Castagna v. City of Seal Beach
The City of Seal Beach (the City) fired Police Officer Charles Castagna, based on its finding that Castagna had lied under oath in court, and had therefore rendered himself incapable of performing his duties by compromising his ability to testify in court as a material witness. The Citys Civil Service Board (the Board) sustained the charges forming the basis of Castagnas termination. The Board found the City had demonstrated, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a signature on a contract was a forgery. (Castagna claimed he had been present when the contract was signed, and the signature was authentic.) The trial court granted Castagnas petition for a writ of administrative mandamus, and the City appeals from the trial courts judgment. The court correctly afforded a strong presumption of correctness to the Boards findings, and placed on Castagna the burden of proving those findings were contrary to the weight of the evidence. Then, in exercising its independent judgment, the court found the Boards forgery finding was not supported by the weight of the evidence. The court therefore concluded the Boards finding that Castagna had rendered himself incapable of performing his duties was also contrary to the weight of the evidence, and reversed the Boards affirmance of the termination of Castagnas employment. The trial courts findings were supported by substantial evidence. Court therefore affirm.
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