Buddy Davis v. Tennessee Board of Appeals

A preferred service employee appealed the termination of his employment. After failing

to obtain relief at the Step I and Step II reviews, the employee requested a Step III hearing

before the Tennessee Board of Appeals. The Board determined that the employee engaged

in conduct unbecoming of an employee in state service but termination was too harsh a

punishment. So it modified the employee’s discipline to a one-step demotion and

recommended that he be transferred. The employee sought judicial review of the Board’s

decision. The chancery court reversed, finding that the decision to demote the employee

was not supported by substantial and material evidence. We reverse the chancery court

and affirm the decision of the Board.