Coomes v. State Personnel Board

Appellant Coomes, a civil service psychiatric technician at Camarillo State Hospital, became involved in a struggle with a patient named Osborne. Two other psychiatric technicians, Havener and Miles, were also participants. All three employees were dismissed. The dismissal notices alleged that the respective employees “did physically beat and did assist in physically beating” Osborne. The three employees appealed to the State Personnel Board and hearings were had before the board’s hearing officer.

After taking evidence the Personnel Board adopted a decision in the Coomes case finding that…