Withrow v. Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board

• Court: Superior Court of Delaware
• Decided: November 2, 2023
• Docket: N23A-03-009 FWW
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

TIMOTHY WITHROW, ) ) Appellant, ) ) v. ) C.A. No. N23A-03-009 FWW ) UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ) APPEAL BOARD, ) ) Appellee. )

Submitted: August 25, 2023 Decided: November 2, 2023

Upon Appeal from the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, AFFIRMED.

ORDER

Timothy Withrow, 50 Happy Jack Trail, Goshen, VA 24439, pro se, Appellant.

Victoria W. Counihan, Esquire, Deputy Attorney General, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 820 North French Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attorney for Appellee Delaware Division of Unemployment Insurance.

Matthew B. Frawley, Esquire, Deputy Attorney General, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 820 North French Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attorney for Appellee Delaware Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board.

WHARTON, J. This 2nd day of November, 2023, upon consideration of Appellant Timothy

Withrow’s (“Withrow”) Opening Brief,1 Appellee Division of Unemployment

Insurance’s letter in lieu of answering brief (“Division”),2 letter on behalf of the

Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board (“Board”),3 and the record,4 it appears to

the Court that:

1. On March 31, 2023, Withrow filed a Notice of Appeal from the

Board’s decision dated March 23, 2023 determining that he was ineligible for

unemployment insurance benefits.5 The Board determined that he was ineligible

for benefits because he was not able and available for work due to a medical

condition.6

2. Withrow submitted a one-page Opening Brief on appeal. The entirety

of his argument is quoted below:

I appealed the referee decision of Oct. 18, 2022. At this hearing I submitted evidence from my doctor stating that I could not do the work and evidence from the unemployment website states that if you are unemployed or voluntarily quit because of a medical condition that you are eligible for unemployment benefits. Reference Pages 10 and 41 of transcripts.7

1 Appellant’s. Op. Br., D.I. 7 2 Division’s Ans., D.I. 8. (Pursuant to 19 Del. C. § 3322(b), the Division is a statutory party in interest.) 3 D.I. 9. 4 Withrow did not file a Reply Brief. 5 D.I. 1. 6 R. at 5, D.I. 4. 7 Appellant’s Op. Br. at 1, D.I. 6. 2 3. The Division submitted a letter in lieu of an answering brief. 8 The

Division cites 19 Del. C. § 3315(3) which states that in order to be eligible for

unemployment benefits, the Division must find that a claimant ‘“[i]s able to work

and is available for work.”’9 Not only is this requirement mandatory for all states

participating in the federal funding of the unemployment system, but it

distinguishes unemployment insurance from disability or health insurance.10 The

Division posits that Withrow confuses the requirement that a claimant be able and

available to work under § 3315(3) with § 3314(1) which provides that someone

who voluntarily quit for medical reasons is not disqualified from receiving benefits

‘“after the individual becomes able and available for work and meets all other

requirements”’ under Title 19.11 Here Withrow’s own testimony at the hearings

before the referee and the Board establishes that he was unable to work due to

medical restrictions placed on him by his doctor.12

4. The UIAB’s decision must be affirmed so long as it is supported by

substantial evidence and is free from legal error.13 Substantial evidence is

evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a

8 D.I. 8. 9 Id. at 2 (quoting 19 Del. C. § 3315(3)). 10 Id. (citing Michelle A. Sinclair, Inc. v. Riley, 2004 WL 1731140, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. July 30, 2004)). 11 Id. (citing 19 Del. C. § 3314(1)). 12 Id. 13 Unemployment Ins. Appeal Bd. v. Duncan, 337 A.2d 308, 309 (Del. 1975). 3 conclusion.14 While a preponderance of evidence is not necessary, substantial

evidence means “more than a mere scintilla.”15 Moreover, because the Court does

not weigh evidence, determine questions of credibility, or make its own factual

findings, it must uphold the decision of the UIAB unless the Court finds that the

UIAB “act[ed] arbitrarily or capriciously” or its decision “exceed[ed] the bounds

of reason.”16 Questions of law are reviewed de novo.17

5. After carefully reviewing the record, the Court finds that the UIAB’s

denial of unemployment benefits is supported by substantial evidence and is free

from legal error. Withrow’s own testimony and Opening Brief establish that he

was unable to work for medical reasons. Accordingly, under §§ 3315(3) and

3314(1), he was ineligible to receive or unemployment benefits at least until he

was cleared by his doctor to return to work.

THEREFORE, the decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeals

Board is AFFIRMED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Ferris W. Wharton Ferris W. Wharton, J.

14 Oceanport Indus. v. Wilmington Stevedores, 636 A.2d 892, 899 (Del. Super. 1994) (citing Olney v. Cooch, 425 A.2d 610, 614 (Del. 1981)). 15 Breeding v. Contractors-One-Inc., 549 A.2d 1102, 1104 (Del. 1988). 16 PAL of Wilmington v. Graham, 2008 WL 2582986, at *4 (Del. Super. June 18, 2008). 17 Ward v. Dep’t of Elections, 2009 WL 2244413, at *1 (Del. Super. July 27, 2009). 4