{¶ 1} This is an original action for a writ of mandamus to compel respondents, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, its director, and the warden of the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, to reinstate a classified state employee to his previous classified position in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Sections 4301-4334, Title 38, U.S.Code (“USERRA”). We dismiss this case because relator has or had an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law to challenge his alleged reduction in pay and demotion by way of a civil-service appeal.
{¶ 2} Relator, Harry C. Turner III, filed this action alleging that respondents violated USERRA by failing to reinstate him to his previous classified position as Administrative Assistant 2 to the Business Administrator in the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown when he returned to work from active duty with the United States Navy in Iceland. Turner alleged that respondents “forced upon” him “a reduction in position” that is “two pay ranges below” the pay range for his previous classified civil-service position. He requests a writ of mandamus to compel his reinstatement to the administrative-assistant position.
{¶ 3} Respondents filed a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failurе to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. They contend that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction оver Turner’s claim and that the presence of this adequate remedy bars this mandamus action. Turner filed a memorandum in opposition in which he asserts that respondents’ “act of moving Relator, from a position with a working title of Administrative Assistant 2 to the Business Administrator to a position of a working title of Storekeeper Supervisor, effective October 16, 2006, сonstitutes a reduction in position.”
{¶ 5} We grant respondents’ motion and dismiss the cause. Dismissal under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is appropriate if, after all factual allegations are presumed true and all reasonable inferences are made in Turner’s favor, it appears beyond doubt that he could prove no set of facts warranting the requested extraordinary relief in mandamus. See State ex rel Rashada v. Pianka,
{¶ 6} Turner has an adequate remedy by way of a civil-service appeal to sеek reinstatement for the alleged improper reduction in pay and demotion effected by respondents. USERRA prohibits discrimination or acts of reprisal against an employee due to his or her military obligations. See, generаlly, Annotation, Construction and Application of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (38 U.S.C.A. §§ 4301-4333) (2002), 175 A.L.R.Fed. 437, Section 2[a]; see, also, Section 4301, Title 38, U.S.Code. When a person brings an action under USERRA against a state employer, “thе action may be brought in a State court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of the State.” (Emphasis added.) Section 4323(b)(2), Title 38, U.S.Code; see, аlso, Larkins v. Dept. of Mental Health & Mental Retardation (Ala.2001),
{¶ 7} The General Assembly has enacted a statute and authorized the adoption of rules by the Director of Administrativе Services to implement USERRA. See R.C. 124.29 (“Any person who, at the time of holding an office or position in the public service, enters the uniformed services, as defined in section 5903.01 of the Revised Code, is entitled to reinstatement in accordance with” USERRA); Ohio Adm.Code 123:1-34-05 (providing, inter alia, for uniformed-service leave without pay and for reinstatement to a position of equivalent status, seniority, and pay upon return from a period of duty of more than 90 days).
{¶ 8} As noted previously, Turner сontends that respondents’ failure to reinstate him to his previous classified service position upon his return from his leave of absence constituted a demotion and a reduction in pay. Turner has or had a remedy by way of civil-service appeal to the State Personnel Board of Review from any notice of or imposition of a demоtion or a reduction in pay and subsequently from any adverse board decision to the common pleas court. R.C. 124.34; Ohiо Adm.Code 124-1-03(E) (providing a 90-day time limit to appeal to the board from a notice of or an imposition of an allеged demotion or a reduction in pay, but specifying that the time limit “may be extended within the discretion of the board”).
{¶ 9} This administrative appeal provides an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. State ex rel. Chuvalas v. Tompkins (1998),
{¶ 10} Notwithstanding Turner’s assertion that his invocation of the board’s or the common pleas court’s jurisdiction in an administrative appeal would not provide an adequate remedy because it “would entail a year оr more of litigation,” “[w]here a constitutional process of appeal has been legislatively provided, the sole fact that pursuing such process would encompass more delay and inconvenience than seeking a writ of mandamus is insufficient to prevent the process from constituting a plain and adequate remedy in the ordinary cоurse of the law.” State ex rel. Willis v. Sheboy (1983),
{¶ 11} Therefore, based on the foregoing, we grant respondents’ motion and dismiss the cause.
Cause dismissed.