Horner v. Department of Mental Health

OPINION BY COMPTON, Senior Justice.

This is an employment dispute involving an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the agency's employees. The decision of the appeal turns upon interpretation of the clear terms of the applicable statute.

In 2001, appellant Walter H. Horner, a physician, worked as an internist on the staff of Western State Hospital for appellee Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (the Department). On May 15, 2001, the Hospital's Medical Director issued the employee two notices for so-called "Group II" offenses. He was…