United Corp. v. Grouby

43 V.I. 187, 2001 WL 883583, 2001 V.I. LEXIS 6
CourtSupreme Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedJune 28, 2001
DocketCivil No. 479/00
StatusPublished

This text of 43 V.I. 187 (United Corp. v. Grouby) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United Corp. v. Grouby, 43 V.I. 187, 2001 WL 883583, 2001 V.I. LEXIS 6 (virginislands 2001).

Opinion

ROSS, Judge

[188]*188MEMORANDUM

Before the Court is a Petition for Writ of Review of the Department of Labor’s Hearings and Appeals Unit’s final determination in In the Matter of Simone Grouby et al. v. United Corporation d/b/a Plaza Extra Supermarket, Appeal No. 008-04-00. Virgin Islands Code Annotated title 24 section 304(b)(2) provides that an insured worker shall not be disqualified for leaving employment “voluntarily” and “with good cause.” For the reasons provided below, the Court will affirm the Department of Labor’s Hearings and Appeals Unit’s determination (Department of Labor) that respondent Simone Grouby was entitled to unemployment benefits.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Respondent Simone Grouby is the spouse of Wendell Grouby, a member of the United States Army. Respondent was employed by Plaza Extra Supermarket as an administrative clerk from February 2, 1995 to July 26, 1999. Respondent’s husband was transferred to the mainland, on March 20, 1998, by the United States Army. As a result, Respondent quit her job at Plaza Extra Supermarket and relocated to the mainland to be with her husband. Respondent sought to obtain unemployment benefits from the Virgin Islands Employment Security Agency, Unemployment Insurance Service, through the Unemployment Insurance Service in Oklahoma.

On November 29, 1999, the Virgin Islands Employment Security Agency, Unemployment Insurance Service (“VIESA”) concluded that respondent Simone Grouby was not qualified to receive unemployment benefits. On appeal, the Administrative Law Judge on August 8, 2000 reversed the determination of VIESA. The Petitioner Plaza Extra Supermarket now seeks a Writ of Review of the Administrative Law Judge’s determination.

Petitioner Plaza Extra Supermarket contends the decision of the Administrative Law Judge is not supported by substantial evidence and is contrary to law. Neither the Respondent, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor, nor the claimant provided the court with briefs in opposition to Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Review. However, the claimant asserted on appeal of the VIESA’s decision that the reason that she left her employment was because her husband was transferred to the mainland by the military.

[189]*189STANDARD OF REVIEW

According to V.I. Code Ann. tit. 5 § 1421, “any parly to any proceeding before or by any officer, board, commission, authority, or tribunal may have the decision or determination thereof reviewed for errors therein as prescribed in this chapter and rules of court.” The power of the court to review includes the power to “affirm, modify, reverse, or annul the decision or determination reviewed....” V.I. Code Ann. tit. 5 § 1423. A writ of review is allowed:

in all cases where there is no appeal or other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy, and where the officer, board, commission, authority, or tribunal in the exercise of his or its functions appears to have exercised such functions erroneously, or to have exceeded his or its jurisdiction, to the injury of some substantial right of the plaintiff.

V.I. Code Ann. tit. 5 § 1422.

Factual determinations will not be set aside if it is supported by substantial evidence in the record. Jackman v. Heyliger, 20 V.I. 536, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10667 (D.V.I. 1984). However, conclusions of law will only be upheld if the Agency has applied the relevant law correctly. The court is free to substitute its own judgment for that of the agency when the conclusion is contrary to law. Herbert v. Gov. Employees’ Serv. Comm., 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12131, 21 V.I. 358, 360 (D.V.I., 1985).

DISCUSSION

An insured worker shall not be disqualified for waiting-week credit or benefits for any week of his unemployment unless with respect to such week the Commissioner of Labor finds “he left his most recent suitable work voluntarily and without good cause....” V.I. Code Ann. tit. 24 § 304(b)(2). Further, § 304(c)(2) provides, in determining “good cause” for leaving or refusing work, the Commissioner of Labor should consider:

the degree of risk to the claimant’s health, safety, and morals, his physical fitness for the work .... and such other factors as would influence a reasonably prudent person in the claimant’s circumstances.

[190]*190V.I. Code Ann. tit. 24, Section 304(c)(2).

The crucial issue in dispute is whether there is substantial evidence to support a finding that, as a matter of law, the action of respondent was with “good cause.” Based on the evidence presented at the formal hearing, the Administrative Law Judge found that the finding by VIESA of lack of good cause was not based on substantial evidence and contrary to law. The Administrative Law Judge concluded: “a finding of lack of good cause in a case such as this would have a result not contemplated to be the intention of the law and regulations.” He elaborates further, holding that a finding of lack of good cause under these circumstances, “would engender contrary results and/or unnecessary hardship upon the very same family unit the government is otherwise committed to preserve.”

In Cunningham v. Virgin Islands Emp. Sec. Agency, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10245, 20 V.I. 214, 216 (D.V.I. 1983), claimant who accepted employment as a part-time worker resigned her position after learning that her position would not become full-time. As a part-time employee, claimant was ineligible for employee health insurance coverage, which she needed as the sole provider for three minor children. The court held that the fact that a claimant for unemployment benefits initiates employment termination of her own accord, without being discharged or otherwise pressured by an employer; does not necessarily preclude a finding of good cause to leave a job. The court held in determining good cause, “the court may consider the circumstances producing pressure to terminate employment that is both real and substantial and would compel a reasonable person under the circumstances to act in the same manner.” Id. at 216.

Likewise, the court held in Rettan v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 15 Pa. Commw. 287, 325 A.2d 646, 646 (Pa. Comm. 1974), a claimant, who had difficulty seeing to perform her work and could not afford to purchase a new pair of glasses which was required by the employer, involuntarily left work with good cause of a necessitous and compelling nature and was therefore eligible for benefits. In Rettan, appellant an employee of Ariel Corporation worked as a machine operator for two weeks. Although her work was satisfactory, she was observed by the supervisor holding her head very close to the rotating spindle. The supervisor informed Rettan that for safety reasons she could not continue working without glasses. Rettan could not afford glasses and therefore resigned. The court found that the action of claimant was [191]*191involuntary and with good cause since the pressure created was caused by the employer. The court further stated even “if a worker leaves his employment when he is compelled to do so by necessitous circumstances or because of legal or family obligations, his leaving is voluntary with good cause, and under the act he is entitled to benefits.” 325 A.2d at 648.

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Related

Rettan v. Commonwealth
325 A.2d 646 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1974)
Cunningham v. V.I. Employment Security Agency
20 V.I. 214 (Virgin Islands, 1983)
Jackman v. Heyliger
20 V.I. 536 (Virgin Islands, 1984)
Herbert v. Government Employees' Service Commission
21 V.I. 358 (Virgin Islands, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
43 V.I. 187, 2001 WL 883583, 2001 V.I. LEXIS 6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-corp-v-grouby-virginislands-2001.