Pilar Morin and Chase Booth represented a California community college district in a faculty termination matter involving a tenured department chair. Following multiple student and employee complaints, the District placed the faculty member on paid administrative leave and retained an independent investigator. The investigation substantiated serious misconduct, including allegations of alcohol use while teaching, misuse of district resources, and unsafe behavior toward a student during class.
The record also reflected a sustained decline in the faculty member’s performance and professionalism, repeated failures to meet curriculum and administrative deadlines, conduct implicating integrity and compliance concerns, and dishonesty during the investigation.
After the employee’s Skelly meeting, LCW secured the faculty member’s resignation along with a full waiver of claims. This outcome underscores the importance of consistently and promptly addressing concerns, conducting a timely and thorough investigation, and preparing a well-documented statement of charges.