Opinion ID: 2538241
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Willful and intentional disregard for Medicine Rock's interests

Text: The Commission then analyzed Medicine Rock's argument that Oxley was properly discharged for a willful and intentional disregard for the employer's interests by committing theft. While the Commission acknowledged that theft is a deliberate disregard of an employer's interest that no employer should tolerate, it found there was insufficient evidence that Oxley had indeed committed theft. To prove employee theft, the employer must establish by a preponderance of the evidence the employee stole property from the employer. See Roll, 105 Idaho at 25, 665 P.2d at 724; Parker v. St. Maries Plywood, 101 Idaho 415, 419, 614 P.2d 955, 959 (1980). A preponderance of the evidence means that when weighing all of the evidence in the record, the evidence on which the finder of fact relies is more probably true than not. Ebert v. Newton, 97 Idaho 418, 546 P.2d 64 (1976); Big Butte Ranch Inc. v. Grasmick, 91 Idaho 6, 415 P.2d 48 (1966). On appeal, this Court considers whether the Commission's conclusions are supported by substantial and competent evidence, but does not re-weigh the evidence or consider whether it would have reached a different conclusion from the evidence presented. Hughen v. Highland Estates, 137 Idaho 349, 350, 48 P.3d 1238, 1240 (2002) (citing Warden v. Idaho Timber Corp., 132 Idaho 454, 457, 974 P.2d 506, 509 (1999)). The Commission concluded Mazon waited over four months to fully investigate the accusations and could not provide evidence of which items Oxley took or when the theft occurred. Accordingly, we affirm the Commission's determination that Medicine Rock did not establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Oxley stole inventory from Medicine Rock and, therefore, no employment related misconduct occurred.