Wood

Raymond F. Wood (Wood) filed a petition for writ of mandate against the City Civil Service Commission of the City of Los Angeles (Commission) alleging that he had been employed in a civil service job as an ambulance driver for the fire department; that he had been discharged January 14, 1971, for alleged violation of Penal Code section 647, subdivision (a) (solicitation to engage in lewd conduct); that he had entered a plea of guilty to disturbing the peace; that he appealed to Commission to reverse such discharge; that Commission scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m., September 29, 1971; that Commission had a duty to conduct a full and fair hearing but did not do so inasmuch as his counsel was engaged in trial and requested a continuance; that Commission commenced the hearing at 10:30 a.m. in the absence of counsel, concluded the hearing at 11 a.m., and his counsel arrived at the hearing room at 11:40 a.m.; that by reason thereof he was not able to cross-examine witnesses against him or present evidence in his behalf, all of which violated his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; that thereafter, on November 9, 1971, he demanded that…