Maurice Jackson, CSC Docket No. 2019-2656

BackgroundThe appeal of Maurice Jackson, County Correction Officer, Essex County, Department of Public Safety and Corrections, 10 working day suspension, on charges, was heard by Administrative Law Judge Jude-Anthony Tiscornia, who rendered his initial decision on November 25, 2019. No exceptions were filed.

AnalysisHaving considered the record and the Administrative Law Judge’s initial decision, and having made an independent evaluation of the record, the Civil Service Commission, at its meeting on December 18, 2019, accepted and adopted the Findings of Fact and Conclusion as contained in the attached Administrative Law Judge’s initial decision to modify the 10 working day suspension to a two working day suspension.

Since the penalty has been modified, the appellant is entitled to eight days of back pay, benefits, and seniority, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10. However, the appellant is not entitled to counsel fees. Pursuant to N.d.A.C. 4A:2-2.12(a), the award of counsel fees is appropriate only where an employee has prevailed on all or substantially all of the primary issues in an appeal of a major disciplinary action. The primary issue in any disciplinary appeal is the merits of the charges, not whether the penalty imposed was appropriate. See Johnny Walcott v. City of Plainfield, 282 N.J. Super. 121, 128 (App. Div. 1995); James L. Smith v. Department of Personnel, Docket No. A-1489-02T2 (App. Div. March 18, 2004); In the Matter of Robert Dean (MSB, decided January 12, 1993); In the Matter of Ralph Cozzino (MSB, decided September 21, 1989). In the case at hand, although the penalty was modified by the Commission, charges were sustained. Thus, the appellant has not prevailed on all or substantially all of the primary issues of the appeal. Consequently, as the appellant has failed to meet the standard set forth at N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.12(a), counsel fees must be denied.

ORDER

The Civil Service Commission finds that the action of the appointing authority in disciplining the appellant was justified. The Commission therefore modifies the 10 working day suspension to a two working day suspension. The Commission further orders that appellant be granted eight days of back pay, benefits, and seniority. The amount of back pay awarded is to be reduced and mitigated to the extent of any income earned by the appellant during this period. Proof of income earned shall be submitted by or on behalf of the appellant to the appointing authority within 30 days of issuance of this decision.

Counsel fees are denied pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.12.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.