Carter v. Blache

476 So. 2d 873
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 25, 1985
Docket17183-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 476 So. 2d 873 (Carter v. Blache) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carter v. Blache, 476 So. 2d 873 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

476 So.2d 873 (1985)

Sandra CARTER, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Cecil J. BLACHE, Administrator of the Louisiana Office Employment Security, and Ramada Inn, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 17183-CA.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

September 25, 1985.

*875 North Louisiana Legal Asst. Corp. by John P. Spires, Monroe, for plaintiff-appellant.

Frank T. Scott, Jr., Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee Louisiana Office of Employment Sec.

Boles & Mounger by Steven G. Williams, Monroe, for defendant-appellee Ramada Inn.

Before JASPER E. JONES, FRED W. JONES, Jr. and SEXTON, JJ.

JASPER E. JONES, Judge.

This is an appeal of a judgment affirming the denial of unemployment compensation. The plaintiff is Ms. Sandra Carter. The defendants are her former employer, Ramada Inn, and the Louisiana Office of Employment Security. The trial court affirmed a decision by the Board of Review finding sufficient evidence of poor work habits, absenteeism, and insubordination to disqualify Ms. Carter from receiving unemployment benefits. We affirm.

The assignments of error made by Ms. Carter present three issues for decision:

1) As a matter of law, can the Board of Review determine that the employer has established Ms. Carter's disqualification by a preponderance of the evidence solely from reading sworn testimony, where Ms. Carter's positive testimony is in direct contradiction to the employer's negative testimony on questions of fact and where there is no other evidence affecting the credibility of the witnesses?;
*876 2) Does the record contain sufficient evidence to justify a finding that Ms. Carter was guilty of work connected disqualifying misconduct in the form of poor work habits, unexcused absenteeism and unprovoked insubordination?;
3) Does Ms. Carter's arrest on a nonwork connected shoplifting offense amount to disqualifying misconduct?

We affirm the judgment of the trial court, without addressing the shoplifting issue, because we have concluded there is sufficient evidence of unprovoked insubordination to support the determination of work connected disqualifying misconduct by the Board of Review.

Facts

Ms. Sandra Carter was employed by the Ramada Inn of Monroe, Louisiana, as a housekeeper. Her employment began in 1980 and ended upon her discharge on April 17, 1982. She filed a claim for unemployment compensation benefits effective April 18, 1982. The Louisiana Office of Employment Security determined that Ms. Carter had been discharged for being undependable and for unprovoked insubordination in that she was in the habit of arguing with her supervisors. On May 4, 1982, she was informed that such actions amounted to disqualifying misconduct connected with her employment.

Ms. Carter appealed this determination and a hearing was held on May 25, 1982, before Mr. Dennis Dykes, Appeals Referee. She asserted the real reason she had been terminated was her arrest on a non-work connected charge of shoplifting. Ms. Carter's attorney was the only party to be present at the hearing. The referee rendered a decision on June 1, 1982, for the employer affirming the determination of the claims interviewer. This decision was based upon the evidence in the record consisting solely of the written statement of the employer's assistant manager, giving the reasons for appellant's discharge, and the written statement of the appellant. The Board of Review affirmed on August 13, 1982.

The trial court, on December 8, 1983, reversed and remanded the case because the Office of Employment Security filed a pleading acknowledging that no evidence had been received by the Louisiana Board of Review supporting the employer's allegations of insubordination and undependability.

A rehearing was held on February 22, 1984, before Ms. Sue Laborde, Appeals Referee. Ms. Carter testified, was represented by counsel and presented Ms. Sheila Ellis as a witness. Ms. Carter offered, without objection, the affidavit of Mr. Lonnie Ignont, a second witness. The employer was represented by Ms. Ollie Mae Collins, Executive Housekeeper, and Ms. Bessie Dickson, Assistant Housekeeper. The record contains no evidence of an independent evaluation by Ms. Laborde as to whether the employer had proven its case by a preponderance of the evidence. On May 9, 1984, the Board of Review upheld its decision of August 13, 1982 affirming the appellant's disqualification for benefits.

The trial court, on September 13, 1984, again reversed and remanded the case as the recordation of the testimony of Ms. Carter taken on February 22, 1984 had not been transcribed and was not a part of the record before the Board of Review

On October 8, 1984, Ms. Laborde, Appeals Referee, again held a hearing. Ms. Carter was represented at this hearing by an attorney. Ms. Carter and a co-worker, Ms. Sheila Ellis testified. She also offered into evidence an affidavit from her mother. Although properly notified, the employer had no representative at this meeting. On October 24, 1984, the Board of Review affirmed its earlier rejections of Ms. Carter's claim. The record contains no evidence of any objection to the introduction of the affidavit nor of any independent evaluation made by Ms. Laborde as to whether the employer had met its burden of proof.

Ms. Carter responded by filing a judicial appeal. The Office of Employment Security also filed a memorandum supporting her position and requesting that the decision of the Board of Review be reversed.

*877 The judgment appealed, which was signed on December 11, 1984, affirmed the October 24, 1984 ruling by the Board of Review.

The trial court's decision was based upon a review of all of the testimony and affidavits submitted in the various hearings. The court found the testimony of the employer's representatives to be clear, unequivocal and concise, establishing absenteeism, poor work habits and acts of insubordination on the part of Ms. Carter. Ms. Carter's testimony, on the other hand, was found to be contradictory as to the dates she was supposed to work and as to her availability for work due to incarceration on the shoplifting charge.

The court did not address the question of whether Ms. Carter had been fired solely for her shoplifting arrest, finding that sufficient evidence was presented at the hearing on February 22, 1984, to support her discharge for disqualifying work connected misconduct.

Issue # 1—Determining credibility solely from the record

It is Ms. Carter's contention that, as a matter of law, the employer cannot carry its burden of proof in this particular case. She argues that both parties enjoy an equality of credibility before the Board of Review and trial court as the appeals referee who made the finding against her never took any testimony and the referee who actually did view the testifying witnesses did not make an independent evaluation for the record. Ms. Carter concludes by asserting that as there is no evidence other than the sworn testimony to affect the credence to give to the employer's representatives, then a preponderance of the evidence cannot be established as the law presumes more weight shall be given to her positive testimony, as opposed to the employer's negative testimony, on directly contradicting factual questions.

The appeal tribunal shall make findings and conclusions after an administrative hearing is conducted, LSA-R.S. 23:1629. If the claimant does not participate in the scheduled hearing, the referee shall make its findings and conclusions upon the record, Rule 7 of the Louisiana Board of Review.

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Bluebook (online)
476 So. 2d 873, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carter-v-blache-lactapp-1985.