Lowell v. Maine Employment Security Commission

190 A.2d 271, 159 Me. 177
CourtSupreme Judicial Court of Maine
DecidedApril 23, 1963
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 190 A.2d 271 (Lowell v. Maine Employment Security Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Judicial Court of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lowell v. Maine Employment Security Commission, 190 A.2d 271, 159 Me. 177 (Me. 1963).

Opinions

[178]*178Williamson, C. J.

This is an appeal from a decree of the Superior Court sustaining a decision of the Maine Employment Security Commission disqualifying the appellant claimant from benefits under the Employment Security Act. R. S., c. 29.

In our consideration of the appeal we are governed, as was the Superior Court, by Sec. 16-IX, reading in part:

“In any judicial proceeding under this chapter, the findings of the commission as to the facts, if supported by evidence and in the absence of fraud, shall be conclusive, and the jurisdiction of said court shall be confined to questions of law.”
“The Commission’s findings of fact, when supported by any credible evidence, are conclusive. Judicial review is limited to the correction of errors of law. When the Commission decides facts contrary to all of the credible evidence in the case, it has committed an error of law. . . When no dispute as to the facts exists or is possible upon all the evidence, the question becomes one of law.” Dubois et al v. M. E. S. C., 150 Me. 494, 505, 114 A. (2nd) 859.

The Commission in deciding (with one commissioner dissenting) “that the claimant refused to accept an offer of work for which she was reasonably fitted within the meaning of Section 15-III of the Employment Security Law,” adopted the findings of fact of the Appeal Tribunal.

Turning to the record of the Appeal Tribunal, the decision disqualifying the claimant from benefits was based on the following findings of fact:

“The claimant is a woman, 57 years of age, unemployed at the time of hearing (June 8, 1961). She last worked in a local shoe manufacturing establishment (defendant Wood & Smith Shoe Co.) as a repairer up to March 24, 1961, when she was separated due to lack of work. On this job [179]*179her average earnings on piece rates were $50 to $55 a week.
“She filed initial application for employment security benefits in the current benefit year, effective April 2, 1961. She thereafter reported and filed weekly claims.
“On May 18, 1961 the claimant was referred to a local shoe shop (Belgrade Shoe Co.) for work as a repairer at an hourly rate of $1.25. The claimant contacted the employer, discussed the job, but did not accept as she preferred to wait until she might be recalled by a former employer. With this former employer as a repairer, she had worked on piece rate and claims to have earned well over $1.25 an hour. As of the date of hearing the claimant had expectations of returning to this former employer sometime in the early part of July.
“The claimant is classified occupationally as a blemish remover and inspector (boot and shoe industry.)”

In the record of the evidence taken before the Chief Appeals Referee, we read:

(Referee)
“Q Now — you (claimant) stated here on the 24th day of May: T was referred to a job opportunity on 5-18-51. I had an interview for this job on 5-18-61. I talked with the floor lady about the job. The job paid $1.25 an hour. I told the floor lady that I wanted to go back to Clark Shoe to work. She would not hire me when she found out I wouldn’t stay if offered work at Clark Shoe. I went to Clark Shoe on 5-23-61. I was told they would call me as soon as work was available.’ End of statement. “And — you could have gone to work for Belgrade Shoe as a repairer?
“A Yes, but like I said, they won’t hire me for a month or five weeks.
[180]*180“MRS. LOWELL: (Cont) Like Mrs. Madore told me — when — to fix up you know, the insurance and other things, you know, that there is no sense to it. I got my mind to go to Clark Shoe. I make good money there, I use to make good money
“REFEREE MEAGHER: How much did you make an hour there?
A Two or three dollars an hour. You, see, piece work, see? That’s why I’m use to make pretty good. That’s why I wanted to go back there. You know that when you work most all your life on piece work, you don’t feel to work for $1.15 or $1.20. You know, like I do that Clark Shoe is a good place — good over there.
“Q How long have they been closed down now?
“A I use to work at a time at Clark — there was two Clarks — I was in Clark No. 2 when they closed. I was a stretch repairer there.
“Q You haven’t worked for Clark Shoe since when?
“A Last November, I think. I think it was November. Or October - -
“Q Well — that’s the whole story, is it? As to why you didn’t get work--?
“A Yes, that’s the truth.”

In the Superior Court “the Defendant stipulated that the statement made by the (claimant) to the prospective employer was without malice on her part, and that she probably did not act as she did, solely for the purpose of preventing a job offer being made.”

The claimant urges that no offer of a job was made, and therefore the disqualification for benefits from refusal to accept work under Sec. 15-III was an error of law.

To obtain benefits a claimant must establish; first, eligibility (Sec. 14), and second, that he is not disqualified [181]*181(Sec. 15). Under Sec. 14-III it is required that the claimant “is able to work and is available for work.”

Sec. 15-III read at the time the case arose in part:

“Sec. 15. Disqualification for benefits. — an individual shall be disqualified for benefits:
‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡
“HI. Refused to accept work. If he has refused to accept an offer of suitable work for which he is reasonably fitted . . . the disqualification shall begin with the week in which the refusal occurred and shall continue for the duration of the period of unemployment during which such refusal occurred.
“A. In determining whether or not any work is suitable for an individual, the commission shall consider the degree of risk involved to his health, safety and morals, his physical fitness and prior training, his experience and prior earnings, his length of unemployment and prospects for securing local work in his customary occupation, and the distance of the available work from his residence.”

The amendment in Laws 1961, c. 361, § 6 does not affect the case.

We are here concerned with disqualification and not eligibility. For our purposes the claimant did not lack eligibility under Sec. 14-III. The Commission did not so find. The question is whether the claimant, otherwise being eligible for benefits, became disqualified therefor from refusal to accept suitable work. The Commission placed its decision firmly on disqualification under Sec. 15. Krauss v. A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc. (N. J.), 100 A. (2nd) 277.

We examine the conditions in Sec. 15-III.

(1) “If he has refused to accept an offer of suitable work.” We are satisfied that the finding of a refusal to [182]*182accept an offer of work was supported by evidence.

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Lowell v. Maine Employment Security Commission
190 A.2d 271 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1963)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
190 A.2d 271, 159 Me. 177, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lowell-v-maine-employment-security-commission-me-1963.