Alcenord v. Perdue Farms

• Court: Superior Court of Delaware
• Decided: October 29, 2018
• Docket: S18A-04-001 ESB
• Status: Published

Opinion

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE

STATE OF DELAWARE l The Circlc. Suitc 2

E. SCOTT BRADLEY JUDGE GEORGETOWN. DE 19947

October 29, 2018

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Ronald Alcenord o §§ 209 E.e"‘street °-"~ mg Blades,DE19973 '_},’ §§ n §§

RE: RonaldA/cenord v. Perdue Farms ny 513 C.A.No.slsA-04-001ESB 5 °<_§§

Dear Mr. Alcenord:

This is my decision on your appeal of the Unemployment lnsurance Appeal Board’s denial of your application for further review of the Claim Deputy’s denial of your claim for unemployment benefits You were employed by Perdue Farms as a laborer for approximately three years and four months until you were terminated on December 16, 2017. You were terminated for violating the company’s lockout/tagout policy. You filed a claim for unemployment benefits on December 24, 2017. The Claims Deputy determined that Perdue Farms met its burden of proving that you were discharged for “just cause” in a written decision dated .lanuary 18, 2018. You had 10

days to tile an appeal. You received the Claims Deputy’s written decision, but did

not file an appeal of it until February 6, 2018. The Appeals Referee ruled that the

Claims Deputy’s decision was final and binding on you because you failed to file a timely appeal. The Board affirmed the Appeals Referee’s decision, reasoning that the Claims Deputy’s determination that you were ineligible for unemployment benefits had become final and that there was no evidence of error on the part of the Department of Labor that might have delayed your appeal of that determination. You then filed an appeal with this Court. STANDARD OF REV|EW

The Supreme Court and this Court repeatedly have emphasized the limited appellate review of the factual findings of an administrative agency. The Court must determine whether the Board’s findings and conclusions are free from legal error and supported by substantial evidence in the record.l Substantial evidence means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.2 The appellate court does not weigh the evidence, determine questions ofcredibility, or make its own factual findings3 lt merely determines if`the evidence

is legally adequate to support the agency's factual findings." Absent an error of law,

' Ur)em/)lr)ymenl ln.s'w'tlm'e A])peal Board \»'. Marlin. 431 A.Zd 1265` 1266 (Del. 1981 ).

" ()cean])orr Ind. \‘. Wilmingmn Ste\'edores, 636 A.2d 892, 899 (Del. 1994); Barlisra v. (`hry.s~ler (`r)rp.. 517 A.Zd 295. 297 (Del.1986). app. di.s'm.. 515 A.Zd 397 (Del. 1986)(TABLE).

3 .]()hn.\'()n \', ('h)'y.\'ler (,`1)rp.. 213 A.2d 64. 66 (Del. 1965).

* 29 De/.C. § 10142

id

the Board's decision will not be disturbed where there is substantial evidence to support its conclusions5 DlSCUSSl()N

Unfortunately, the time for consideration ofyour argument by either the Board or this Court has passed. 19 Del. C. §33 l S(b) provides that the decision of`the Claims Deputy will become final “1 0 calender days after such Claims Deputy’s determination was mailed to the last known addresses of`the claimant and the last employer...” The decision of the Claims Deputy was issued on January 18, 2018. Theref`ore, the written decision became final on January 28, 2018. You did not file an appeal until February 6, 2018, or until nine days after the deadline to do so had passed. The 10- day period for filing an appeal is an express statutory condition of`jurisdiction that is both mandatory and dispositive6 The Claims Deputy’s finding that you were ineligible f`or unemployment benefits is final and binding on you because you did not file a timely appeal of it.7 ‘“Where the lateness ofthe appeal is due to the claimant`s

unintentional or accidental actions, and not due to an administrative error, the Claims

5 [)a//ac'hie.s'a v. (]cnera/ M()l()r.\' (`()rp<. 140 A.2d 137(1)0|. Super. 1<)58).

(’ Scc lively tx ])m‘cr Wipe,\' ( '(). and l.»’nem})[()ymcn! ln.s'w‘cmc'c' /1])/)@¢1/ B()ard. 2003 Wl. 21213415 (Del. Super. Ct. l\/lay l(). 2003) and Wi`lt\‘r)n v. }"ram‘i.s'ccm ('urc (`L'H/w‘. 2006 Wli 1134779 (Del. Super. (.`t. April 18. 2006).

710 De/.(`A §3318(b).

Deputy’s determination will become final and § 33 1 8(b) will jurisdictionally bar the

l.”8 You acknowledged that you received the Claims

claim from further appea Deputy’s decision in the mail in a timely manner. You acknowledged that you read the decision of the Claims Deputy. You stated that you did not see the part of the decision indicating the time frame for an appeal. Your delay in filing the appeal was due solely to your inaction. Thus. the Board`s finding that you did not file a timely appeal of the Claims Deputy’s decision on eligibility is in accordance with the applicable law and supported by substantial evidence in the record. CONCLUSION The Unemployment lnsurance Appeal Board’s decision is AFFlRMED. lT IS SO ORDERED. Very truly yours, ///M E. Scott Bradley

ESB:tll

cc: Prothonotary’s Office Counsel of Record

x Ha)'lmcm \'. Unemployment lnsuranc'e Appeal Board. 2004 WL 772067. at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. April 5. 2004).