Steen v. Denny's Restaurant

16 P.3d 910, 135 Idaho 234, 2000 Ida. LEXIS 132

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: December 18, 2000
• Docket: No. 25853
• Status: Published

Opinions

SILAK, Justice.

NATURE OF CASE

This is an appeal from an Idaho Industrial Commission (Commission) ruling that the claimant, Roseann Steen, (Steen) is ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. We affirm.

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background.

Steen worked as a server at Denny’s Restaurant (Denny’s) for three-months from November 1998 until February 1999. Steen was terminated after a third disciplinary report was filed for shortages in the cash register used during her shift and her mishandling of a customer’s payment by placing it into her apron pocket in violation of company policy. Other servers who had used the cash register also received disciplinary reports. Denny’s policy is to discharge an employee after a third violation of the same rule in a six-month period. Steen was not only aware of this policy, but the second disciplinary report she received informed her that the next violation of the rules would result in termination.

B. Procedural Background.

Steen filed a claim for unemployment benefits with the Idaho Department of Labor (IDOL). The IDOL determined Steen was discharged for employee misconduct, and denied unemployment benefits pursuant to Idaho Code Section 72-1366(5). Steen appealed this determination to the IDOL Appeals Bureau.

The Appeals Examiner conducted a telephone hearing and reversed the initial eligibility determination, finding Steen was not discharged for employee misconduct, and was eligible for unemployment benefits. Denny’s general manager appealed this decision to the Commission. Steen was sent a notice of this appeal.

The Commission reviewed the record and reversed the Appeals Examiner’s decision, concluding Steen was discharged for employee misconduct, and was ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Steen filed a request for reconsideration, which the Commission denied stating the request provided no basis to reopen the ease.

Steen appeals the Commission’s decision.

II.

ISSUES ON APPEAL

The following issues are presented on appeal:

A. Whether Denny’s brief was filed in a timely manner.

B. Whether the Commission erred in granting Denny’s appeal.

C. Whether the Commission’s ruling is supported by substantial and competent evidence.

III.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

On appeal from the Industrial Commission, this Court exercises free review of the Commission’s legal conclusions, but will not disturb findings of fact if they are supported by substantial and competent evidence. See Idaho Const. Art. V, § 9; I.C. § 72-732; Berglund, v. Potlatch Corp., 129 Idaho 752, 754, 932 P.2d 875, 877 (1996).

IV.

ANALYSIS

A. Denny’s Brief Was Filed In A Timely Manner.

This Court rejects Steen’s assertion that Denny’s brief, which was filed one day late, was not filed in a timely fashion because Denny’s was given an oral extension by the Clerk of the Court to file its brief. The brief was filed within the time allowed by the extension and is therefore timely.

B. The Commission Did Not Err In Allowing Denny’s Appeal From The Appeals Examiner’s Decision.

Steen asserts the Commission was without jurisdiction to review the Appeal Examiner’s decision because Dawn Thomas (Thomas), who filed the appeal, was not a licensed Idaho attorney. We disagree. While it is true that an attorney would be required to represent Denny’s had a hearing actually been held, one is not required to file a notice of appeal. It is sufficient, under the rules adopted by the Commission, for an officer of the corporation to file an appeal.

Section 72-1368(7) of the Idaho Code provides that “[t]he Commission shall decide all claims for review filed by any interested party in accordance with its own rules of procedure not in conflict herewith.” The Commission has the authority to promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations involving judicial matters. See I.C. § 72-508. Pursuant to this authority, the Commission adopted the Rules of Appellate Practice and Procedure Under the Idaho Employment Security Law (RAPP). RAPP Rule VIII, entitled “Representation of Parties Before Commission,” requires employers who are corporations to be represented by an attorney. This rule is based on decisions of this Court, holding that “representation of another person before a public agency or service commission constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, where the proceedings before those tribunals are held for purposes of adjudicating the legal rights or duties of a party.” Kyle v. Beco Corp., 109 Idaho 267, 271, 707 P.2d 378, 382 (1985) (citing Idaho State Bar Ass’n v. Idaho Pub. Util. Comm’n, 102 Idaho 672, 676, 637 P.2d 1168, 1172 (1981); Weston v. Gritman Memorial Hosp., 99 Idaho 717, 720, 587 P.2d 1252, 1255 (1978)) (citations omitted).

RAPP Rule VIII and Idaho case law clearly demonstrate that only an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Idaho can represent a corporation before the Idaho Industrial Commission. However, RAPP Rule VIII also allows a corporate officer to file a notice of appeal with the Commission on behalf of the corporation.

This Court has recognized the right of a corporate officer to appeal to the Commission. In Kyle, the Court upheld the Commission’s decision that an attorney must represent a corporation, and quoted the Commission’s conclusions of law stating, “[t]he Commission could grant that part of Beco Corporation’s motion that asks for a rehearing (with the requirement that the corporation would be represented by an attorney)____” 109 Idaho at 271, 707 P.2d at 382. The Court went on to conclude Beco Corporation’s president and sole shareholder could not cross-examine witnesses and present closing arguments at a Commission hearing because it would constitute representation, but he could petition the Commission for a rehearing, which is an appeal. See id. This holding is in accordance with RAPP Rule VIII(D) that allows for a corporate officer to file a notice of appeal.

To ensure the proper procedure is followed on appeal, the Appeals Examiner includes this statement as part of his or her decision: “TO EMPLOYERS WHO ARE INCORPORATED: If you file an appeal with the Idaho Industrial Commission, the appeal must be signed by an officer or designated representative, and the signature must include the individual’s title.” (emphasis in original).

Here, Denny’s appeal to the Commission conformed to the rules, as it was signed by Thomas and indicated her title as general manager. The appeal was accepted by the Commission, which has “sole discretion” to hold an additional hearing or to simply review the record of the Appeals Examiner. See I.C. § 72-1368. The Commission determined that “the interests of justice do not require a new hearing” and reviewed the record de novo. Since there was no hearing, there was no need to have an attorney represent Denny’s.

Accordingly, this Court holds the Commission did not err by allowing Denny’s appeal from the Appeals Examiner’s decision.

C. The Commission’s Ruling That Steen Was Discharged For Employee Misconduct Is Supported By Substantial And Competent Evidence.

The Commission concluded Steen “was discharged for misconduct in connection with employment” and, therefore, was ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Steen asserts the Commission’s decision was not supported by substantial and competent evidence due to conflicting evidence in the record.

Section 72-1366(5) of the Idaho Code provides that a claimant is ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits if he or she is discharged for misconduct in connection with employment. See Smith v. Zero Defects, Inc., 132 Idaho 881, 884, 980 P.2d 545, 548 (1999). This Court has defined misconduct in connection with employment as:

(1) a willful, intentional disregard of the employer’s interest; (2) a deliberate violation of the employer’s rules; or (3) a disregard of the standards of behavior which the employer has a right to expect of its employees.

Quinn v. J.R. Simplot Co., 131 Idaho 318, 321, 955 P.2d 1097, 1100 (1998) (citations omitted).

Whether an employee’s behavior constitutes misconduct is a factual determination that this Court will not disturb solely on the basis of conflicting evidence. See Pimley v. Best Values, Inc., 132 Idaho 432, 434-35, 974 P.2d 78, 80-81 (1999). We will disturb the Commission’s findings of fact only where they are not supported by substantial and competent, even if conflicting, evidence. See Teevan v. Office of the Attorney Gen., 130 Idaho 79, 82, 936 P.2d 1321, 1324 (1997). In Idaho State Ins. Fund v. Hunnicutt, 110 Idaho 257, 715 P.2d 927 (1985), this Court described the appropriate test for substantial and competent evidence for the purposes of judicial review of an administrative agency’s action as follows:

The “substantial evidence rule” is said to be a “middle position” which precludes a de novo hearing but which nonetheless requires a serious review which goes beyond the mere ascertainment of procedural regularity. Such a review requires more than a mere “scintilla” of evidence in support of the agency’s determination, though “something less than the weight of the evidence.” “Put simply,” ... “the substantial [competent] evidence rule requires a court to determine ‘whether [the agency’s] findings of fact are reasonable.’ ”

110 Idaho at 260, 715 P.2d at 930 (citations omitted).

In this ease, the conflicting evidence involves a discrepancy regarding the dates on the disciplinary action reports. The first three disciplinary reports were issued as follows:

1) February 4, 1999 warning for a $15.04 shortage in the till;

2) February 5, 1999 warning for a $20.00 shortage in the till, informed the next instance would result in termination;

3) February 6, 1999 warning given for smelling of alcohol after returning from restroom and informed the next instance will result in termination.

Each of these reports was filled out and signed by the manager on the date the incident occurred, however, all three reports were not signed by Steen until February 9, 1999.

The final disciplinary report terminating Steen’s employment was issued on February 15,1999 for a shortage in the till and mishandling of a customer’s payment. During oral argument, Steen questioned this final report’s inconsistencies between the dates when the till was short, when Steen worked, and when the final disciplinary action report was filed. The report is a form filled out by the manager on duty at the time of the incident. The form includes a blank to insert the date of incident. In this final report, the manager wrote the date of the incident as February 15, 1999 and then signed the bottom of the form and again dated it February 15, 1999. However, in the summary of incident section of the form, the manager wrote the cash drawer from the graveyard shift on February 14, 1999 was short $20.00. Steen claims she did not work on February 14, 1999. Steen wrote in her claim for unemployment insurance benefits that she worked two shifts on February 15, 1999 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and again at 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on February 16,1999.

Although it appeal's there is a dispute regarding the dates, this Court is not a fact-finding body, and it is inappropriate for us to resolve this dispute. This Court’s decision is limited by the standard of review applicable to Industrial Commission decisions stated above. Given that standard, the discrepancies in this ease are insufficient to reverse the Commission’s decision denying unemployment benefits to Steen because substantial and competent evidence exists to support the Commission’s findings absent these discrepancies. Further, the evidence in dispute was before the Commission, and the Commission considered all the evidence de novo before making its findings. The Commission’s findings were reasonable and supported by the record.

The Commission found Denny’s had a written policy on proper cash handling, and the policy was reasonable to ensure the employer collects for the services provided to the customer. Steen was aware of the company’s rules, which had been communicated to her both when she was hired and in her second write-up, which expressly warned her that the next violation would result in termination. Cf., Merriott v. Shearer Lumber Products, 127 Idaho 620, 622-23, 903 P.2d 1317, 1319-20 (1995) (employer could not require employee to comply with its uncommunicated expectations). As established by company policy, Steen was terminated after her third violation. The Commission determined Steen’s conduct was a violation of Denny’s rules, which were reasonable and necessary for Denny’s to effectively run its business. The Commission ruled such misconduct rendered Steen ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

The discrepancy regarding the dates was presented to the Commission both in the reports themselves and the transcript from the Appeal’s Examiner where the issue was addressed. Further, in the Commission’s denial of Steen’s request for a rehearing, the Commission stated the evidence regarding the discrepancy was considered by the Commission before issuing its decision and, therefore, it was unnecessary for the Commission to rehear the ease.

Based on the foregoing, this Court affirms the Commission’s decision finding Steen was discharged for misconduct and is therefore not eligible for unemployment benefits because substantial and competent evidence exists to support the Commission’s conclusion.

y.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the Court holds that: 1) respondent’s brief was filed in a timely manner; 2) the Commission did not err in allowing Denny’s appeal from the Appeals Examiner’s decision; and 3) there is substantial and competent evidence to support the Commission’s conclusion that Steen was discharged for employee misconduct and is ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

No costs or fees were requested and, therefore, none are awarded.

Justices SCHROEDER and WALTERS concur.