552 P.2d 42 | Nev. | 1976
OPINION
By the Court,
This is an appeal from a judgment of the district court that affirmed a decision of the Nevada Personnel Advisory Commission discharging the appellant, Miguel B. Munoz, from public employment.
1. Munoz was employed by the Nevada State Highway Department. His employment commenced on March 21, 1960. He was terminated on November 14, 1973. On the afternoon of the latter date, and before departing on his annual leave, Munoz removed without permission from Highway’s District I Right of Way Office in Las Vegas certain irreplaceable original Highway master files containing vital information. Munoz’s immediate supervisor, who was present, warned him not to remove the files, and he offered to permit Munoz to make copies for his personal use. Munoz was aware of Highway’s regulation prohibiting the removal of original files, as he had •violated the rule on a previous occasiotí ándihád been warned not to do so again. Nevertheless, Munoz took the files to his
2. Munoz claims that his discharge was not warranted, because there was insufficient evidence presented to support the specifications of his discharge and even if so supported the acts complained of did not constitute grounds for discharge. Munoz also asserts that at the time in question he was suffering from a condition of extreme anxiety-depression, which may have caused him to act irrationally, and that this factor should be considered in mitigation of his conduct.
3. NRS 284.385 provides in part that an appointing authority may dismiss or demote any permanent classified employee when he considers that the good of the public service will be served thereby.
As to Munoz’s claim that there is insufficient evidence in the record to prove the acts complained of and that even if supportable such acts do not warrant his discharge, we must disagree.
A reading of the record manifestly supports the charges constituting the predicate fpr Munoz’s discharge. They were serious acts on Munoz’s part. The record shows that die removed files, if lost, could not be replaced, as the computations contained therein could never again be precisely duplicated. While Munoz’s condition may have been one of anxiety-depression, there is nothing in the record to suggest he was either insane or mentally incompetent. As Judge J. Charles Thompson ruled in sustaining the order of dismissal:
“. . . [T]he Hearing Officer of the Nevada State Personnel Advisory Commission fully considered the matter in all respects and his decision is supported by substantial evidence; and
“. . . respondents [Highway and Personnel Advisory Commission] acted within its [sic] statutory authority and justifiably dismissed petitioner [Munoz] ...”
Finally, Munoz asserts in his brief on appeal that Nevada’s statutory scheme for dismissal of permanent classified personnel. is unconstitutional. As the constitutionality of the statutes challenged was not raised prior to this appeal and was not considered by the district court, the issue may not be considered on appeal. Tennessee v. Dunlap, 44 U.S.L.W. 4811 (U.S. June 10, 1976). We therefore affirm.
The grounds for Munoz’s termination were detailed in his discharge as follows: '.
1 Rule B-3 — for removal of Right of Way General Master Files in District I,
“Rule B-17 — Willful disregard of State-wide departmental or office regulations.
“Rule D-1 — Refusal to comply with a reasonable order or instruction from a Supervisor within the employees [sic] capabilities without undue- risk,
“Rule F-1 — Using or unauthorizing [sic] the use of State owned or leased property for.other than official use.” . ,
NRS 284.385:
“1. An appointing authority may:
“(a) Dismiss or demote any permanent classified employee when he considers that the good of the public service will be served thereby.
“(b) Suspend without pay, for disciplinary purposes, a permanent employee for a period not to exceed 30 days.
“2. In case of a dismissal or suspension, the chief [of the personnel division of the department of administration] shall be furnished with a statement in 'writing specifically setting forth' the reasons for such dismissal or suspension. A copy of the statement shall be furnished to the elnployee.
“3. No employee in the classified service shall be dismissed for religious or racial reasons.”
NRS- 284.155, subsection 1:
“1. The chief shall prescribe a code of rules and regulations for the classified service, which, upon approval of the commission after public notice and opportunity for public hearing, shall have the force and effect of law.”