Dallas County Civil Service Commission v. Warren

The Dallas County Civil Service Commission ("Commission") and Dallas County ("County") appeal a judgment in favor of Betty Jean Warren ("Warren") in an appeal from the Commissions decision upholding the termination of Warrens employment by the County. At the hearing before the Commission, the burden of proof was erroneously imposed on Warren, then, on appeal to the trial court, the trial court erroneously submitted the substantial evidence issue to the jury. Given this combination of errors, we reverse the trial courts judgment and remand the cause to the trial court with instructions to: (1) award Warren only those attorneys fees arising from her due process claim; and (2) remand the cause to the Commission for another hearing with instructions to apply the proper burden of proof.