Williams v. Eysink

163 So. 3d 30, 2015 La. App. LEXIS 406, 2015 WL 921014
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 4, 2015
DocketNo. 49,526-CA
StatusPublished

This text of 163 So. 3d 30 (Williams v. Eysink) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. Eysink, 163 So. 3d 30, 2015 La. App. LEXIS 406, 2015 WL 921014 (La. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinions

STEWART, J.

Appellants, City of Ruston (“city”) and Louisiana Workforce Commission (“commission”), are appealing the trial court’s judgment in favor of claimant, Christopher Williams (“Williams”). The trial court found that the Board of Review’s (“board”) determination that Williams was not entitled to benefits was not supported by facts established by sufficient evidence or applicable law, and reversed. The Appeals Tribunal’s (“tribunal”) decision was reinstated. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

[32]*32FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Williams worked as a refuse disposal driver for the city from February 27, 2001 to June 6, 2013. In April 2011, Williams approached Ed Pittman (“Pittman”), the Assistant Director of Public Works in Ru-ston, and Lewis Love (“Love”), the Director of Public Works in Ruston, about allegations of an affair between his wife, Sandra Williams (“Sandra”), who was also working for the city of Ruston, and his supervisor, Dennis Woods (“Woods”). Woods was the Solid Waste Superintendent for the city. Williams demanded that Sandra and Woods be fired because of the alleged infidelity. Since there was no allegation of sexual activity taking place at work between Sandra and Woods, Pittman and Love informed Williams that they would not be fired.

The city gave Williams the option of transferring to another position with the same pay and more chances to advance, but he declined. Woods was removed as Williams’ supervisor, and Williams was instructed to report directly to Woods’ supervisor, Jeff Miller. Williams was allegedly | ¡Instructed not to have any contact with Woods or Sandra at work. In turn, Woods and Sandra were instructed not to have contact with Williams at work. Woods and Sandra were permitted to work together, but were instructed to limit their communications at work to work-related issues. These instructions were not put in writing.

On May 14, 2013, an argument took place in Sandra’s office involving Williams, Woods, and Sandra. Williams was suspended with pay on May 16, 2013, and his employment was terminated on June 6, 2013.1 The separation notice stated that Williams was terminated because he “threatened physical violence against two co-workers after being instructed not to have contact with them.”

Williams subsequently filed for unemployment compensation benefits with the commission. The commission found that Williams was discharged from his employment because of fighting on duty, but it did not disqualify him, after determining his separation was not for misconduct connected with his employment. The city appealed this decision to the tribunal.

On August 21, 2013, a telephone hearing was conducted at the tribunal office. Pittman, Woods, Janice Turner (“Turner”), Jim Liner (“Liner”), and Christy Williams Perry (“Perry”) testified.

Pittman, who discharged Williams, testified that he was out of town when Williams committed the “threats of physical violence.” He further testified that Kevin McGivney and Pat Cargill initiated the investigation into the incident, and that he completed the investigation when he returned |3from out of town. Pittman also testified regarding the city’s policy, stating that the first offense of physical violence would result in the issuance of a written warning, or a two-day suspension or discharge. He admitted that Williams was never given any written reprimands or suspensions. He further testified that regarding the policy, “we try to stay close to it but we don’t follow it completely.” It was also noted that in Williams’ July 2011 performance review, there was no mention of the May 2011 incident.

Woods testified that the May 14, 2013, incident involved him, Sandra, and Williams in Sandra’s office. He stated that Williams “come (sic) over to me and started threatening me” that day, and that he did not do or say anything to Williams. Woods denied having any involvement with [33]*33Sandra. Woods reported the May 14, 2013, incident to Pittman via telephone.

Turner, who is also an employee of the city, testified that she was present during the May 14, 2013, argument. She stated that during the exchange between Williams and Sandra, Sandra pointed her finger at Williams. Williams told her to “get her finger out of his face before he slapped her down in front of that boyfriend.” At that point, Turner' testified that Woods stood up, and Williams told him that “he’d slap him down too.” Turner testified that she had never witnessed Williams behave in such a manner.

Liner testified that in June 2011, Williams’ garbage truck broke down. When Liner arrived at the scene, he told Williams that Woods was going to pick him up. Williams became upset, stating, “I want some of that” |4and “I wish he’d come get me.” Liner testified that he called Miller, and Miller sent someone else to pick Williams up. Liner reported the incident to his supervisor, Kevin McGivney, that same day. He testified that he had never witnessed Williams “act like that before.”

Perry, the daughter of Williams and Sandra, testified that on May 14, 2013, she contacted Sandra to discuss her wedding. Specifically, she informed Sandra and she did not want Woods to attend her wedding. After Sandra informed Perry that she would not honor her wishes, Perry contacted Williams to ask him to talk to Sandra about not bringing Woods to the wedding.

In the decision rendered on August 23, 2013, the tribunal determined that Williams was eligible for benefits, after finding that “while the employer may have been justified in discharging the claimant, the evidence and testimony in this case are insufficient to show the separation was for an act or acts which would constitute misconduct connected with employment.” The city appealed this decision to the board on September 6, 2013.

The board found the city proved legal misconduct and that Williams was not entitled to benefits pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1601(2). It reversed the tribunal’s decision that qualified Williams for benefits effective June 16, 2013. Williams appealed the board’s decision to the Third Judicial District Court in Lincoln Parish. The trial court found that the board’s decision was not supported by facts established by sufficient and competent evidence or Inapplicable law, and reversed it. The tribunal’s decision was reinstated. From this judgment, both the city and the commission appeal.

LAW AND DISCUSSION

On appeal, the city and the commission (hereinafter referred to as “the appellants” or “city” and/or “commission”) argue that the trial court erred in finding that the board’s decision was incorrect as a matter of law and not based on sufficient evidence. They both also argue that the trial court erred in finding that Williams’ act of threatening physical violence against Woods and Sandra, after being instructed not to have contact with them, did not constitute misconduct under La. R.S. 23:1601(2). The commission also assigns as error the trial court’s determination that the May 14, 2013, incident was unpremeditated, isolated and not a willful disregard of the employer’s interest. The city also argues that the trial court erred in not holding that Williams was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits due to making false statements in obtaining benefits pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1601(8).

The controlling provision of unemployment compensation law is La. R.S. 23:1601, which states in pertinent part:

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Bluebook (online)
163 So. 3d 30, 2015 La. App. LEXIS 406, 2015 WL 921014, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-eysink-lactapp-2015.