Halbert was advised by Jim Hall, her supervisor, that she had been
randomly selected for testing. She was presented with a copy of her selection notice, which
referenced possible termination for refusal to submit to testing. The notice also contained a provision
requiring that she not exceed the allotted reporting time, which according to the policy was three
hours. Halbert, upon being told she had been randomly selected, immediately asked to call her
lawyer. She did so. Then she asked to visit her lawyer. Hall gave her a copy of her notice and she was
allowed to visit her attorney Charles Easley. She returned one hour later with a letter from Easley
which stated inter alia that he had advised Halbert not to take the drug test unless he was provided
with a copy of the City's policy. Per state statute, Halbert was informed that a copy of the policy was
available for her at the City's personnel office. Our statute clearly lists the personnel office as the
place where employees can inspect the drug testing policy adopted by governmental employers. See
Miss. Code Ann. § 71-7-3 (1995). The record reflects that neither Halbert or Easley ever inspected,
or attempted to inspect, much less ask for, a copy of the policy at the City's personnel office. Easley's
claim that Halbert was refused a copy of the policy is refuted by the record. The facts indicate that
Halbert found a way to avoid taking the random drug test by simply shifting the blame to the City.
¶16. Halbert also maintains that contrary to refusing to take the test, she was simply told by Hall that
she could go home. Hall denied making such a statement. Thus, the testimony is in obvious conflict
regarding this subject. However, we note that Easley's letter indicates that the City's random selection
of Halbert for drug testing that day had "[c]aused her extreme mental anguish. . . and that, I don't
believe that she will be able to work the rest of the day due to the illness caused by you." It appears
rather obvious that Halbert and her attorney decided that Halbert would not take the test, and that
she would simply go home because of supposed mental anguish caused by the City's request to take a
drug test.
¶17. Although Halbert may not have deliberately refused to take the random drug test, nonetheless,
she effectively avoided it and violated the City's written policy in the process by not taking the test
within the prescribed three hour time frame. Thus, by her own actions and willful decisions made
after consulting with her counsel, she successfully avoided the test.
¶18. The Circuit Court was correct in overturning the decision of the MESC by finding that Halbert
violated the City's substance abuse policy by failing to submit to a urine sample within the prescribed
three hour time frame. Given that Halbert clearly had more than sufficient notice of the policy, and
considering her own actions of December 29, 1995, this could be considered willful, wanton
disregard of the City's legitimate interests of being sure that its employees, especially truck drivers
like Halbert, remain drug free while driving City vehicles upon the streets of Columbus.
¶19. Halbert's actions clearly could constitute misconduct which was work related. Our statutes also
allow for a person to be disqualified for unemployment compensation if he was discharged for
"misconduct" connected with employment. This Court, in Wheeler v. Arriola, 408 So. 2d 1381,
1383 (Miss. 1982) held that misconduct is "conduct evincing such wilful and wanton disregard of the
employer's interest as is found in deliberate violations or disregards of standards of behavior which
the employer has the right to expect from his employee." Id. This Court, in Mississippi Employment
Security Commission v. Percy, 641 So. 2d 1172, 1175 (Miss. 1994), stated that "Put another way,
'misconduct imports conduct that reasonable and fairminded external observers would consider a
wanton disregard of the employer's legitimate interests.'" Id. (Quoting Barnett v. Mississippi
Empoyment Sec. Comm'n, 583 So. 2d 193, 196 (Miss. 1991). Although this Court has not decided
a case directly on point with the facts of the case at bar, we have held that an employee would be
disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits where the employee violated an employer's policy
or otherwise failed to meet a required condition of employment. See Richardson v. Mississippi
Employment Security Commission, 593 So. 2d 31 (Miss. 1992) (employee failed to maintain his
Mississippi driver's license which was a required condition of employment and this amounted to
misconduct as a matter of law); Percy, 641 So. 2d at 1173-74 (nurse's failure to punch time cards
was violation of hospital policy and constituted misconduct thus she was disqualified from receiving
unemployment benefits).
¶20. Other jurisdictions have addressed the exact question now posed to this Court. In Doby v.
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, 823 P.2d 390, 392 (Okla. Ct. App. 1991), that
court held that an employee's failure or refusal to take the random drug test required by his employer
for employment, constituted misconduct sufficient to support the denial of unemployment
compensation. Also, in Texas Employment Commission v. Hughes Drilling Fluids, 746 S.W.2d
796 (Tex. Ct. App. 1988), that court held that the employee's failure to submit to the required drug
test constituted misconduct. In Moore v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 578 A.2d
606 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1990), that court, in concluding that unemployment compensation could not
be awarded to an employee guilty of misconduct, stated, "The violation of an established policy of
the employer can, in and of itself, constitute willful misconduct. To prove willful misconduct by
showing such violation of the policy, the employer must prove both the existence of the policy and
the violation thereof by the employee." Id. at 608 (citations omitted).
¶21. The purpose for public employers establishing policies such as the one at issue here is clearly in
furtherance of public agencies maintaining a drug free work place as expected public policy. Such a
policy insures the safety of fellow employees as well as the public at large. An employer such as the
City" has the right to insist upon a work place which is free from drug impaired workers." Doby, 823
P.2d at 392. Here, the City had a right to adopt such a policy and to expect that its employees would
comply with the policy. The City of Columbus proved the existence of the established written policy
and the violation of the three hour time frame requirement by Halbert. Although she claims
otherwise, the proof shows that Halbert had reasonable advance notice of the written policy, totally
unlike employee Moore in the Pennsylvania case, in which that court found misconduct in spite of the
employee Moore's claim that to his knowledge the employer had never requested any of its
employees submit to a random drug test. Moore, 578 A.2d at 609. We hold, as a matter of law that
Halbert's willful and deliberate actions clearly constitute misconduct as contemplated by our case law
as well as that of sister states. It is misconduct which any reasonable and fairminded person could
determine should result in termination of employment of Halbert and for which she should not be
entitled to unemployment benefits.
CONCLUSION
¶22. We affirm the findings of the Circuit Court and hold that Halbert's failure to submit to random
drug testing within the prescribed three hour time period constituted misconduct as a matter of law,
thus she is not entitled to unemployment benefits.
¶23. JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
PRATHER, C.J., PITTMAN, P.J., ROBERTS AND MILLS, JJ., CONCUR. McRAE, J.,
DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY SULLIVAN, P.J., BANKS
AND WALLER, JJ.
McRAE, JUSTICE, DISSENTING:
¶24. I disagree with the majority, apparently acting as finder of fact, in its determination that Lillie
Halbert's failure to submit to a drug test until her attorney was provided with a copy of the City's
drug testing policy constitutes willful misconduct, thereby precluding her eligibility for unemployment
benefits. The evidence in the record supports the findings of the Mississippi Employment Security
Commission (MESC) Board of Review that Halbert's actions did not constitute misconduct, willful or
otherwise. Given our limited standard of review in these cases, the circuit court order should be
reversed and the MESC's decision reinstated, allowing Halbert to receive unemployment benefits.
Accordingly, I dissent.
I.
¶25. Halbert was employed by the City of Columbus as a truck driver for the sanitation department.
On December 29, 1995, she was informed by her department head, Jim Hall, that she had been
selected for random drug testing pursuant to the City's substance abuse policy, as amended August
28, 1995. Halbert was given notice that she would have three hours in which to complete the drug
test. After asking to speak with her lawyer, Halbert spoke with him on the telephone and with Hall's
consent, left work to go to his office. Halbert returned to work with a letter from her attorney,
requesting a copy of the drug testing policy. Hall told Halbert that he did not have a copy with him,
but that it was available at the Personnel Office. The City now claims that Halbert refused to take the
drug test. Halbert claims that Hall told her that she could go home.
II.
¶26. The majority relies on several cases from other jurisdictions to support its conclusion that an
employee's refusal to take a random drug test constitutes willful misconduct, rendering him ineligible
for unemployment compensation. As distinguished from the case sub judice, in each of the cases
cited, the employer had provided each employee with a copy of its drug testing policy as well as a
form to sign indicating that the employee understood the policy and its ramifications upon his
continued employment. In Doby v. Oklahoma Employment Security Comm'n, 823 P.2d 390, 391
(Okla. Ct. App. 1991), the claimant signed a letter indicating his understanding that he could be
terminated if he refused to submit to on the job drug testing. In Texas Employment Comm'n v.
Hughes Drilling Fluids, 746 S.W.2d 796, 799 (Tex. Ct. App. 1988), the claimant had refused to
sign a form acknowledging his understanding of and consenting to his employer's new random drug
testing policy. Likewise, in Moore v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 578 A.2d
606 (Pa. Comm. Ct. 1990), the claimant had refused to sign a form consenting to random drug
testing as a condition of his employment. His employer's policy provided that the tests were not
supposed to be given without the employee's written consent; Moore further refused to give his
written consent when asked to provide a urine sample for testing. Halbert, in contrast, was not
provided with any acknowledgment of receipt of the policy or her understanding thereof. The cases
cited by the majority, rather than supporting its position, tend to raise questions about whether the
City of Columbus' policy was in compliance with any federal drug testing regulations, underscoring
Halbert's skepticism. See Reames v. Department of Public Works, City of Patterson, 707 A.2d 1377
(N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1988)(employee's refusal to submit to city's random drug testing for those
employees driving commercial vehicles not misconduct when policy and practice not in conformance
with state and federal regulations).
III.
¶27. The Board found that Halbert did not willfully or deliberately refuse to take a drug test as
instructed by the City. It further found that Halbert relied upon the advice of an attorney and did not
willfully or deliberately fail or refuse to carry out the City's policies. Halbert notes the subtle
distinction between refusing to take the random drug test and acting reasonably under the
circumstances. In reality, the question presented to this Court is not whether refusal to submit to
random drug testing is willful misconduct, but whether Halbert's failure to take the test, on the advice
of counsel, constituted a reasonable action under the circumstances. Halbert argues that her conduct
should fall within the "good faith errors in judgment or discretion" exception in Wheeler v. Arriola,
408 So. 2d 1381, 1383 (Miss. 1982). The basis for this claim is her alleged suspicion that the request
to take a drug test was not random, but retaliatory in nature because of grievances she had filed
against the City of Columbus and Jim Hall for sexual harassment. Therefore, Halbert argues, her
action was justified.
¶28. Misconduct is a question of fact for the Board of Review to resolve, and the Board's decision
should not be disturbed by this Court if it is supported by substantial evidence. The record supports
the Board's finding that Halbert merely acted in response to advice given to her by her attorney.
There is a factual dispute as to whether Halbert was, or should have been, aware that random drug
testing was a term and condition of her employment. While the City claims that notices were placed
in the checks of employees and that notices of the random drug testing policy were posted, Halbert
argues that she neither knew of the notices allegedly placed in her check nor did she ever see a posted
notice regarding the drug testing policy. More importantly, however, when Halbert asked her
supervisor for a copy of the random drug testing policy, he did not provide her one. Further, the City
never produced any form signed by Halbert to show her compliance with or notice of the policy.
¶29. Under the statutorily prescribed standard of review, this Court is required to hold the Board's
findings of fact to be conclusive. Since substantial evidence exists in the record in support of the
findings adopted by the Commission, the dispositive issue is a question of law--whether Halbert's
actions, namely her failure to take a random drug test, constituted misconduct within the context of
the Unemployment Compensation Law. See Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n v. Percy, 641
So. 2d 1172, 1174 (Miss. 1994). In agreement with the Appeals Referee, the Board found that
Halbert did not refuse to take the drug test, but submitted a letter from her attorney seeking to
receive a copy of the drug testing policy. The Board agreed that Halbert never received a copy of the
policy and that her supervisor told her that she was free to leave and could go home. Thus, it was not
unreasonable for Halbert to assume that she did not have to take the test at that time. This certainly
creates enough ambiguity to eliminate the "willful" and "wanton" aspects of Halbert's alleged
misconduct.
¶30. The underlying purpose of implementing employment security law in Mississippi is to protect
those workers not permitted to continue employment through no fault of their own. Mississippi
Employment Sec. Comm'n v. Gaines, 580 So. 2d 1230, 1234 (Miss. 1991); Mississippi
Employment Sec. Comm'n v. Fortenberry, 193 So. 2d 142, 144 (Miss. 1966). When analyzing
misconduct, this Court not only assesses violations of an employer's stated policy, but also considers
all action or inaction which could be expected of the employee and which affects the interests of the
employer, regardless of whether such actions are included within the stated policy. Percy, 641 So. 2d
at 1175.
¶31. Given Halbert's skepticism regarding the random drug test arising from her previous claims of
sexual harassment, it would appear that her actions did not rise to the level of deliberate violations or
disregard of the City's standards of behavior which might have been expected of an employee.
Further, her actions cannot be construed as a wanton disregard of the City's interests. There is no
evidence that Halbert was suspected of using drugs. There was no repeated failure or refusal to take
the drug test. The facts seem to indicate that Halbert would have taken the test had she simply been
provided with a copy of the drug policy. I would find that Halbert's actions, given the circumstances
of her case, did not rise to the level of misconduct. At worst, her failure to take the drug test
constitutes a good faith error in judgment as contemplated in Wheeler.
IV.
¶32. Our review of appeals from decisions of the MESC is limited to determination of whether a
decision is supported by substantial evidence and whether, as a matter of law, an employee is
precluded from eligibility for unemployment benefits on the basis of conduct or actions constituting
misconduct. City of Clarksdale v. Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n, 699 So. 2d 578, 580
(Miss. 1997)(quoting Foster v. Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n, 632 So. 2d 926, 927 (Miss.
1994)). Where there is evidence supporting the decision, and in the absence of fraud, the factual
findings of the Board of Review are conclusive and our review is limited to questions of law. Miss.
Code Ann. § 71-5-531 (1995). The City of Columbus has a legitimate interest in knowing whether its
employees, especially truck drivers, are abusing drugs. Were this Court the finder of fact, we might
reach a conclusion contrary to that of the Board. However, mindful of our narrow standard of
review, substantial evidence in the record supports the finding by the Board of Review that Halbert's
actions did not constitute willful misconduct. The burden is not on this Court, but on the employer to
show by "substantial, clear and convincing evidence" that the employee's actions bar him from
unemployment benefits. City of Clarksdale, 699 So. 2d at 580. Moreover, an employee's failure to
take a random drug test does not always constitute willful misconduct as a matter of law.
Specifically, Halbert's actions in this case did not rise to that level. Accordingly, I dissent.
SULLIVAN, P.J., BANKS AND WALLER, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.