Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation v. Civil Service Commission

Appellant John A. Castaneda is employed as a golf course manager by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Appellant was one of four county golf course managers applying for promotion to the position of assistant golf director in the Department of Parks and Recreation. Another of the four candidates was selected. Appellant requested and was granted a hearing before the Civil Service Commission of the County of Los Angeles on his allegation that the department unlawfully discriminated against him on account of his Mexican-American ancestry.

A hearing officer made findings in appellant’s favor, and the civil service commission adopted the hearing officer’s findings. The commission ordered that appellant be appointed to the next available vacancy in the position of assistant golf director.

The department of parks and recreation petitioned the superior court for a writ of mandate to set aside the commission’s decision on the ground there was no substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination. The superior court issued the writ, finding alternatively under either Code of Civil Procedure sections 1094.5 or 1085 that there was no substantial evidence to…