Wiler v. Board of Review

80 N.E.2d 190, 81 Ohio App. 439, 37 Ohio Op. 277, 1947 Ohio App. LEXIS 619
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 6, 1947
Docket486
StatusPublished

This text of 80 N.E.2d 190 (Wiler v. Board of Review) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wiler v. Board of Review, 80 N.E.2d 190, 81 Ohio App. 439, 37 Ohio Op. 277, 1947 Ohio App. LEXIS 619 (Ohio Ct. App. 1947).

Opinion

Middleton, J.

This cause comes into this court on appeal on questions of law from a judgment o.f the Court of Common Pleas of Hancock county.

*440 On the 12th day of July, 1945, the claimant filed 'with the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, his claim for unemployment compensation, pursuant to the provisions of Section 1345-1 et seq., General Code. The claim was disallowed on July 31, 1945, by the administrator, for the stated reasons that:

“The evidence submitted does not establish that claimant is able to work as required by Section 1345-6 a (4), General Code.”

Thereafter, on August 8, 1945, claimant filed his request for reconsideration of his claim, and stated therein:

“I am capable of any work except extremely close, work. When I do this type of work my eye bothers me. I am available for work but must be home at noon to care for my wife. I can leave her for 5 hours in the morning and 5 hours in the afternoon.”

On hearing of that application the claim was disallowed, the administrator making the following statement of fact:

“At the time claimant filed his original claim for benefits he submitted signed statement to the effect that he had not worked since December 9, 1944, and that he really did not feel that he was physically able to work. At a later date he stated that any employment which he might accept must permit him to be home at noon so that he could take care of his wife.

“Claimant’s various statements fail to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was able to work or that he was actively seeking work. It will therefore be held that he has not satisfactorily established his availability for work.”

The administrator made the following decision:

“Claimant has failed to prove that he was able and available for work at the time of filing his original claim for benefits. Claim is accordingly disallowed.”

From that decision the claimant appealed to' the *441 board of review, and on the appeal the board of review, through its referee, made the following findings of fact:

“The testimony developed at the hearing reveals that the obstacle to full daytime* employment, resulting from the alleged care required by his wife, could have been surmounted. However, the reply of claimant to certain questions of the referee indicates that he is very reluctant to accept work that would not permit him to come home at’ noontime; that he still entertains high hopes of being reemployed by the base period employer because it had been suggested to him in the early part of this year that there was a possibility of him being reinstated.”

And further:

“The' facts reveal that claimant suffers with permanent disabilities, but that these were not the direct cause for separation from employment and do not prevent him from performing services similar to those he had performed during the period in which they occurred. In view of this fact, it is found that claimant is able to perform work for which he is reasonably fitted. However, the testimony reveals a reluctance on the part of the claimant to accept any employment that would keep him away from home at the noon hour. This attitude of the claimant is in violation of the provisions contained in subsection a (4) of Section 1345-6 of the General Code in that it constitutes a limitation of the condition of availability, the fulfillment of which is an essential requirement to the establishment of a valid claim. This term, as used under the law, implies a readiness and willingness to accept any kind of employment for which an individual is reasonably. fitted, without limitations or restrictions. Having failed in this aspect, the claim for unemployment benefits is disallowed.”

*442 Upon those findings of fact, the referee, on November 7, 1945, rendered the following- decision :

“Claimant, at the time of filing his claim, was not available for work within the meaning of Section 1345-6 a (4) of the General Code of Ohio. Pursuant thereto, his claim for unemployment benefits is disallowed. The decision upon reconsideration of the’ administrator, dated August 10, 1945, is modified to conform hereto.”

Following that decision, the claimant filed an application for leave to institute a further appeal from the decision of the referee and stated in his application:

“I am not satisfied with the decision of the board of review on my claim as mailed on 11/7/45 and desire a review before board of review. There is some misunderstanding. I said I preferred being home at noon to look after invalid wife. But if job would require me being away all day I would accept same.”

That application was disallowed by the board of review.

From that disallowance the claimant appealed to the Court of Common Pleas which court found, on hearing, that the decision of the board of review was unreasonable, void, and against the manifest weight of the evidence.

The court found further that the claimant was, at the time of filing his claim, and thereafter, capable -of and available for work, within the meaning of those terms as set forth in Section 1345-6, General Code.

The court reversed the decision of the board of review disallowing the claim.

It is from that judgment of the Court of Common Pleas that appeal is taken to this court.

The board of review sets forth the following assignments of error:

1. The court erred in reversing the decision of the *443 referee of the board of review.

2. The court erred in holding that the decision of the board of review is unreasonable, void and against the manifest weight of the evidence.

3. The court erred in finding that the claimant, Lewis N. Wiler, was, at the time of filing his claim and thereafter, capable and available for work within the meaning of the unemployment compensation law.

Section 1345-6, General Code, provides as follows:

“* * * a. No individual shall be entitled to any benefits unless he or she * * *

“(4) is able to work and available for work in his usual trade or occupation, or in any other trade- or occupation for which he is reasonably' fitted; and

‘ ‘ (5) is unable to obtain work in his usual trade or occupation or any other employment for which he is reasonably fitted including employments not subject to this act. * * *”

The availability of the claimant for work is the sole issue in this case.

The board of review, on the 7th day of November, 1945, found the claimant able to perform work for which he is reasonably fitted. However, the referee held:

“The testimony reveals a reluctance on the part of the claimant to accept any employment that would keep him away from home at the noon hour.”

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Bluebook (online)
80 N.E.2d 190, 81 Ohio App. 439, 37 Ohio Op. 277, 1947 Ohio App. LEXIS 619, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wiler-v-board-of-review-ohioctapp-1947.