Case Name: Kathryn D. MORTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION and Department of Environmental Protection, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2000-10-04
Citations: 769 So. 2d 1119
Docket Number: No. 2D99-2611
Parties: Kathryn D. MORTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION and Department of Environmental Protection, Appellees.
Judges: SALCINES, J., Concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 769
Pages: 1119–1120

Head Matter:
Kathryn D. MORTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION and Department of Environmental Protection, Appellees.
No. 2D99-2611.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
Oct. 4, 2000.
Kathryn D. Morton, pro se.
John D. Maher, Tallahassee, for Appel-lee Unemployment Appeals Commission.

Opinion:
PARKER, Acting Chief Judge.
Kathryn D. Morton appeals the decision of the Unemployment Appeals Commission (UAC) affirming the appeals referee's decision that she was not entitled to unemployment benefits and requiring her to repay the benefits she received. Because Morton did not provide this court with a transcript of the hearing before the appeals referee, we are compelled to affirm.
The appeals referee found that Morton was discharged for misconduct connected with work after Morton left the state park where she worked unattended and unlocked on July 4, 1998, the busiest day of the year. The appeals referee also found that Morton had at least one prior disciplinary incident. Both of these incidents are documented in the record on appeal. In addition, the record reflects that Morton was habitually late for work. Morton did not request that a transcript of the hearing before the appeals referee be included in the record on appeal. In light of the incidents documented in the record and without a transcript of the hearing, neither the UAC nor this court has any grounds for finding that the appeals referee's decision was not based on competent, substantial evidence. Therefore, the UAC properly affirmed the appeals referee's decision, and we affirm the UAC's decision.
Morton also asks this court to waive the requirement that she repay the benefits she received to the Department of Unemployment Compensation because she is suffering from severe medical and financial hardships. Section 443.151(6)(b), Florida Statutes (1997), specifically allows for recoupment of any unemployment benefits paid when it is later determined that the claimant was not entitled to benefits. No hardship exception exists in the statute. Therefore, this court cannot relieve Morton of her obligations under the statute.
Affirmed.
SALCINES, J., Concurs.
NORTHCUTT, J., Concurs specially.