Alexander v. Department of Employment Security

688 P.2d 516, 38 Wash. App. 609
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedSeptember 5, 1984
Docket5701-8-II
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 688 P.2d 516 (Alexander v. Department of Employment Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alexander v. Department of Employment Security, 688 P.2d 516, 38 Wash. App. 609 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

Petrich, C.J.

Julene Alexander and other individuals (claimants) who were employed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) at either the Washington State School for the Deaf or the Washington State School for the Blind appeal from the trial court's affirmance of the Department of Employment Security Com *611 missioner's denial of unemployment benefits during the summer closure of the schools.

The primary issues are:

1. (a) Whether the written notices prescribed by the Unemployment Compensation Act, which state that the employee will perform services at the end of the summer months in order to exempt unemployment benefits to an employee off work during the summer, are void as to employees whose continued employment is governed by civil service, (b) Whether the notices did amount to written assurances of continued employment as required by the statute.

2. Whether the blind school and the deaf school, which provide custodial care and varying degrees of educational services to their residents, depending on the nature and extent of the emotional or physical disability of each resident, are educational institutions so as to invoke the statutory exemption denying unemployment benefits to the claimants during the summer recess for 1978 and 1979.

3. Whether the claimants, all of whom are civil service employees of DSHS, and whose services at the blind school and the deaf school are other than instructional, research or primarily administrative, are rendering services for an educational institution (other than an institution of higher learning) so as to be ineligible for unemployment benefits while not working during the 1978 and 1979 summer recess.

Additionally, the claimants contend that procedural errors invalidated the proceedings when the appeals tribunal considered additional evidence.

We affirm, holding that the Commissioner properly decided that the blind school and the deaf school are educational institutions for the purposes of the statute providing for unemployment benefits; that claimants were performing services for the respective schools; and that the notices were effective when applied to civil service employees and satisfied the statute. We also hold that the manner of considering additional evidence was proper.

During the school terms prior to the 1978 and 1979 *612 summer recess, claimants were employees of DSHS, occupying positions within the Division of Developmental Disabilities of DSHS, and were employed either at the blind school or at the deaf school. Most of the claimants occupied positions in the "house parent" classification. Others were employed as cooks, food service aides, teacher's aides, 1 and nurses. The State Civil Service Law, RCW 41.06, applies to each of the claimants.

Prior to the 1978 and 1979 summer recess, claimants received written notices advising them of the summer closure, that they were being placed on "leave without pay" status and that they would be expected to resume their positions at a time to be specified later. A second written notice was issued to all claimants later in the summer informing them of the dates of resumption.

From the denial of unemployment benefits the initial claimants filed individual appeals to the appeal tribunal of the Department of Employment Security. On review sought by DSHS the Commissioner vacated the appeal tribunal's allowance of benefits to these initial claimants and remanded the matter to the appeal tribunal for further hearing. In these earlier proceedings the claimants sought judicial review and the Superior Court set aside the Commissioner's decision and directed the Commissioner to make a decision on the merits but authorized the Commissioner to order additional evidence. The Commissioner consolidated the initial claimants with a later group of claimants whose appeals were still pending before the appeal tribunal. The appeal tribunal after considering additional evidence denied benefits pursuant to the authority in former RCW 50.44.050. The Commissioner agreed. From the Superior Court's affirmance of the Commissioner's denial of benefits this appeal followed.

*613 RCW 50.32.120 specifies that judicial review of the Commissioner's decision is governed by the procedural requirements of RCW 34.04.130. 2 Furthermore, RCW 50.32.150 provides that the decision of the Commissioner shall be prima facie correct.

The claimants' appeal, claiming unlawful procedures at the administrative hearing and challenging the Commissioner's interpretation of the controlling statute, raises questions of law. The error of law standard of review applies and allows the reviewing court to essentially substitute its judgment for that of the administrative body, though substantial weight is accorded the agency's view of the law. Schuh v. Department of Ecology, 100 Wn.2d 180, 667 P.2d 64 (1983); Franklin Cy. Sheriffs Office v. Sellers, 97 Wn.2d 317, 646 P.2d 113 (1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1106 (1983); Ciskie v. Department of Empl. Sec., 35 Wn. App. 72, 664 P.2d 1318 (1983).

The initial claimants first argue that the Commissioner proceeded unlawfully by ordering the consolidation of additional testimony, from specifically named witnesses, with a hearing of appeals then pending before the appeal tribunal. They maintain that this action permitted a rehearing or "second bite" instead of a presentation of additional evidence. Alternatively, they contend the evidence presented did not follow the Commissioner's directive as to the named witnesses.

Neither action constitutes an unlawful procedure. *614 The Commissioner's authority to order additional evidence was explicitly recognized by superior court order, which claimants elected not to appeal, and by former RCW 50.32.080 3 which provided:

Commissioner's review procedure. After having acquired jurisdiction for review, the commissioner shall review the proceedings in question. Prior to rendering his decision, the commissioner may order the taking of additional evidence by an appeal tribunal to be made a part of the record in the case.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
688 P.2d 516, 38 Wash. App. 609, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alexander-v-department-of-employment-security-washctapp-1984.