Douglas M. Head, Atty. Kyle, Sol. Devney, James M. Kelley, Sp. Paul, for respondent. This is an appeal from an order of the Ramsey County District Court denying a motion to reverse a determination of the State Civil Service Board sustaining the discharge of petitioner and to reinstate petitioner to her permanent position with back pay. On July 7, , petitioner, Ruth A. Gibson, a clerk-typist in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension who had attained civil service status, was discharged from her employment pursuant to a letter signed by H.
Higgins, superintendent of the bureau. The letter set forth three allegations which, according to the record, served as reasons for Mrs. Gibson's discharge:. The record thus discloses that Mrs. Gibson was discharged by reason of "insubordination to [her] supervisors, a complete lack of courtesy and consideration for other employees, and complete willingness to use gossip and slander against other employees, even though without foundation.
After her discharge from the bureau, petitioner appealed to the Civil Service Board, which after a hearing sustained the dismissal on November 9, On April 23, , the district court denied her petition, and on May 21, , she appealed to this court.
The issue before us is whether there was substantial evidence to support the Civil Service Board's findings and its conclusion that there was "just cause" for the removal of Mrs. Gibson from her job pursuant to Minn. The term "just cause" was discussed in State ex rel. Hart v. Common Council, 53 Minn. It seems clear that under the foregoing definition the reason for dismissal must relate to the manner in which the employee performs his or her functions.
See, Hagen v. State Civil Service Board, Minn. The record in the instant case would indicate that the bureau did not contend Mrs. Gibson was incompetent in the performance of her duties as a clerk-typist. The Civil Service Board found, however, two of the charges made constituted reasonable grounds for Mrs.
