The Issue The issue for consideration in this case is whether Respondent's certification as an electrical sign specialty contractor in Pinellas County, Florida, should be disciplined because of the matters alleged in the Administrative Complaint filed herein.
Findings Of Fact At all times pertinent to the issues herein, the Petitioner, Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, was the county agency responsible for the regulation of the construction industry within the county and the certification of practitioners of the construction trades within the county. Respondent, Jack R. Garrison, Jr., was licensed as an electrical sign specialty contractor on May 11, 1995. His certification was received on October 1, 1997, but was suspended on July 30, 1998. It was on suspended status at all times pertinent to this case. On October 15, 1998, based on the recommendation of his landlady, Constance Parise, who had had prior dealings with the Respondent, Richard A. Swoager, owner of Planet Rubber, located at 2620 State Road 590 in Clearwater, Florida, contracted with Respondent, doing business at Garrison & Associates Sign Company, Inc., to have Respondent construct and install two new sign faces on the client's existing Coachman square pylon sign. Contract price for the removal and destruction of the old faces, the fabrication and installation of the new faces, and the installation of up to two florescent lamps, was $1,775.00 in addition to $124.25 in sales tax. Respondent requested and received an advance, at the time of signing the contract, a deposit of 50 percent of the total price, $949.62. The contract noted that the fabrication and installation was to be completed by November 1, 1998. Respondent assured the client at the time of signing the contract that the art work for the project would be ready for the client approval within one week. The art work was not presented to the client, not withstanding the client called Respondent to inquire about it several times. After making several calls to Respondent's place of business in unsuccessful efforts to obtain the work contracted and partially paid for, and just before the November 1, 1998, deadline, Mr. Swoager left word with Respondent's office that he wanted to cancel the contract and have his deposit returned. On October 26, 1998, after that notice, Mr. Swoager found a note from an individual by the name of Tracy Garrison, whom he believed to be Respondent's wife, representing that Respondent would deliver the deposit return by noon of that day. The money was not returned. Mr. Swoager enlisted the aid of his landlady, Ms. Parise, who had referred Respondent, in obtaining the return of his deposit. Ms. Parise made several phone calls to the Respondent but was unable to reach him. She also sent the Respondent a fax request for the return of the deposit and finally reached him. During this contact on October 25, 1998, eight days after the signing of the contract, Respondent advised Ms. Parise he did not want Mr. Swoager's business and would return the deposit. He reiterated the promise to return the deposit in a fax to Mr. Swoager dated October 28, 1998, specifically indicating the money would be delivered that day. It was not delivered. At not time did Respondent accomplish the work called for in the contract, nor did he return any of the funds paid as deposit. At no time during the period of the negotiation for or the signing of the contract, or at any time thereafter, did Respondent possess an active certification under which he could contract for or perform the work in question here.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is recommended that the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board enter a final order revoking Respondent's certification as an electrical sign specialty contractor in Pinellas County, Florida. DONE AND ENTERED this 10th day of August, 1999, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. ARNOLD H. POLLOCK Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6947 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 10th day of August, 1999. COPIES FURNISHED: William J. Owens, Executive Director Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board 11701 Belcher Road, Suite 102 Largo, Florida 33773-5116 Jack R. Garrison, Jr. 2249 Cypress Point Drive, West Clearwater, Florida 33763
Findings Of Fact On May 31, 1990, G.T. Williams applied to the Department of Environmental Regulation (Department) for an air pollution source permit. He sought the permit in order to have authorization to construct a biological waste incinerator in Gadsden County, Florida. The permit application was subsequently amended to provide that the incinerator would be constructed as part of the expansion of an existing biomedical incineration facility in Leon County, Florida. On September 7, 1990, the Department issued its Order of Intent to Issue the air pollution source permit to Mr. Williams. The Order of Intent to Issue provides, in relevant part, as follows: Pursuant to Section 403.815, Florida Statues, and DER Rule 17-103.150, F.A.C., you (the applicant) are required to publish at your own expense the enclosed Notice of Intent to Issue Permit. The notice shall be published one time only within 30 days, in the legal ad section of a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected. For the purpose of this rule, "publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected" means; publi- cation in a newspaper meeting the requirements of Section 50.011 and 50.031, F.S., in the county where the activity is to take place. The applicant shall provide proof of publica- tion to the Department, at the Northwest District, 160 Governmental Center, Pensacola, Florida 32501-5794 within seven days of publication. Failure to publish the notice and provide proof of publication within the allotted time may result in the denial of the permit. (emphasis added). Prior to publication of the Intent to Issue, the Department did not advise the Petitioner which newspaper to publish the notice in and, in fact, neither Chapter 403 nor any of the provisions of Title 17, Florida Administrative Code, grant the Department authority to designate a newspaper for publication use. On October 4, 1990, Bio-Tech published the Department's Notice of Intent to Issue Permit in the Leon County News. On October 17, 1990, the Department approved transfer of the permit from G.T. Williams to Bio-Tech. The Leon County News is a weekly newspaper. It has been continuously published in Leon County, Florida, since 1980. At least 25 percent of the words in the Leon County News are in the English language and it is entered as second class mail at the Woodville Post Office in Leon County, Florida. The Leon County News is available for purchase by the general public by mail subscription. It is also available for sale to the general public at newspaper racks located at the following locations: Gary's IGA, 363 Woodville Highway, Woodville, Florida; Publix Super Market Store #113, 1719 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida; and Publix Super Market Store #2150, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida. The general public is encouraged to purchase legal and other advertisements and notices in the Leon County News, and the newspaper regularly contains help wanted ads, ads for services, business advertising, real estate ads, and public service ads. The Leon County News also contains national, state, and local news stories and features as well as nationally syndicated columns of interest to the general public. Its published matter is not characterized by narrowly focused published materials of interest to only an isolated trade group, profession or narrow segment of the public. A number of state and local government agencies, including the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of State, the Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry, the Department of Professional Regulation, and the Leon County Circuit Court publish statutorily-mandated legal notices in the Leon County News. A review of the editions of the Leon County News from October 4, 1990 (the publication date at issue), through the hearing date indicates that these legal notices include notices of complaints filed against professional licenses, constructive service of process, notices of administration of estates, notices of foreclosure sales, notices of petitions for forfeiture, notices of claims of lien, and notices of fictitious name registrations. Many of the notices published by the courts and these governmental agencies involve notices of actions pending which involve potential loss or forfeiture of valuable property or legal rights. Charlotte James is the Secretary of the Bio-Tech Corporation. On October 4, 1990, she prepared a letter transmitting a copy of the notarized proof of publication of the Notice of Intent to Issue Permit, as well as an October 3, 1990, newspaper article concerning the facility to the Department. This was in order to respond to the admonition contained in the Notice of Intent to Issue Permit directing that proof of publication of the Notice of Intent to Issue be provided the Department within seven days of publication. The envelope containing that transmittal letter, proof of publication, and the accompanying newspaper article was properly addressed and posted and was mailed to Mr. Jack Preece of the Department's Northwest District Office from the U.S. Post Office on Woodward Avenue, located near Florida State University, in Tallahassee, Florida. Ms. James took the letter to that post office, hand delivered it to the postal clerk, watched the postal clerk cancel the letter and place it in a receptacle for mailing to the Department's Northwest District office and Mr. Jack Preece on October 4, 1990. It subsequently developed that the Department's personnel could not locate the proof of publication in the permitting file in the Northwest District office in Pensacola, which had been mailed by Bio-Tech on October 4, 1990. The Department's Office of General Counsel in Tallahassee did receive a copy of the proof of publication sometime before October 25, 1990. The Department's personnel have been unable to determine when the Office of General Counsel actually received the proof of publication. In any event, the Department's Northwest District office received a copy of the proof of publication by telefacsimile on October 25, 1990, prior to the issuance of the Notice of Permit Denial. Thereafter, on the next day, October 26, 1990, the Department issued its Notice of Permit Denial to Bio-Tech on the basis that Bio-Tech allegedly failed to publish the notice of the original intent to grant the permit "in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected;" and that the applicant failed to provide proof of publication to the Department within seven days of that publication. On November 29, 1990, Bio-Tech filed its petition for formal administrative hearing alleging that the Leon County News is a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected and that proof of publication of the Notice of Intent to Issue was timely provided the Department. Alternatively, Bio-Tech pleads that failure to provide the Department with a copy of the proof of publication within seven days of the date of publication is not a valid basis for permit denial but rather is harmless error.
Recommendation Having considered the foregoing findings of fact, conclusions of law, the evidence of record, the candor and demeanor of the witnesses and the pleading and arguments of the parties it is, therefore, recommended that a final order be entered by the Department of Environmental Regulation granting the application of Bio-Tech Tracking Systems, Inc., for an air pollution source permit. RECOMMENDED in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 3rd day of April 1991. P. MICHAEL RUFF Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 3rd day of April 1991. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 90-7760 Petitioner's proposed findings of fact: 1-17. Accepted. Respondent's proposed findings of fact: 1-8. Accepted. Rejected as subordinate to the Hearing Officer's findings of fact on this subject matter and not proved by the preponderant weight of the evidence. The evidence does not show that the publication was not received by the Department before October 25, 1990, even if one accepts that it did not reach the appropriate office until that date. Accepted, although that does not establish that that was the only copy of the proof of publication ever received by the Department's Northwest District office. Accepted, but immaterial to the findings of fact and conclusions of law made on the proof of publication issue herein. Accepted and, as concluded herein, the proper posting of the proof of publication constituted the provision of proof of publication to the Northwest District office. Accepted. Accepted, but not itself materially dispositive of the issues in dispute. 15-18. Accepted. 19-21. Accepted. Accepted, but immaterial and irrelevant. Accepted, but immaterial and irrelevant. Accepted, but not in itself materially dispositive of the issues in dispute for the reasons asserted in the above findings of fact and conclusions of law. Accepted, but not in itself materially dispositive of the issues in dispute for the reasons asserted in the above findings of fact and conclusions of law. Accepted in terms of this indication of what the Department's Notice of Intended Agency Action was which resulted in the petition which engendered this proceeding. But not in the sense that that notice of intended agency action was based upon found facts in this proceeding. This is a de novo proceeding and no facts were found until the issuance of this recommended order. Accepted. COPIES FURNISHED: William E. Williams, Esquire Robert D. Fingar, Esquire Huey, Guilday, Kursteiner and Tucker, P.A. 106 East College Avenue Suite 900 Post Office Box 1794 Tallahassee, Florida 32302 Michael P. Donaldson, Esquire Carol Forthman, Esquire Department of Environmental Regulation Twin Towers Office Building 2600 Blair Stone Road Room 654 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 Carol Browner, Secretary Department of Environmental Regulation Twin Towers Office Building 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 Daniel H. Thompson General Counsel Department of Environmental Regulation Twin Towers Office Building 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
The Issue Whether respondents unlawfully (1) discriminated against petitioner on the basis of her sex, and (2) retaliated against her for opposing sexually discriminatory practices.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner's discrimination claim is two-fold. First, she contends that respondent sexually discriminated against her by paying her less salary and excluding her from participating in the managerial bonus plan and weekly managerial staff meetings when male employees, performing equal or comparable work, were paid more and participated in the bonus plan and staff meetings. Second, she contends that respondent retaliated against her--by firing her-- because she complained of its sexually discriminatory policies. As alleged, both unlawful employment practices occurred between January, 1978, and November, 1979, during which time petitioner was respondent's Personnel Manager, both in title and in fact. Petitioner, now 47, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She majored in journalism, minored in psychology and sociology, attended on scholarship, and maintained a B average. After graduation, she became a policewoman with the Detroit Police Department, where she counseled and referred juvenile offenders. She then retired and raised her children during the next 10 years, after which she obtained a real estate license and sold residential real estate. On March 4, 1974, she was hired by the Detroit Free Press as an "Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant to the Personnel Director." At that time she had no formal training or prior employment in personnel. The Detroit Free Press and respondent Bradenton Herald, Inc., both newspapers in the Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc. group, are separate and distinct entities. There is no evidence of record that employees of Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc. directed or participated in any of the alleged unlawful employment practices complained of by petitioner. In September, 1975, after one and one-half years with the Detroit Free Press, petitioner wrote respondent, (Bradenton Herald, Inc.) about possible future openings in its Personnel Department, stating that she would like to move to the Gulf Coast area of Florida within the next year. She stated that she wished to relocate because she had two dependent school age children and wished to live near her parents in Clearwater, Florida rather than contending with the bad weather and drawbacks that she was experiencing in Detroit. (P-33) She also indicated that she did not plan to start "job hunting" until early the next year. She described her current position, stating that she had responsibility for handling the day-to-day personnel operation of the Detroit Free Press, which had 2,000 employees. She listed her duties as testing and supervising employees; maintaining personnel files; handling stock purchase plans, unemployment claims, interviewing; handling correspondence and secretarial work for the personnel section; writing letters to all employees; informing labor and corporate officials on a regular basis of all personnel changes; maintaining accurate address information on all employees; preparing monthly personnel reports, quarterly employee reports, monthly reports to the Knight-Ridder Newspaper headquarters in Miami, Florida, and quarterly reports to the National Alliance of Businessmen regarding the hiring of Vietnam veterans and the disadvantaged; verifying employment, credit and employee references; distributing performance appraisal reports including the compilation of delinquency lists and records; researching personnel files and making appropriate responses; handing out applications to prospective employees and answering employee questions regarding insurance, stock purchase and other employee benefits; answering the telephone and handling all calls; scheduling the conference room; maintaining contact with functional and department heads as well as employees at all levels of the newspaper; and, making extensive contact with the general public, as well as most applicants for positions of employment. (P-33) In August, 1975, petitioner's work at the Detroit Free Press was becoming increasingly clerical and a source of frustration to her. She felt clerical work no longer challenged her. Her supervisor agreed with her assessment, observing that she was "becoming super at the [personnel] testing situation." He discerned no way out of her dilemma but recommended that a raise in her salary be considered "because of her ability and work." (P-33) At the time of her job inquiry, respondent was a small newspaper, acquired in 1973 by Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc., and in the process of organizing various departments and functions. It had no openings in Personnel but, in October, 1975, offered her a position as secretary to William LaMee, the Publisher. She rejected the job offer because, as she explained, her training had advanced to the point where she believed she could handle a personnel management position. Subsequently, in March, 1976, respondent offered and petitioner accepted a position as "Personnel Assistant" to Byron Callahan, both Personnel Director and Promotion Manager at the Bradenton newspaper. Petitioner replaced Doris Hiscox, the former Personnel Assistant. At that time, the paper had no Business Manager. II. Petitioner began work at her new job in April, 1976. Respondent paid her travel and moving expenses from Detroit, Michigan to Bradenton, Florida, which indicates that it perceived her as being more than a clerical employee. It was respondent's practice to pay travel and moving expenses of managerial and professional employees. Petitioner performed the functions of the newly created Personnel Section, functions formerly handled by the Accounting Department. Byron Callahan, the new Promotions Personnel Director, was responsible for these functions, in addition to various promotional or public relations activities of the newspaper. These included such things as preparing the newspaper's Manatee County Fair Booth; establishing a safety committee; preparing special section promotions; running newsroom personnel promotions; handling promotions for the DeSoto Celebration; handling a special promotion performance of "Up With People"; preparing a "supervisory manual"; negotiating for the acquisition of equipment and reduction of service costs; becoming involved with minority organizations and community action groups; auditing and reporting hiring and promotion patterns to assure compatibility with the affirmative action program; conducting career counseling for minority employees; implementing training programs; initiating drug awareness programs; handling United Way representation, including "loaned executive" program; initiating special promotion publications; implementing radio advertisements in the newspaper; establishing a speakers' bureau; establishing public tours through the newspaper; reducing building maintenance staff; procuring estimates for demolition of one of respondent's properties; completing the maintenance and restriping of the employee's parking lot; and initiating training of all personnel concerning Occupational Safety and Health Act safety programs. (R-4 through R-7) Within a month after petitioner's arrival at her new job, Mr. Callahan was fired and replaced by Donald Heath, who was hired as the new Business Manager. His responsibilities included the Advertising Department as well as Personnel and Promotions, the two areas for which Mr. Callahan had been responsible. Although petitioner's functions remained relatively unchanged, her responsibilities as the Personnel Assistant increased as Mr. Heath--who had no personnel experience--relied on her to carry out the newspaper's personnel functions. Unlike Mr. Callahan, he did not assist in performing these functions. After three months at her new job, petitioner wrote the Personnel Manager of the Detroit Free Press, asserting that she was fully and completely responsible for personnel functions at the Bradenton newspaper. During her first five months at the newspaper, she was happy with her work and, by all reports, performing her duties well. She had received two pay increases and was then earning $200.00 per week. The quantity and pace of her work, however, began to trouble her. She was almost single-handedly performing, with some part-time clerical assistance, all of the personnel work for the newspaper. Yet she did not hold the title of Personnel Manager. In January, 1977, she wrote the Detroit Free Press asking to be considered for its Personnel Manager position, should it become available. In September, 1977, when the position became available, she applied to he the personnel Manager of the Detroit newspaper, stating that she was ready to move into a personnel management position on a large metro paper. She wrote that she wanted to move back to Detroit, because of, among other things, personal family reasons. After receiving no response, she renewed her request in October, 1977, and enclosed another resume. (P-33) On January 10, 1978, petitioner was promoted, both in title and fact, to the position of Personnel Manager by William Appleby, respondent's then General Manager. (She had, in fact, been performing the duties of a personnel manager for almost two years.) As Personnel Manager, her duties required her to: Interview, test, and recruit prospective job applicants; Pre-screen all applications and resumes received from job applicants; Interpret prospective job applicants' test scores for department heads, General Manager and Publisher. Test management applicants for employment. Test applicants for positions at other Knight- Ridder Newspapers, at the request of those papers; Administer and prepare all unemployment, workers compensation, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) and EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) reports; Represent the newspaper at unemployment hearings. Supervise the switchboard employees and the operation of the switchboard; Supervise the in-house print shop, including approval of all in-house printing orders. Write, supervise and edit the employee handbook; Maintain the newspaper's personnel records in "KRIS," Knight-Ridder's computerized central data bank; Set up periodic performance evaluation and salary review programs for all employees; Prepare regular quarterly reports to the Publisher regarding activities of the Personnel Department; Write regular memoranda to employees regarding personnel matters of interest; Assist General Manager and Controller in setting up Personnel Department budget; Write, edit and produce the monthly employee newsletter, Headliners; Write, employment ads for the newspaper; Devise a new job application for the newspaper; Represent the newspaper at Knight-Kidder Personnel Directors' meetings in Miami. Attend management training seminars; Become a member of NPRA - Newspaper Personnel Relations Association and SPA - Sarasota Personnel Association. She was also responsible for employee of the month and year programs, employee service awards, press releases on managerial appointments, employee tours and orientation programs, employee bulletin board, employee Christmas luncheon and employee open house. She also supervised the print shop, which was operated by one person. She had no authority to hire or fire him, but--within three months of her employment--had cleared up a workload backlog of several months and had the shop running smoothly. She approved all printing orders. She also supervised the switchboard, which had one full-time and one part-time employee. They sometimes helped her type and score test results. (P-33) The secretary to the Publisher and General Manager also provided petitioner with 15 hours per week of clerical assistance and maintained all personnel records. This secretary also helped petitioner with basic interviewing and correspondence; answering inquiries concerning employment positions; preparing ads for positions of employment; administering of tests; and processing of insurance claims. As in the past, petitioner was expected to, and did, perform many of the clerical duties associated with Personnel. The Publisher and General Manager expected that petitioner would initiate training and employee counseling programs in addition to performing her other duties, although they made no specific request for such programs. Because of the rapid turnover of employees, and her lack of adequate clerical and administrative assistance, she was unable to initiate these programs although she did some informal counseling of employees. As the newspaper's new Personnel Manager, one of her duties was to edit and re-write the Employee Handbook. She organized and substantially revised it, and was praised for her accomplishment by the Vice-President for Personnel at Knight-Ridder: "It is a very vast improvement over what you [respondent Bradenton Herald, Inc.] had in the past and better than most of our other companies." (P-33) She also programmed required personnel statistical information in the newspaper's new computer system. In regard to her other duties, she acknowledges that the training of the switchboard operators was performed by the telephone company and that she handled only three contested unemployment claims and no worker's compensation hearings. During the last three months of her employment at the newspaper, she assumed responsibility for preparing the monthly newsletter, which she admits was a professional, not a managerial, function. She had no dealings with employee unions since there were no unions at the Bradenton newspaper. During the time petitioner was Personnel Manager, respondent published an internal organizational chart indicating that six employees reported to the General Manager: Personnel Manager Promotion Manager Advertising Director Circulation Director Production Manager Controller. Petitioner contends that her functions, duties, and responsibilities were comparable to or equal to those of the Advertising Director, Circulation Director, Production Manager and Classified Manager, who reported to the Advertising Director. These positions were filled by males. Unlike petitioner, these four male employees participated in the managerial compensation bonus plan and weekly managerial staff meetings. They also were paid more than petitioner. Her predecessor, Mr. Callahan, had participated in the managerial bonus plan and weekly managerial staff meetings. Of six positions reporting to the General Manager, two (Personnel Manager and Promotion Manager) were filled by female employees. Neither participated in the bonus plan or weekly managerial staff meetings. Contrary to petitioner's contention, the four employees to which she compares herself had greater responsibilities than she had, and a higher level of skill and effort were required of them. The four positions were not equal, or virtually equal, or even comparable to that of the Personnel Manager, which required less skill and effort, and had less responsibility. The only significant similarity among these positions was that most reported directly to the General Manager. The real and substantial differences between them, however, far outweigh this similarity. The major functions of the newspaper were in the advertising, production, circulation and accounting department. These were the "on-line" departments, in contrast to an administrative support department, such as Personnel. These departments exercised substantially more responsibility for the operation of the newspaper than did the Personnel Department. The most important departmental head (excluding the Publisher/President and General Manager) was the Advertising Director. The functions of the Advertising Director included establishment of revenue goals, budgets and adjustments to budgets; management of personnel and internal organizations; preparation and implementation of sales strategy and marketing practices; establishment of rates for advertising; and coordination of special advertising projects. The Advertising Director accounted for 70-80 percent of the total revenue of the newspaper, which approached twelve million dollars annually. He was directly accountable for a staff of approximately forty persons, whom he had sole authority to hire and fire. He was responsible for his staff's training, coordination, and development, and the expenditure of budgeted funds, including the implementation and constant adjustment of the budget throughout the year. Within the Advertising Department, three lower level management personnel reported to the Advertising Director: the Retail Ad Manager, who was accountable for approximately 80 percent of the revenue generated within that department; the Classified Ad Manager, who was responsible for approximately 20 percent of the revenue, and the National Advertising Manager. These managers were interviewed and hired by the Advertising Director; petitioner did not interview them before they were hired. The Retail Ad Manager was responsible for special sections, real estate ads and television ads. He had a sales staff of eight persons. His duties included preparing training programs, advertising booklets and brochures, and recommending purchases and redesign of equipment. The Classified Ad Manager was responsible for the hiring, firing, training and performance of the ten people on his staff. The Advertising Department trained its staff without assistance from the personnel section. Petitioner's successor, aided by a newly hired second employee in Personnel, took over these functions, including recruitment, interviews, screening, scheduling and training. After the departure of petitioner's immediate successor, these functions continued to be carried out with only one individual in the Personnel Section, Donna Campbell. The next major department of the newspaper was the Circulation Department, which was responsible for 20 percent to 30 percent (approximately $3 million) of the total revenue of the newspaper. This department had the largest departmental staff and distributed papers to almost 20,000 customers. It employed district managers, who were responsible for over 60 newspaper carriers. The Circulation Manager had direct responsibility and authority for the hiring and firing of his employees, the transportation and delivery of the newspapers, and the coordination of all circulation and collection functions, including sales promotions. Budgeting and adjustments to the budget was required throughout the year in coordination with the Advertising Director, and the Controller. The Production Director headed the third major department of the newspaper and was responsible for 50 employees in five operational departments: composing, camera, plate making, press and pressroom. Each department had a supervisor and two had assistant supervisors or foremen. For example, the Supervisor of the Pressroom had responsibility for ordering supplies and supervising the press operators. The Mail Room Foreman supervised 15-20 employees, whose responsibilities included the bundling of newspapers for dissemination through circulation. The Production Director was responsible for the printing of the newspaper, the training of his staff, and the preparation of his department budget. The annual budget for this department was $1.5 million, which included purchasing and maintaining equipment. He was also responsible for ordering and maintaining adequate inventory and supplies, including the purchasing of newsprint. The value of the inventory exceeded $1 million. His operational decisions were not subject to the prior approval of the Publisher or General Manager. The Controller was the fourth major operational department. He was the chief financial officer and responsible for the fiscal operation of the newspaper. He supervised a staff of approximately 15 people, including a Credit Manager, who supervised two employees, and an Accounting Manager, who supervised fifteen employees. The annual accounts receivable for the newspaper approached $8 million. He monitored the other three departments to ensure they remained within their budgets. In contrast, petitioner's duties as Personnel Manager can only be described as administrative or clerical in nature. One expert witness, who testified on her behalf, acknowledged that the personnel department in a newspaper the size of respondent's could be handled by a clerical staff rather than a Personnel Manager. Her supervisory and budgeting responsibilities were limited and circumscribed. She supervised one full time switchboard operator and one print-shop employee, whom she could neither hire nor fire. Her main role was to provide administrative support to the operational "on-line" departments of the newspaper. Her pay was within the range of, or even exceeded, the pay of male employees holding similar mid-management positions, such as Mail Room Supervisor, National Co-op Manager, Home Delivery Manager, Single Copy Manager, Credit Manager and Building Maintenance Supervisor. Petitioner was ineligible to participate in the managerial bonus compensation program, which was limited to department heads who exercised substantially greater responsibilities than she. Many managerial positions, with substantially greater responsibilities than those of the Personnel Manager, were also ineligible. These included the Pressroom Foreman, Composing Room Foreman, District Managers, Sub-editors, Accounting Manager and Credit Manager. In the newspaper industry, executive or management bonus programs are not normally made available to Personnel Managers. Moreover, it is a generally accepted practice in the industry to pay more compensation to the heads of production, editorial, advertising, and circulation than to the head of personnel. This is because the former are generally regarded as exercising greater responsibilities. The basis for establishing the relative importance of the respective managers was neither by their title or position on the newspaper's organizational chart, nor the rank of the position to whom they reported. For example, the Building Superintendent reported to the General Manager, supervised employees and had authority to expend funds without prior approval. But he was not equal to the Advertising Director in responsibility or managerial importance. The organizational chart merely depicted the various sections of the newspaper and to whom these sections were accountable. During the period of petitioner's employment as Personnel Manager, she was excluded from weekly staff meetings and the annual Christmas party, which was primarily for the newspapers' customers. Her exclusion was consistent with the newspaper's policy to exclude mid-management personnel, whether male or female. The weekly staff meetings were intended to include only managers having primary responsibility for "on-line" functions of the newspaper. As Personnel Manager, petitioner had no "on-line" functions. III. In October, 1978, after returning from an equal employment opportunity seminar, petitioner became convinced that she was the victim of sex discrimination. She complained to General Manager Appleby, asserting that her exclusion from the managerial bonus plan and weekly managerial staff meeting was evidence of sex discrimination. In January, 1979, she repeated her complaint to General Manager Appleby, who attributed her exclusion from the bonus plan and staff meetings to the policies of Publisher LaMee and promised to discuss her complaints with him. Her complaint of sex discrimination was, under the circumstances, reasonable, and made in good faith. Although the newspaper had many female employees, none were included in its top-management or the important "on-line" positions. 2/ These were occupied, exclusively, by males. No females participated in the managerial bonus system or attended the weekly managerial staff meetings. Petitioner was excluded from the staff meetings, although her predecessor--who had been responsible for personnel, in addition to his other duties--was a regular participant. Because they occupied lower ranking positions, females, as a group, were paid less than on-line or executive male managers. Finally, Publisher LaMee's style of relating to and supervising female employees was perceived to be overbearing, condescending, and demeaning. In fact, he treated both male and female subordinates, alike, with abruptness and brooked no dissent. He sometimes abused and intimidated employees and was viewed, by some, as a "tyrant." An employee who crossed his policies could expect recrimination or retaliation. Although Publisher LaMee denied any knowledge of petitioner's complaints of sex discrimination, his denial is rejected as unworthy of belief. General Manager Appleby told him of her two complaints after each was made. Soon after petitioner complained to Mr. Appleby, and during the ensuing year, Publisher LaMee wrote notes to himself and left them on his desk. Those noted contained short phrases such as, "Fire Ann," "Fire A.M.," and "Can Ann." His attitude toward her became increasingly critical. On November 30, 1979, Publisher LaMee fired her for writing a personal letter during working hours and leaving the office prior to the close of business hours. He fired her abruptly and summarily, without first talking to the General Manager, her immediate supervisor. On the day in question, petitioner left work 15 minutes before 5:00 P.M., after other managers, including the Publisher and General Manager, had already left for the day. Indeed, the Ad Manager was, at that time, playing golf, though not on leave. Before leaving work, she notified the switchboard operator and left a number where she could be reached. Respondent supplies a third reason why petitioner was fired, though that reason was not expressed to her at the time. She was, according to respondent, lazy and had demonstrated a deteriorating work performance. Respondent asserts that petitioner was fired for these three reasons and denies that her prior complaints of sex discrimination were a factor in her dismissal. This assertion, and denial, are rejected as pretextual and unworthy of belief. The allegation that petitioner was lazy and her work deteriorating is inconsistent with her individual personnel record. Throughout her employment, she consistently, and repeatedly, received merit pay increases and positive comments about her performance. The only negative written comment is contained in a personnel extract compiled in late 1978 and early 1979. The extract, at least in part, is based on Publisher LaMee's derogatory comments about her. His credibility is already suspect so little weight is given the extract. Testimony by two of respondent's witnesses that she was frequently orally reprimanded is rejected as vague and inconsistent with her regular meritorious reviews and salary increases. Moreover, in petitioner's unemployment compensation hearing occurring after her dismissal, respondent did not express the view that she was fired, even in part, because of laziness or deteriorating job performance. Failure to express the view then detracts from its credibility now. As for her writing a personal letter during office hours, this was a practice engaged in by other managerial employees without disciplinary action. Petitioner was not paid an hourly wage and did not "punch a time clock." Because she and other managers worked overtime and on weekends without additional pay, they were given latitude during business hours, so long as they performed their work properly,. As for leaving 15 minutes early, this was also a common practice among managers at or above petitioner's level. Publisher LaMee had never before fired any employee for either of these reasons. The firing of petitioner for either or both of these reasons, is inconsistent with respondent's past treatment of its other employees, both male and female. In summary, the evidence convincingly supports an inference, now drawn, that petitioner was terminated from her employment, at least in part, because she opposed, and twice complained of, sexual discriminatory practices of her employer. There was a causal link between her complaints of sex discrimination and her dismissal. Her complaints were a substantial or motivating factor in respondent's decision to fire her. The three nondiscriminatory reasons given as grounds for her dismissal are unworthy of belief and rejected as pretextual, or a cover-up, for a discriminatory motive. IV. In 1978, respondent paid petitioner an annual salary of $12,140.80. She worked only 11 months in 1979--since she was fired on November 30, 1979--and earned $13,216.00--$1,201.45 per month. If she had not been fired in November, she would have earned $14,417.40 in 1979. In 1980, she worked at two jobs and earned a total of $7,239.87. In 1981, she earned $10,209.68; in 1982, $12,911.11; and in 1983, approximately $12,000.00. Since the hearing in this case occurred in November, 1983, evidence of her subsequent earnings should be supplied the Commission on Human Relations by supplemental evidence. Her salary at respondent's newspaper increased 8.85 percent between 1978 and 1979, from $12,140.80 to $13,216.00. If it is assumed that this rate of increase would have continued through 1984, but for her termination, she would have earned $15,693.34 in 1980; $17,082.20 in 1981; $18,593.97 in 1982; $20,239.53 in 1983; and $22,030.73 in 1984. A comparison of what she earned from other employment, and what is reasonable to expect she would have earned if she had remained in respondent's employ after November 30, Earnings From Other Employment 1979, are depicted below: Expected Earnings If She Had Not Been Fired Difference 1979 (Dec.) -0- 1,201.45 1,201.45 1980 7,239.87 15,693.34 8,453.47 1981 10,209.69 17,082.20 6,872.52 1982 12,911.11 18,593.97 5,682.86 1983 12,000.00 22,239.53 8,239.53 1984 * 22,030.73 * Total 30,449.83 To be calculated based on submittal of supplemental evidence before the Commission on Human Relations. Must be adjusted based on submittal of supplemental evidence. It follows that petitioner's salary loss due to her termination in November 30, 1979, totals $30,449.83, subject to adjustment for earnings during 1984. Petitioner is also obligated to pay her attorney a reasonable attorney's fee for his representation. Both parties agreed that the amount of any attorney's fee to be awarded should be determined by the Commission on Human Relations when it takes final action in this case, so no evidence was presented on this issue.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Commission on Human Relations enter an order finding that: Respondent is not guilty of committing an unlawful employment practice against petitioner in terms of her salary or her exclusion from the managerial bonus plain and weekly staff meeting; Respondent is guilty of engaging in an unlawful employment practice forbidden by Section 760.10(7), since it fired her because of, at least in part, her past complaints of and opposition to respondent's alleged sexually discriminatory practices; and Further, the order should prohibit respondent from engaging in further sexually discriminatory practices; and require that respondent (1) reinstate petitioner, with restoration of all job benefits; (2) pay her $30,449.83 in back pay, subject to adjustment for 1984 earnings; and (3) pay her a reasonable attorney's fee, as determined by the Commission. That Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc. be dropped as a party-respondent. DONE and ENTERED this30th day of August, 1984, in Tallahassee, Florida. R. L. CALEEN, JR. Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 30th day of August, 1984.
The Issue The issue in this case is whether the Department of Transportation (DOT) acted correctly in deeming the bid of Nippon Carbide Industries (NCI) to be nonresponsive.
Findings Of Fact The bid specifications called for reflective sheeting for the production of roadway signs by DOT. Included in the bid specifications for the reflective sheeting bid was a specification contained in Section 4.1 that required the process inks be one component that required no pre-mixing and air dried in four hours or less. A document contained in NCI’s bid, identified as an “Order Worksheet,” contained the following: PLEASE NOTE: 3800 Series inks are supplied as a set with 80 grams of 3630 hardener. 3800 Series inks are pre-thinned for proper viscosity. If thinning is required, use 3811 or turpentine. 3800 series inks have a pot life of five hours after mixing. The NCI bid reference to mixing the 3800 Series inks with the 3630 hardener and that the ink and hardener were supplied as a set concerned the reviewers. Mixing the 3800 Series inks with the 3630 hardener did not meet the specifications of the bid requiring no component pre-mixing. Immediately following the bid opening and preliminary review on June 10, 1998, the reviewers (composed of Lisa Sweet, Contract Manager in the Purchasing Office; Chris Warren, Manufacturing Operations Engineer for the DOT Sign Shop; and Randall Wainwright, Manager of DOT Sign Shop) were present when Sweet telephoned NCI’s National Technical and Marketing Director (Director) to ask for clarification of the bid documents. NCI’s Director advised the group during the telephone conversation that the process inks bid by NCI required mixing and volunteered to provide mixing instructions. Following the telephone conversation, the Director faxed to DOT a three-page document, a cover letter from the Director referencing the telephone call, and two pages of mixing instructions. Both the telephone conversation with the Director on June 10, 1998, and the mixing instructions provided by the Director to DOT on the same day, confirmed the belief of DOT personnel that that NCI’s bid did not conform to the bid specifications and should be deemed nonresponsive. NCI subsequently contacted DOT on several occasions beginning on June 11, 1998, to indicate that it may have provided the wrong information regarding the process inks. On June 12, 1998, NCI’s Director faxed to DOT a letter stating that the mixing instructions were in error and requested a meeting with key personnel DOT before June 19, 1998, the bid award posting date. The June 12, 1998, letter contained instructions as well. Although the reference to mixing the process ink with a hardener was deleted, the instructions contained information on how to store the process inks and hardener. This new information was in conflict with the previous information and inconclusive in establishing that NCI’s process inks met the requirement for one component ink that did not require mixing. DOT did not consider the information provided in the June 12, 1998, letter in its decision to deem NCI’s bid nonresponsive and award the bid to 3M. NCI requested a meeting with DOT’s Procurement Office, which took place on June 17, 1998. Unable to convince DOT that its bid was responsive, NCI then requested a meeting with DOT administrative officials. On June 18, 1998, NCI representatives met with the DOT’s Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and the State Highway Engineer. NCI again attempted to persuade DOT that its process inks did not have to be mixed with the hardener and the use of the hardener was merely an option, even though the ink and hardener are supplied as a set. The use of inks with hardener in the production of roadway signs in the Sign Shop would require a change in the production process not contemplated by the bid specifications, nor desired by DOT. Nevertheless, following the meeting, DOT considered screening NCI’s Process inks without the hardener to determine if the NCI inks met the one component ink bid specification. Under the arrangement, NCI was to provide the ink and reflective sheeting so that the inks could be screened onto the sheeting at the Sign Shop under normal production circumstances and ambient conditions, not under artificially controlled conditions in an independent lab that would not simulate the actual production process environment. In a series of correspondence with DOT employees, NCI raised objections to the type of testing and test protocols to be employed by DOT. Ultimately NCI failed to provide the inks and sheeting for testing in a timely manner and the testing was never conducted. Dr. Eugene Janulis provided unrefuted expert testimony at final hearing that the deletion of hardener from NCI’s 3800- Series inks would raise serious concerns about the durability, weather resistance, and colorfastness of the inks. Dr. Janulis is a research chemist with over 15 years of experience in developing and testing of traffic control materials. He holds, or is co-holder of, 13 patents, and has authored numerous scientific articles pertaining to the chemical and elemental properties of reflective traffic control materials. Janulis testified that NCI’s 3800-Series inks were developed as a two-component reactive ink system which rely upon a chemical reaction between the ink and the hardener to form a “cross linking” chemical bond. A single component, nonreactive ink, has polymers that are high in molecular weight with known durability. Alternatively, the multi-component, reactive system with its cross-links to a second component has resultant effect on the mechanical and physical properties of the two component ink where viscosity builds up in the ink, eventually rendering the ink no longer screen printable. Consequently that is why the NCI 3800 Series inks have a limited pot life after mixing of five to six hours. The fact that NCI calls the 3630 substance a hardener indicates it was placed in the ink system to cause cross-linking. The cross-linking enables the ink system to build viscosity. If you simply delete the use of the hardener, you have a new, different polymer system than when you use the ink and hardener. The primary detriment of a coating’s durability is the polymer matrix and how the pigment in that polymer matrix resists fading. When you change the polymer you no longer have the same system. By not cross-linking, not making the polymer hard, you are making the polymer softer. With a softer polymer, there will be an accelerated degradation mechanism on the surface of the ink and a faster loss of retro-reflectivity performance. As a result, the ink system’s ultimate durability is not known. It is not the same process ink that is warranted by NCI when used with the 3630 hardener. On June 30, 1998, DOT determined to post the bid award to 3M and declare NCI’s bid nonresponsive. There was no bias or prejudice on behalf of DOT against NCI.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is recommended that the Respondent, the Department of Transportation, enter a final order awarding the bid to Intervenor, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, Inc. DONE AND ENTERED this 19th day of November, 1998, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DON W. DAVIS Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 19th day of November, 1998. COPIES FURNISHED F. Alan Cummings, Esquire Alejandro Espino, Esquire Cummings, Thomas and Snyder, P.A. 1004 DeSoto Park Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Geoffrey Smith, Esquire Blank, Rigsby and Meenan, P.A. 204 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Brian McGrail, Esquire Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 James C. Myers, Agency Clerk Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 Pamela Leslie, General Counsel Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building 605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 58 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450
Findings Of Fact Golden Lariat Western Shop was issued permit number AJ 666-12 authorizing a sign on the north side of 1-10, .2 mile west of C-69A in Jackson County, Florida. This location is in an unzoned area, and the permit was granted because of the proximity of this site to a welding business supposedly operating in a wooden building located directly behind the sign. Prior to field approval of the location, a Department sign inspector requested and received copies of receipts for work done by the welding shop, and the sales tax registration for the business. Field approval was granted on July 11, 1983, and the permit application was approved on July 14, 1983. On November 11, 1983, a routine field inspection was conducted by the Department, and there was no commercial activity being conducted in the area where the building and the sign are located. Pictures of the site show a wooden building approximately 10 feet by 12 feet, without any windows, sitting on concrete blocks adjacent to the sign. This area is rural in nature with an agricultural setting. There are fences between the interstate highway and the building, and there is a pony shown in the photographs next to the fence. There is no road in this area, no evidence of any welding activity such as scraps of iron, etc., and the building is not open for business. Additional inspection visits were made by the Department on various dates, end at different times during the day, between December 6, 1983, and May 2, 1984. There was no commercial activity in the area during any of these visits. There was a sign on the building marked "Mike's Welding Shop", but on March 15, 1984, this sign had been replaced by a sign advertising Beach Sign Company, and displaying the telephone number at the residence of one of the owners of the Golden Lariat Western Shop. When this telephone number was called by the Department's Inspector on March 26, 27, 28, 29 and April 23, 1984, no one answered. Neither of these signs gave any directions to show how to get to the place of business. The wooden building is located in an area which is cut off by Interstate 10. In order to reach this building, according to the Department's Inspector, a customer would have to ". . . come off the C-69(A) onto the old C-69(A) and. . . go to the end of that where it dead-ends, turn right down a dirt lane, go past Mr. Branch's house into a field to gain access to the building." Part of C-69(A) overpasses I-10 in this area. On May 2, 1984, the Inspector observed a sign indicating "closed at job site - back 10 a.m." The inspector waited until 12 noon and no one showed up. He also noted it had rained the night before, but there were no tireprints or foot steps in the area where the building is located. The Department requires that an unzoned commercial or industrial area be an active site. The business activity must be operational, and observable, and readily recognized as an active business. As a result of the inspections made by the Department's representatives, a letter was sent advising the Respondent that the sign permit was being revoked because of lack of commercial activity in the area. The owner of Mike's Welding Shop, who is also one-half owner of the Golden Lariat Western Shop, entered into a five-year lease on October 27, 1982, for an area large enough for a one-face sign at the location in question, at an annual rental of $350. This lease does not cover the area where the welding shop is located, but there was a verbal understanding that the building housing the welding shop could be placed there without additional rental. The wooden building was constructed in three days, and placed on top of concrete blocks, but it is not fastened to the blocks and can be moved elsewhere. It has two electrical outlets, but no running water or sewage connection. The welding shop owner is not a certified welder, and he did not know the voltage or the amperage of the welding machine used in this business. He does not go to the shop every day and could not remember if he was present in the shop on the dates when the Department's Inspector found it closed. He contends that others use the shop and the equipment, and he sends them a bill. He also claims that the welder was broken from November 1 to the latter part of December, 1983. He admits that no sales tax return has been filed since December of 1983. This building was leased to Beach Sign Company in March, 1984, for rental of $10 per month. Prior to moving this business to Grand Ridge the owner conducted it out of his home in Panama City. Basically, this business consists of renting or selling portable signs on trailers. These signs are manufactured by a sign company, and rented or sold through a catalog-type of brochure with pictures. The customer orders from the manufacturers. The owner of this sign business contends that he also rebuilds signs, but as yet he has not actually finished rebuilding any sign. He claims to have applied for a sales tax number for this business, but he has not received it yet.
Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that sign permit number AJ 666-12 held by the Respondent, Golden Lariat Western Shop, authorizing a sign on the north side of I-10, .2 mile west of C-69A, facing east, in Jackson County, Florida, be revoked, and the subject sign removed, on a date five years after the date of the Final Order in this case. THIS RECOMMENDED ORDER entered this 20 day of July, 1984, in Tallahassee, Florida. WILLIAM B. THOMAS Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 20 day of July, 1984. COPIES FURNISHED: Vernon L. Whittier, Jr., Esquire Haydon Burns Bldg., M.S. 58 Tallahassee, Florida 32301-8064 Charles M. Wynn, Esquire P. O. Box 793 Marianna, Florida 32446 =================================================================
The Issue The issue in this case is whether the employer, Lindsay Newspapers, committed an unlawful employment practice within the meaning of Section 760.10(1)(a), Florida Statutes, by discharging or otherwise discriminating against Mr. Coyle because of Mr. Coyle's handicap.
Findings Of Fact Based on the testimony of the witnesses and the exhibits admitted into evidence, I make the following findings of fact: Findings regarding the operations and policies of Lindsay Newspapers Lindsay Newspapers is a newspaper publishing company. Until July of 1982 Lindsay Newspapers published the Sarasota Journal and the Sarasota Herald- Tribune. In July of 1982 publication of the Sarasota Journal was discontinued and approximately 45 employees of Lindsay Newspapers were laid off. (Testimony of McColley) Lindsay Newspapers has over 600 employees, including 70 or 80 composing room employees who work varying shifts. The newspaper presently published by Lindsay Newspapers is a daily paper with a circulation of 105,000 copies. (Testimony of McColley) The Lindsay Newspapers employees who work as compositors are required to do their work standing up. The company neither provides nor permits stools to be used by compositors. Compositors normally work a shift of seven and one- half hours, five times per week. There are shifts around the clock. The job duties of a compositor involve composing pages for the newspaper and working with hot and cold type. (Testimony of Coyle, testimony of McColley, Petitioner Exhibits 9 and 10). Over the years Lindsay Newspapers has hired several handicapped employees in various positions, including a deaf-mute and people with psychological problems. (Testimony of McColley) Lindsay Newspapers has a disability leave policy which is described as follows in the Employees' Handbook: LNI employees will be granted leave for temporary disability upon written recommendation of an approved physician. Return to work from such leaves will also be subject to written recommendations of an approved physician. Disability leave is without pay although accumulated paid sick leave time may be used. Disability Insurance payments may be applied for after the first 15 days of continuous disability if the employee has chosen to participate in Salary Continuation Insurance. The employee should discuss benefits with the Employee Benefits Office as soon as possible following approval of the leave request. Provisions of the Workers' Compensation laws apply to job-related disabilities. LNI will endeavor to find a suitable job for an employee upon his return from extended disability leave. Leave is also a policy of Lindsay Newspapers to limit the duration of leaves of absence due to temporary disability to a period of six months. An employee who is on a disability leave of absence may return to his position at any time prior to the expiration of the six month period. An employee who has been on a disability leave of absence is required to obtain a doctor's certificate that he is able to return to work before actually coming back to work. If the employee is not able to return to work at the end of six-month period of disability leave, the employee is terminated. Lindsay Newspapers has terminated employees other than Mr. Coyle who were unable to return to work after six months of disability leave of absence. (Testimony of McColley, Petitioner Exhibits 9 and 10, Respondent Exhibits 3 and 4). Findings regarding the nature and duration of Mr. Coyle's employment with Lindsay Newspapers Mr. Michael L. Coyle began his employment with Lindsay Newspapers in May of 1968 and was continuously employed by the same company until his termination on October 21, 1982. During the period of his employment with Lindsay Newspapers, Mr. Coyle was employed as a compositor. That job required him to to work a shift of seven and one-half hours, five days per week. All of the compositors were required to do their work standing up. Mr. Coyle did not have any physical difficulty performing the duties of his job until a few months before April of 1982. Findings regarding Mr. Coyle's physical condition and his request for disability leave of absence Several months prior to April of 1982, Mr. Coyle began to experience discomfort in his left knee, which discomfort was greater when he had to stand for long periods of time. The knee discomfort increased to the point where Mr. Coyle felt he should have it checked by a doctor. On April 7, 1982, Mr. Coyle was examined by his family doctor, Dr. Terry Polevoy. On that date Dr. Polevoy wrote a note stating that Mr. Coyle was able to return to work, but that Mr. Coyle's left knee needed rest and that Mr. Coyle should not do any "heavy work." Dr. Polevoy also suggested that Mr. Coyle arrange to be examined by a specialist. (Testimony of Coyle, Petitioner Exhibit 1) At the suggestion of his family doctor, Mr. Coyle went to see a Dr. Greenwood. Dr. Greenwood examined Mr. Coyle on April 15 and 20, 1982, and wrote a report which included the following: I have advised the patient to minimize to the extent possible his weight bearing activities both at work and at home. I have further advised him that [if] a prolonged continuation of his present occupation seems to keep his symptoms aggravated to a point where there appears to be no possibility of a spontaneous resolution that he consider seeking different employment. I do not consider him disabled but have recommended that he solicit from his employer the possibility of a more sedentary occupation. The patient has indicated to me that he intends to go on some type of salary continuation program which apparently is a type of disability benefit program. If such a period of medical (sic) can be provided the patient it undoubtedly will result in some improvement in his knee. Nevertheless, I do not consider the patient incapable of performing his previous occupation although it certainly would be detrimental to his progress and might prevent further improvement to the point of requiring that he seek a different type of job. (Testimony of Coyle, Petitioner Exhibit 9) As a result of the discomfort in his left knee, Mr. Coyle made a written request for a leave of absence for a period beginning April 21, 1982, and ending not later than October 21, 1982. As part of that request for leave of absence, Mr. Coyle signed a statement reading as follows: I understand that if I do not return to work on not later than 10-21-82 or request an extension of my leave at least one week before the expiration of my leave, the Company will consider that I have voluntarily quit my job. (Respondent Exhibit 6) Mr. Coyle's request for disability leave of absence was approved by Lindsay Newspapers on the basis of the doctor's report to the effect that even though Mr. Coyle was not disabled it might be beneficial for his knee condition for him to take some time off. Mr. Coyle also filed a claim for disability benefits under the Salary Continuation Plan. The insurance company that underwrote the Salary Continuation Plan initially refused to pay benefits to Mr. Coyle because of the doctor's opinion that Mr. Coyle was not disabled. Later on, after Mr. Coyle retained an attorney to represent him in the claim against the insurance company, the insurance company reversed its decision and paid Coyle disability benefits retroactive to April 7, 1982. These disability benefits are equal to 70 percent of Mr. Coyle's regular pay. (Testimony of Coyle, Testimony of McColley, Petitioner Exhibit 4, Respondent Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4) Mr. Coyle also filed a claim for unemployment compensation benefits shortly after his leave of absence began and in conjunction with that claim he was examined by Dr. Ronald I. Weitzner on May 5, 1982. Dr. Weitzner prepared a Certificate of Examining Physician based on his examination of Mr. Coyle. In that certificate Dr. Weitzner concluded that Mr. Coyle's ailment consisted of "early degenerative changes," that Mr. Coyle was not disabled, and that Mr. Coyle was able to resume his former occupation full time. Dr. Weitzner's ultimate conclusion was that Mr. Coyle had never been disabled from work. Dr. Weitzner did add the following comment at the end of his examination certificate: "Recommended to patient to ask employer for a position where he is not required to stand for long periods of time. . . so that the standing would not aggravate his symptoms." (Petitioner Exhibits 2 and 3) None of the doctors that Mr. Coyle saw during 1982 told him to quit his job. (Petitioner Exhibit 10) In April of 1982, prior to going on disability leave, Mr. Coyle discussed with Mr. McColley the possibility of making some changes in Mr. Coyle's employment situation in order to reduce the amount of time Mr. Coyle would have to spend standing on his feet on the job. Mr. Coyle made the following alternative requests. That he be permitted to bring a stool to work and do his work sitting down; That he be permitted to take rest breaks if his knee started to bother him and make up the lost time by working later (i.e., be placed on light duty); That he be transferred to another position in the newspaper which required less standing; or That he be retrained for another position in the newspaper which required less standing. All of Mr. Coyle's alternative requests were denied by Lindsay Newspapers. (Testimony of Mr. Coyle.) Mr. McColley explored the possibility of allowing Mr. Coyle to use a stool at work and do his work in a seated position. It was ultimately determined that the placement of stools in the composing room would be safety hazard to all employees working in that area due to the narrowness of the aisles between the desks. (Testimony of McColley) The period during which Mr. Coyle was on disability leave of absence was a very difficult time for Lindsay Newspapers to be making special accommodations for an employee. Lindsay Newspapers had been publishing two newspapers, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Sarasota Journal, but during July of 1982 it discontinued publication of the Sarasota Journal. As a result of discontinuing the Sarasota Journal, Lindsay Newspapers had to lay off about 45 employees for lack of work. Thus, there were lots of other employees that Lindsay Newspapers was also trying to help find work for. Mr. McColley tried to find another position for Mr. Coyle, but was unsuccessful in that effort. Part of Mr. McColley's problem in that regard was that he was also trying to relocate the 45 laid-off employees. Many of the laid-off employees had to find jobs with other employers. Mr. Coyle would have been transferred to a linotype operator position if Mr. Coyle had possessed the necessary typing skills. Also, Mr. Coyle would have been assigned to some form of light duty if Lindsay Newspapers had had any light duty tasks that needed to be performed. However, there were no light duty tasks that needed to be done at that time. (Testimony of Mr. McColley, Petitioner Exhibit 13) About a week before the end of Mr. Coyle's six-month disability leave, Mr. Coyle went to see Mr. McColley to discuss what alternatives were available to him. Mr. Coyle, requested an extension of his disability leave period. Mr. McColley told him the request was denied because it was against company policy to grant disability leave for more than six months. Mr. Coyle was then told that if he did not return to work by October 21, 1984, he would be terminated. Mr. Coyle was also told that, consistent with company policy, before he could return to work after a period of disability leave he would have to have a doctor's certificate stating that he was physically able to perform his job duties. To facilitate compliance with this requirement, Mr. McColley made an appointment for Mr. Coyle to be examined by a company doctor on October 21, 1982. Mr. Coyle believed that his knee condition had not gotten any better and he felt that it would be futile for him to return to work in a position that required him to stand for long periods. Mr. Coyle did not appear for his appointment with the company doctor. When the failure to appear was reported to Mr. McColley, Mr. McColley terminated Mr. Coyle's employment with Lindsay Newspapers. The written Termination Notice gave the following reason for termination: "Failed to return to work after being on leave of absence for maximum of six (6) months." (Testimony of Coyle, testimony of McColley, Respondent Exhibits 3, 4, and 8) At all times material to this case Mr. Coyle has been physically able to perform all of the duties of his job at Lindsay Newspapers. At no time material to this case has Mr. Coyle been physically disabled to the extent that he could not perform all of the duties of his job at Lindsay Newspapers. Although the condition in Mr. Coyle's knee causes him some physical discomfort, it is not a disabling condition. 2/ ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES In making the foregoing findings of fact I have incorporated a substantial majority of the proposed findings of fact which appear in the Petitioner's Post Hearing Memorandum under the caption "Facts." The findings I have made on the subject of Mr. Coyle's physical condition and the conclusions of his doctors differ from Mr. Coyle's proposed findings on these subjects because his proposed findings are based only on the evidence which favors his view of the case and fail to take into consideration the totality of the evidence on these matters. Similarly, my findings of fact on the subject of the employer's efforts at accommodating Mr. Coyle's requests differ from his proposed findings on this subject. Although the employer did not, in fact, make the accommodations requested by Mr. Coyle, the failure to do so comes closer to inability to do so rather than refusal to do so; the employer did try. Turning now to the applicable statutory provisions, Section 760.10(1)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer. (a) To discharge or to fail or refuse to hire any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status. (emphasis added) However, Section 760.10(8)(a), Florida Statutes, states that it is not an unlawful employment practice for an employer to: (a) Take or fail to take any action on the basis of religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or martial status in those certain instances in which religion, sex, national origin, age, absence of a particular handicap, or marital status is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary for the performance of the particular employment to which such action or inaction is related. (emphasis added) At the risk of stating the obvious, an individual seeking relief on the grounds that he was discharged or discriminated against because of his handicap must first prove the existence of the handicap. The Petitioner in this case has failed to do so. To the contrary, the competent substantial evidence in this case establishes that at all times material to this case Mr. Coyle was not disabled from the performance of his job duties. While some accommodation of Mr. Coyle's requests would have no doubt made Mr. Coyle more comfortable at work, the record evidence establishes that none of the requested accommodations were necessary for Mr. Coyle to be able to perform all of the customary duties of his position. While Mr. Coyle may have been unwilling to work under circumstances that caused him to feel discomfort in his knee, he was not incapacitated by that condition and three doctors agreed that there was no medical reason for him not to continue working at his regular job. The term "handicap" is not defined in Chapter 760, Florida Statutes. Due to the absence of a statutory definition, the Florida Commission on Human Relations has held, consistent with Gaulden v. Kirk, 47 So.2d 567 (Fla. 1950), that the term "handicap" should be given its ordinary meaning and that such meaning can be found in the dictionary. See: Hydu v. Arab Pest Control Company, FCHR Case No. 80-0592, FCHR Order No. 82-070 (Nov. 26, 1982); Fenesy v. GTE Data Services, Inc., III FALR 1764A (Aug. 3, 1981). Accord Brannon v. The Brevard County Sheriff's Department, IV FALR 604A (Feb. 23, 1982). Webster's Third New International Dictionary (unabridge 1976 edition), at p. 1027, contains the following definition of the term "handicap" insofar as the term refers to the condition or circumstances of a person: "a disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult; esp: a physical disability that limits the capacity to work." Mr. Coyle did not have, at any time material to this case, a handicap as defined in the dictionary. The doctors who examined him in 1982 did not find that his condition made achievement "unusually difficult," nor did they find that his condition limited his "capacity to work." To the contrary, all three doctors found him fit to continue his customary occupation and all concluded that he was not disabled. 3/ Inasmuch as Mr. Coyle did not have a handicap within the meaning of Chapter 760, Florida Statutes, the employer's actions complained of in this case cannot be found to have been motivated by any unlawful consideration. It is sufficient to note that the employer had a legitimate purpose for its long- standing policy of requiring a physical examination of employees who had been on disability leave of absence and it was reasonable for the employer to terminate Mr. Coyle when Mr. Coyle declined the physical examination arranged by the employer. With regard to the matter of any accommodation of Mr. Coyle's condition, inasmuch as Mr. Coyle was not handicapped, the employer was under no duty to make any accommodations for him. And in any event, the failure of the employer to accommodate Mr. Coyle's several alternative requests was reasonable under the circumstances.
Recommendation Based on all of the foregoing it is RECOMMENDED that the Florida Commission on Human Relations enter a Final Order dismissing the Complaint and the Petition For Relief filed by Mr. Coyle. DONE and ORDERED this 21st day of June, 1984, in Tallahassee, Florida. MICHAEL M. PARRISH Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 21st day of June, 1984.
Findings Of Fact Petitioners are each corporations organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida. McCain Sales of Florida, Inc. (hereinafter referred to ; McCain) has its principal place of business in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Annat, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Municipal) has its principal place of business in Naples, Florida. The Department of Offender Rehabilitation is an agency as defined by Section 120.52, Florida Statutes. Petitioners McCain and Municipal are engaged in the business of, among other things, manufacturing and marketing metal traffic control signs and related supplies and hardware. The gross sales for such equipment by McCain from July 1, 1976 to June 30, 1977, to Florida municipalities and counties amounted to $628,484.06. During the same period McCain's total gross sales amounted to approximately 1.3 million dollars. Approximately 52 percent of McCain's total gross sales during that period were directly attributable to sales of metal traffic control signs and related supplies and hardware to Florida municipalities and counties. From February 1, 1977, to January 31, 1978, Municipal's gross sales of metal traffic control signs and related supplies and hardware to Florida municipalities and counties amounted to $167,425.87. During the same time Municipal's total gross sales were $292,277.88. Approximately 57.2 percent of principal's total gross sales during the foregoing time period were from the sale of metal traffic control signs and related supplies and hardware to Florida municipalities and counties. The evidence presented indicates that in 1974 the Department of Offender Rehabilitation (hereinafter referred to as Department) began consideration of the establishment of a metal sign manufacturing program as a correctional work program pursuant to Section 945.06, Florida Statutes. By letter dated May 14, 1976, Mr. Louie L. Wainwright, Secretary of the Department, stated to the president of Petitioner McCain that the Department was then considering the adoption of a sign manufacturing program as one of its correctional work programs. See Petitioners' Exhibit 6. By letter dated May 24, 1977, to the president of Municipal, Mr. T. E. Bronson, then Chairman of the Prison Industry Commission created by Section 845.065, Florida Statute 1977, stated ... that it may very well be that the establishment of a sign industry is too far along to be stopped at this point." See Petitioners' Exhibit 4. The Chief of Industries Operations for the Department, Mr. William H. Kelley, testified that the Department decided to implement the metal sign manufacturing program sometime in 1976. He further testified that when the Prison Industry Commission met in June, 1977, the Department had already adopted the program and decided to proceed with it. On January 18, 1978, the Department mailed an Invitation to Bid to suppliers of metal sign shop equipment which invitation set forth more than nine pages of equipment to he used in the manufacture of metal signs. See Petitioner's Exhibit 1. While the precise date on which the Department of Offender Rehabilitation finally decided to engage in the metal sign manufacturing program is not shown by the evidence, such a final decision had apparently not been made by May 14, 1976, judging from the representations in Mr. Wainwright's letter to the president of McCain, Petitioners' Exhibit 6. It further appears that a final decision by the Department bad been made by May 24, 1977, as evidenced by the testimony of Mr. Kelley and by Petitioners' Exhibit 4, wherein the Chairman of the Prison;. Industry Commission stated to the president of Petitioner Municipal that the establishment of a sign industry may be too far along to be stopped. Certainly it may be inferred as a matter of fact that the Department of Offender Rehabilitation had made a decision to implement as one of its correctional work programs the metal sign manufacturing program described above when it mailed its Invitation to Bid for the acquisition of metal sign shop equipment on January 18, 1978. Thus, it is found that as a matter of fact at some time between May 14, 1976, and January 18, 1978, the Department of Offender Rehabilitation determined that it would adopt and put into effect an industrial production and marketing program pursuant to Section 945.06, Florida Statutes, involving the manufacture of metal signs and that decision was probably made in 1976. The metal sign manufacturing program referred to herein includes the construction of a manufacturing plant for the manufacture of municipal traffic control signs and other signs and accessories, which plant will include production processes such as metal cutting, vacuum application of sheeting, beat pressure application, silk screening, and other processes, resulting in the production of such signs, and accessories, which the Department intends to sell to counties, municipalities, and other governmental entities, in addition to the State of Florida and its agencies. The evidence establishes that the Department foresees gross sales of approximately $250,000 in its first year or two of operation. The Department did not conduct an economic impact study using professionally accepted methodology to determine the impact of the metal sign manufacturing program on private industry. The Department made a good faith effort to survey the market by sending a questionnaire to all municipalities and counties, as well as state agencies asking for a sample of their annual bid request or annual needs in the area of "... road signs, street signs, parking signs, and etc. made from steel, aluminum and/or plastic." See Petitioners' Exhibit 9. As of June 21, 1977 the Department had received replies from six state agencies or institutions and only 25 of 392 municipalities and 3 of 67 counties. See Petitioners' Exhibit 8. It has been stipulated by the parties and is 1-C0 accepted by the Hearing Officer that in its decision to adopt a metal sign manufacturing program in the implementation of Section 945.06, Florida Statutes, the Department did not comply with the procedural requirements set forth in Section 120.54, Florida Statutes for the adoption of a rule.