Case Name: In the Matter of the Claim of Marilyn Caldwell, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2003-06-12
Citations: 306 A.D.2d 672
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Claim of Marilyn Caldwell, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 306
Pages: 672–672

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Claim of Marilyn Caldwell, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
[759 NYS2d 918]

Opinion:
—Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed October 18, 2002, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because her employment was terminated due to misconduct.
Claimant was discharged from her employment by the United States Postal Service after she punched a coworker with her fist. The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board found that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits on the ground that she had lost her employment due to misconduct. It is well settled that perpetrating a physical assault during work hours may constitute disqualifying misconduct regardless of who initiated the confrontation (see Matter of Labayen [Commissioner of Labor], 301 AD2d 1014 [2003]; Matter of McCray [Commissioner of Labor], 301 AD2d 1010 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 502 [2003]). Notwithstanding claimant's mitigating explanations, substantial evidence supports the Board's decision (see Matter of Wray [Commissioner of Labor], 268 AD2d 731 [2000]).
Crew III, J.P., Peters, Spain, Carpinello and Mugglin, JJ., concur. Ordered that the decision is affirmed, without costs.