In Re Walker's Claim

332 P.2d 199, 80 Idaho 420, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 231
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 21, 1958
Docket8693
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 332 P.2d 199 (In Re Walker's Claim) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Walker's Claim, 332 P.2d 199, 80 Idaho 420, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 231 (Idaho 1958).

Opinion

McQUADE, Justice.

This is an appeal from an order of the Industrial Accident Board, wherein the Board affirmed a decision of the appeals examiner denying a claim for Employment Security benefits. The question presented for determination is whether claimant was available for employment from December 29, 1957, to February 6, 1958.

Claimant Paul Walker had been employed seasonally for three years as a rough carpenter for Lloyd Nash Construe *422 tion Company, a concrete construction firm in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The work was seasonal, operations being suspended during the winter months. The claimant was laid off November 22, 1957, during the customary winter shutdown. He filed his initial claim for Employment Security benefits November 27.

Walker then went to New Plymouth, Idaho, where his union referred him to a year-around construction job with Morrison-Knudsen Co., Inc., at Brownlee Dam, approximately 400 miles from Idaho Falls. He went to work at the dam November 29. There was no housing for families at the dam site; construction workers lived in barracks. Walker found the nearest housing for himself, his wife, and five children would be at Weiser, Idaho, a three and one-half hour drive from his job.

Walker returned to Idaho Falls to spend Christmas with his family. When he left late Christmas day to go back to his work, his wife was in a highly nervous state, and one of the children was ill with a high fever which later turned out to be measles. Walker telephoned home from Brownlee a few days later. He found a second child had fallen ill, and his wife urged him to come home to help take care of the children. He asked for a 10-day leave extension from his work, but the employer refused this request. Walker voluntarily quit his job at the dam December 28 and returned to Idaho Falls to be with his family.

The claimant then reopened his claim for Employment Security benefits, stating he had left the Brownlee Dam job because he could not find housing for his family. He remained out of work approximately five weeks. During this interval he made regular inquiries about employment at the Employment Security Agency, and also contacted Lloyd Nash, his former employer. Nash told Walker he would hire the claimant when the weather moderated and construction started again.

Meanwhile, a third child became ill with measles. In all, the three children were sick three to four weeks. They did not require a doctor’s attention, but were cared for by their mother. Walker remained at home during this time. When the children had recovered, Walker returned to the dam and was again employed beginning February 6, 1958. He quit without notice March 10 and returned to work for Lloyd Nash Construction Company in Idaho Falls.

A claims examiner denied Walker’s application for benefits for the December 29-February 6 interval on the ground the claimant had quit his job at the dam without good cause. Walker requested a re-determination, and benefits were again denied. He then appealed to the Employment Security Agency, giving illness in his' family as the ground for leaving his employment.

*423 On the hearing conducted before the appeals examiner, the examiner found Walker

“ * * * voluntarily quit suitable employment for good cause but is held to be unavailable for work * * * ”

and denied benefits. Walker then sought a review before the Industrial Accident Board. The Board, after a hearing, affirmed the decision of the appeals examiner. This appeal is from that order.

On appeal from orders of the Industrial Accident Board, this Court is limited to a review of questions of law. Idaho Constitution, Article 5, section 9.

Findings of the Board will not be disturbed on appeal if they are supported by competent and substantial evidence. Bower v. Smith, 63 Idaho 128, 118 P.2d 737; Stroscheim v. Shay, 63 Idaho 360, 120 P.2d 267; Barker v. Russell & Pugh Lbr. Co., 64 Idaho 45, 127 P.2d 772; Benson v. Jarvis, 64 Idaho 107, 127 P.2d 784; Cain v. C. C. Anderson Co., 64 Idaho 389, 133 P.2d 723; Jensen v. Bohemian Breweries, Inc., 64 Idaho 679, 135 P.2d 442; In re Smith, 72 Idaho 8, 236 P.2d 87; Shumaker v. Hunter Lease & Gold Hunter Mines, 72 Idaho. 173, 238 P.2d 425; Kernaghan v. Sunshine Mining Co., 73 Idaho 106, 245 P.2d 806; Smith v. Potlatch Forests, Inc., 74 Idaho 470, 264 P.2d 684; Yanzick v. Sunset Minerals, Inc., 75 Idaho 384, 272 P.2d 696; Turner v. Boise Lodge No. 310, 77 Idaho 465, 295 P.2d 256; Brewster v. McComb, 78 Idaho 228, 300 P.2d 507; Darvell v. Wardner Industrial Union, 78 Idaho 309, 302 P.2d 950; Casger v. Fuger, 79 Idaho 56, 310 P.2d 812; In re Linzy, 79 Idaho 514, 322 P.2d 330. This rule applies to findings of the Board in Employment Security cases as well as to Workmen’s Compensation. Ida. Mut. Ben. Ass’n v. Robison, 65 Idaho 793, 154 P.2d 156; Turner v. Boise Lodge No. 310, 77 Idaho 465, 295 P.2d 256.

The question here was one of fact, for determination by the Industrial Accident Board. The Board, and the appeals examiner, were required to decide whether the claimant met the requirements of I.C. sec. 72-1366(e). The applicable portion of that statute reads as follows:

“The personal eligibility conditions of a benefit claimant are that—
>]c sji ifc sfc
“(e) During the whole of any week with respect to which he claims benefits or credit to his waiting period he was able to work, available for suitable work, and seeking work * *

The burden was upon the claimant to show he had complied with these requirements: That is, that he was (1) able to work, (2) available for suitable work, and (3) seeking work. Turner v. Boise Lodge No. 310, supra; Wolfgram v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Hewson v. Asker's Thrift Shop
814 P.2d 424 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1991)
Bullock v. Cit Co. Federal Credit Union
683 P.2d 415 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1984)
Meyer v. Skyline Mobile Homes
589 P.2d 89 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1979)
O'NEAL v. Employment Security Agency
404 P.2d 600 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1965)
Czarlinsky v. Employment Security Agency
390 P.2d 822 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1964)
Burroughs v. Employment Security Agency
387 P.2d 473 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1963)
Kiger v. Idaho Corporation
380 P.2d 208 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1963)
Rasmussen v. Gem State Packing Company
360 P.2d 90 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1961)
Norman v. Employment Security Agency
356 P.2d 913 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1960)
Bean v. Employment Security Agency
347 P.2d 339 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1959)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
332 P.2d 199, 80 Idaho 420, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 231, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-walkers-claim-idaho-1958.