 |
 |
to fill out a simple form to connect to Employee Leasing Services in your area.
|
|
|
|
|
Mittman v. Bahls6/4/2002
. Plaintiff-appellant, Paula Mittman, appeals from the June 5, 2001 judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas directing a verdict in favor of defendants-appellees, Stephen Bahls, Dean of the Capital University Law School, and Capital University, on her claims of age discrimination and retaliation. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
. Appellant, the director of the Capital University Law School Certified Legal Assistant Program, was a pioneer in the field of paralegal education. She began with the program in 1974, serving as the coordinator under the direction of a prominent local attorney. She assumed the role of director in 1982. Appellant was a strong and assertive advocate for the program which was well regarded by the directors of other paralegal programs around the nation, and approved by the American Bar Association. During her 24 year tenure, appellant saw many deans come and go from the law school.
. Appellant, along with her assistant, Linda Gorsuch, had responsibility for managing all aspects of the program including recruiting students and faculty, registration, dealing with the faculty, counseling students, and placement.
. By 1994, when Dean Bahls arrived at Capital University Law School, the program, although still strong, was suffering from declining enrollment. Enrollment went from approximately 35-37 students in the 1980s to around 25 students in the early to mid-nineties, to 20 students in the August 1998 class. Dean Bahls was particularly concerned about the declining enrollment and a lack of marketing materials for the program. As far back as May 1995, Dean Bahls had expressed frustration about recruiting materials that he wanted appellant to develop.
. In February 1998, appellant sensed a "coolness" from the dean, that prompted her to seek out his criticism. (Tr. 529.) On April 6, 1998, appellant and Dean Bahls met to discuss appellant's "self-evaluation." Appellant testified that Dean Bahls "had no criticism, and that the program was doing beautifully." (Tr. 219.) Nevertheless, appellant admitted that "he did share other things." Id.
. Among the other things Dean Bahls discussed with appellant, were appellant's failure to complete the creation of marketing materials, her failure to increase enrollment, the need to attend career fairs, the need to explore the creation of a satellite program at the Dayton campus, the need to examine the establishment of a weekend program, and the need to use the board of advisors more effectively. Dean Bahls also expressed concern about remarks appellant had made at a graduation banquet.
. Prior to the April 6, 1998 meeting, appellant had initiated efforts to receive retirement benefits that she had been denied from her early years with Capital University. Dean Bahls was aware of appellant's efforts. Appellant also had a conversation prior to April 6 with Vice President Vernon Truesdale concerning financial projections for appellant's retirement account. Also before the April meeting, appellant had told Dean Bahls that he should learn as much as he could about the program because appellant might get hit by a truck or might retire. During the April 6, 1998 meeting, Dean Bahls asked appellant when she planned to retire. He also told her that he hoped she would stay for a very long time. Appellant did not ascribe any discriminatory animus to the question at the time.
. Appellant brought to the meeting a copy of a report she had sent to the American Bar Association without the dean's prior approval. Appellant did not believe that she needed to have the dean's approval prior to sending in the report. Her motive
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ohio Employee Leasing Services
Employee Leasing Services
|
| |
to fill out a simple form to connect to Employee Leasing Services in your area.
|
|