60 So. 2d 74 | La. | 1952
The widow and heirs of Henry Dominic Barcena are suing the City of New Orleans to recover salary allegedly due the decedent as an employee in the City Civil Service System from May 16, 1946 until April 24, 1947, the date of his death. The claim
After joinder of issue by answer of the City, in which all liability was denied, the case was- heard on a stipulation of facts, supplemented by documentary proof, and resulted in judgment rejecting plaintiff’s demand in its entirety. Wherefore the appeal.
Barcena was employed by the City of New Orleans from 1937 until May 17, 1946, as Clerk of the Recorder’s Court. On that date, he was discharged by the Mayor for the assigned reason that his employment was not subject to the City Civil ■Service law, LSA-R.S. 33:2391 to 33:2433 (formerly Act 171 of 1940, as amended). He appealed to the City Civil Service Commission and, on July 1, 1946, that body decided that the position of Clerk of the Recorder’s Court was classified under civil service and that Barcena was discharged for political reasons. Accordingly, it was ordered that he be reinstated in his employment and that he “be reimbursed for such loss of pay as he suffered 'because of said dismissal”.
Following this ruling the Mayor, on July 12, 1946, notified Barcena by letter that he was dismissed from his position for acts prejudicial to the Civil Service System. And, on August 21st, the dismissal of July 12th was supplemented by another letter setting forth various acts of commission and omission upon which the discharge was predicated. Barcena again appealed to the Civil Service Commission where, after a protracted hearing, it was found that the Mayor had just and sufficient cause for. dismissing him from the service of the City.
The trial judge, in holding that plaintiffs were not entitled to recover any portion of the salary claimed by them, was of the opinion that, since Barcena was discharged for causes originating prior to May 16, 1946, nothing was due him after that date.
We are unable to subscribe to this view. Barcena was not discharged for cause on May 16, 1946 and his removal from his position was subsequently set aside by the Civil Service Commission, which re
On the other hand, it is clear that the City is not liable for the penalties plaintiffs attempt to invoke under Act 138 of 1936. That statute, which imposes upon persons, firms or corporations the duty of paying their discharged employees within 24 hours after dismissal, does not apply to those engaged in public service.
The term “corporations”, appearing in the statute, is used in its ordinary sense; it means private corporations and was not intended to include municipalities. Words & Phrases, Vol. 9, pages 681, 712 et seq.
The judgment appealed from is reversed and it is now ordered that there be judgment in favor of plaintiffs and against the City of New Orleans for the full sum of $475, with legal interest thereon from judicial demand until paid and for such costs as are allowed by law.