Georgia Department of Human Resources v. Odom

SMITH, Chief Judge.

This appeal arises out of the trial court’s reversal of a ruling entered by the State Personnel Board (the board) with regard to the dismissal of an employee of Southwestern State Hospital (the hospital). Because we conclude that the trial court erroneously substituted its judgment for that of the board, we reverse.

Gail Odom was employed as a health service technician by the hospital, a facility for psychiatric patients. Following an altercation with a patient, the Department of Human Resources (DHR) notified Odom that she would be dismissed. Odom appealed this decision,…