STATE OF FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

STEPHEN G. LESLIE, EEOC Case No. NONE

Petitioner, FCHR Case No. 2013-00989

v. DOAH Case No. 13-1620

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FCHR Order No. 13-064 TRANSPORTATION,

Respondent.

/

FINAL ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM AN UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE

Preliminary Matters

Petitioner Stephen G. Leslie filed a complaint of discrimination pursuant to the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, Sections 760.01 - 760.11, Florida Statutes (2011), alleging that Respondent Florida Department of Transportation committed several unlawful employment practices on the basis of Petitioner‟s handicap / disability, including forcing Petitioner to retire or be fired.

The allegations set forth in the complaint were investigated, and, on April 12, 2013, the Executive Director issued a determination finding that there was no reasonable cause to believe that an unlawful employment practice had occurred.

Petitioner filed a Petition for Relief from an Unlawful Employment Practice, and the case was transmitted to the Division of Administrative Hearings for the conduct of a formal proceeding.

An evidentiary hearing was held by video teleconference at sites in Tampa and Tallahassee, Florida, on July 9, 2013, before Administrative Law Judge William F. Quattlebaum.

Judge Quattlebaum issued a Recommended Order of dismissal, dated August 13,

2013.

The Commission panel designated below considered the record of this matter and

determined the action to be taken on the Recommended Order.

Findings of Fact

A transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge was not filed with the Commission. In the absence of a transcript of the proceeding before the

Filed October 16, 2013 10:23 AM Division of Administrative Hearings

Administrative Law Judge, the Recommended Order is the only evidence for the Commission to consider. See National Industries, Inc. v. Commission on Human Relations, et al., 527 So. 2d 894, at 897, 898 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988). Accord, Gantz, et al.

v. Zion‟s Hope, Inc., d/b/a Holy Land Experience, FCHR Order No. 11-048 (June 6, 2011), Mack v. Agency for Persons with Disabilities, FCHR Order No. 11-026 (March 17, 2011), Hall v. Villages of West Oaks HOA, FCHR Order No. 08-007 (January 14, 2008), Beach-Gutierrez v. Bay Medical Center, FCHR Order No. 05-011 (January 19, 2005), and Waaser v. Streit‟s Motorsports, FCHR Order No. 04-157 (November 30,

2004).

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge‟s findings of fact.

Conclusions of Law

We find the Administrative Law Judge‟s application of the law to the facts to result in a correct disposition of the matter.

We adopt the Administrative Law Judge‟s conclusions of law.

Exceptions

Petitioner filed exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge‟s Recommended Order in a document received by the Commission on or about August 22, 2013.

There is no indication on the document that it was provided to Respondent as is required by Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-106.104(4) and Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-106.110. However, the Commission published the document to the Respondent, and placed the document in the record of this case, through the issuance of a notice of ex parte communication, mailed to the parties on August 26, 2013.

The document contains ten numbered exceptions which take issue with the following numbered Recommended Order paragraphs: 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 26, and 35 through 40. In each instance, the numbered exceptions paragraph takes issue with facts found and inferences drawn from the evidence presented and / or simply presents comment on the Recommended Order paragraph indicated.

In the absence of a transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge, the Commission is bound by the facts found in the Recommended Order, since there is no way for the Commission to determine the extent to which the facts found are supported by the testimony presented. See, e.g., Gainey v. Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., FCHR Order No. 07-054 (October 12, 2007) and Herring v. Department of Corrections, FCHR Order No. 12-004 (February 21, 2012).

With regard to findings of fact set out in Recommended Orders, the Administrative Procedure Act states, “The agency may not reject or modify the findings of fact unless the agency first determines from a review of the entire record, and states with particularity in the order, that the findings of fact were not based on competent substantial evidence or that the proceedings on which the findings were based did not

comply with the essential requirements of law [emphasis added].” Section 120.57(1)(l), Florida Statutes (2013). As indicated, above, in the absence of a transcript of the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge, the Recommended Order is the only evidence for the Commission to consider. See, National Industries, Inc., supra. Accord, Hall, supra, Jones v. Suwannee County School Board, FCHR Order No. 06-088 (September 11, 2006), Johnson v. Tree of Life, Inc., FCHR Order No 05-087 (July 12, 2005), Beach-Gutierrez, supra, and Waaser, supra.

Further, the Commission has stated, “It is well settled that it is the Administrative Law Judge‟s function „to consider all of the evidence presented and reach ultimate conclusions of fact based on competent substantial evidence by resolving conflicts, judging the credibility of witnesses and drawing permissible inferences therefrom. If the evidence presented supports two inconsistent findings, it is the Administrative Law Judge‟s role to decide between them.‟ Beckton v. Department of Children and Family Services, 21 F.A.L.R. 1735, at 1736 (FCHR 1998), citing Maggio v. Martin Marietta

Aerospace, 9 F.A.L.R. 2168, at 2171 (FCHR 1986).” Barr v. Columbia Ocala Regional

Medical Center, 22 F.A.L.R. 1729, at 1730 (FCHR 1999). Accord, Bowles v. Jackson County Hospital Corporation, FCHR Order No. 05-135 (December 6, 2005) and Eaves v. IMT-LB Central Florida Portfolio, LLC, FCHR Order No. 11-029 (March 17, 2011).

In addition, it has been stated, “The ultimate question of the existence of discrimination is a question of fact.” Florida Department of Community Affairs v.

Bryant, 586 So. 2d 1205, at 1209 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991). Accord, Coley v. Bay County Board of County Commissioners, FCHR Order No. 10-027 (March 17, 2010) and Eaves, supra.

Based on the foregoing, Petitioner‟s exceptions are rejected.

Dismissal

The Petition for Relief and Complaint of Discrimination are DISMISSED with prejudice.

The parties have the right to seek judicial review of this Order. The Commission and the appropriate District Court of Appeal must receive notice of appeal within 30 days of the date this Order is filed with the Clerk of the Commission. Explanation of the right to appeal is found in Section 120.68, Florida Statutes, and in the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.110.

DONE AND ORDERED this 16th day of October , 2013. FOR THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS:

Commissioner Gilbert M. Singer, Panel Chairperson; Commissioner Michell Long; and

Commissioner Mario M. Valle

Filed this 16th day of October , 2013, in Tallahassee, Florida.

/s/ Violet Crawford, Clerk

Commission on Human Relations 2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 488-7082

Copies furnished to:

Stephen G. Leslie

3210 Bending Oaks Drive Plant City, FL 33563-7481

Florida Department of Transportation c/o Susan Schwartz, Esq.

Haydon Burns Building, Mail Station 58 605 Suwannee Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450

William F. Quattlebaum, Administrative Law Judge, DOAH James Mallue, Legal Advisor for Commission Panel

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a copy of the foregoing has been mailed to the above listed addressees this 16th day of October , 2013.

By: /s/ Clerk of the Commission

Florida Commission on Human Relations

Docket for Case No: 13-001620

Orders for Case No: 13-001620