Willis

Percy Willis, a hospital services attendant at Valley Medical Center (VMC), a facility of Santa Clara County, was discharged from his employment on September 15, 1983. He appealed to the county’s personnel board (the Board), which (1) found that Willis had “failed to discharge his duties in a responsible manner, failed to maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with patients and employees and engaged in gross misconduct”; but nevertheless (2) concluded “that the evidence does not support termination,” and ordered that “Percy Willis be reinstated without back pay.”

Thereafter the County and VMC (hereinafter collectively designated as the County) applied for a writ of administrative mandamus, in accord with the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, to set aside the Board’s reinstatement of Willis. After reviewing the administrative record, the superior court concluded “that the Personnel Board has abused its discretion by reinstating Respondent Percy Willis,” and issued a peremptory writ of mandate directing the Board “to vacate and set aside its decision reinstating Percy Willis and to uphold the termination of Percy Willis by Santa…