Zeigler v. Palmer

This case originated in the court of common pleas of Richland county by the plaintiff, Zeigler, filing his petition and seeking an injunction, against B. Frank Palmer, restraining him from interfering with his duties- and labors as superintendent of the county infirmary, alleging that said B. Frank Palmer was in possession of, and remaining in, said infirmary building, and that he obstructed the plaintiff in his work and duty and still threatens to obstruct him in the discharge of his duties in the future. A- temporary injunction was granted and the ease was heard, and on May 8, a perpetual injunction was granted.in the case. The defendant, B. Frank Palmer, appeared and by consent of parties the case was heard in this court on the records in the contempt proceedings.

It is urged upon our attention that the defendant is and was the incumbent of the superintendency of the infirmary building of the infirmary of Richland county, Ohio, and under Rev. Stat. 962 (Lan, 2303), no proceeding having been commenced against him, that he was entitled to remain and be in possession of the buildings and exercise the duties and enjoy the emoluments of the office of superintendent of the county infirmary; that notwithstanding the infirpiary directors some time prior to April 1, had duly elected the plaintiff, O. J. Zeigler, to that position, and had notified the defendant that his term would expire on April 1, he pretended to remain in said building and exercise said dn- ‘ ties.

*294It is now urged in behalf of the defendant that he was an officer, .and the action should have been one of quo warranto. It is further urged in his favor that as he was an officer he could not be removed as ..smell superintendent under the statutes unless charges were preferred .and cause shown for such removal.

An examination of the statutes of Ohio and the history of the legislation in respect to superintendeney of infirmaries leads a majority , of this court to the conclusion that he was not an officer, but that he was .simply an agent of the infirmary directors, who are a body corporate to contract and be contracted with; that an appointment or designation •of a superintendent is not efficacious to accomplish anything either as creating an employment or designating an office, but under the statutes •the infirmary directors must agree with a proposed incumbent as to the •terms of his employment, and he must accept the proposal so made. Before the amendment to the statutes as suggested by counsel he was removable at pleasure, so that any contract that the infirmary directors in their corporate capacity might make with any proposed superintendent would have written in before this amendment that he was removable at the pleasure of the infirmary directors. In the opinion of ■the majority of the court, the amendment simply changed the statute so that any contract of employment that might hereafter be made for any definite term there would be written into said contract as one of its terms the law of the state that he should not be removed during said term of employment without cause, and the majority of the court are «of the opinion that he having accepted employment, and by the terms ■of his employment the contract ceased and determined on April 1, and he had no longer any right to be and remain on said premises, or in any wise to interfere or obstruct the plaintiff who was then the incumbent and superintendent of the Richland county infirmary.

That judgment of the court will be, that the defendant be perpetually enjoined fropi interfering with the plaintiff in the enjoyment and duties of his office as superintendent, as prayed for.

Exceptions will be noted in favor of the defendant, twenty days •for finding of facts. Motion for new trial will be overruled. Statutory lime for bill of exceptions.

The ease of B. Frank Palmer v. O. J. Zeigler, No. 866, presents the «ame questions and by consent of counsel was heard on the records as above stated. A majority of the court find against the contention ®£ the plaintiff for the reasons above stated. His petition is dismissed *295.at Ms costs. Motion for new trial overruled and exceptions. Twenty days for findings of fact, and statutory time for bill of exceptions.

dissenting.

By act of tbe legislature passed April 12, 1876 (73 O. L. 235), it is provided that the board of directors (infirmary) shall appoint a •superintendent who shall reside in some apartment of the infirmary or other building contiguous thereto, and shall receive such compensation for his services as the board shall fix; he shall perform such duties as the board shall impose upon him and be governed in all respects by the rules and regulations of the board, and may be removed by them at pleasure. This legislation to my mind does not look to the entering into of a contract by the infirmary directors and superintendent but -simply provides that they shall have the power to appoint him and remove him at pleasure.

In April 26, 1898 (93 O. L. 262; Eev. Stat. 962; Lan. 2303), this ■section was amended by the general assembly of Ohio, and it now reads •as follows:

• “The directors shall appoint a superintendent, who shall reside in some apartment of the infirmary or other building contiguous thereto, and shall receive such comp,ensation for his service as they determine. He shall perform such duties as they may impose upon him, and may be governed in all respects by their rules and regulations, and he shall not be removed by them except for good and sufficient cause. ’ ’

The language of this statute precludes the idea of any fixed term. “The board has the absolute power to fix compensation, rules and regulations. It has no power to remove except for good and sufficient cause. If it be permitted infirmary directors to enter into a contract with the superintendent for a term, the provisions of this section may be absolutely and entirely avoided, and the change in legislation might as well not have been enacted.

The reasons moving the legislature to amend this section are not important. It is clearly intended to serve some purpose, and that purpose undoubtedly is in the line of better service for all public eleemosynary institutions, and if a superintendent is to be constantly menaced by the power of the board of infirmary directors to remove him, he is not the free agent that he ought to be in the management of that important public charity. • But I have no desire to go into speculations as to the reasons for the change; the change was made and it now reads that *296the superintendent shall not be removed except for good and sufficient cause.

This is not the oniy legislation of this character in Ohio; there has been a great deal of a similar character. The new municipal code, 96 O. L. 75, Sec. 167 (Lan. 3156; B. 1536-703), provides that no officer or employe in the department of public safety shall be removed or discharged except for cause, and this does not apply merely' to the officers thereafter appointed, but the last paragraph of the same-section provides that no officer, secretary, sergeant, patrolman, fireman or other employe serving in the police or fire departments of any city in the state at the time this act goes into effect, shall be removed or reduced in rank or pay except in accordance with the provisions of this, act.

In the ease of State v. Sullivan, 58 Ohio St. 504 [51 N. E. Rep. 48; 65 Am. St. Rep. 781], the court in dealing with a statute of this, character, says:

“The power of removal from office, conferred upon a mayor, in-these words: ‘For neglect of duty or misconduct in office, the mayor of such city may remove any member of said board,’ is a special authority, and must be strictly construed. Such power cannot be exercised arbitrarily, but only upon complaint, and after hearing had in which the officer is afforded opportunity to refute the case made-against him.”

The evidence in these cases shows that no attempt was ever made to remove this superintendent for cause. The appointment was made upon the theory that his term of office had expired.

After the amendment of this Rev. Stat. 962 (Lan. 2303) in 1898 and some time in 1899, the board of directors of this county did appoint B. Frank Palmer superintendent of the county infirmary. It is presumed that such appointment was made under favor and by authority of this section. It is true that there is an attempt to limit this appointment to a term of one year. Under the appointment he-qualified, gave bond and took the oath of office. From time to time thereafter the evidence discloses that there was an attempt to make a further appointment of the same individual as superintendent of the-county infirmary, and such a resolution was entered upon the record but the evidence is uncontradicted that he paid no attention whatever’ to these appointments, and never qualified thereunder or furnished any new bond, and in no manner or form acquiesced therein. I am of the opinion that when he was appointed after the amendment of this. *297section, he was appointed until he should be removed by said board of’ directors for good and sufficient cause.

For these reasons I dissent from the opinion of the majority of the-Court in these two cases.