Opinion ID: 1287498
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: When reviewing a decision of the Commission, this Court will not disturb the factual findings if they are supported by substantial and competent evidence. Laundry v. Franciscan Health Care Ctr., 125 Idaho 279, 281, 869 P.2d 1374, 1376 (1994). Substantial and competent evidence consists of relevant evidence a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Id. This Court exercises free review over questions of law. Id.; Idaho Const. art V, § 9. The question of whether a claimant has satisfied the statutory eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance benefits is a question of fact. Clay v. BMC West Truss Plant, 127 Idaho 501, 503, 903 P.2d 90, 92 (1995); Burnside v. Gate City Steel Corp., 112 Idaho 1040, 1042, 739 P.2d 339, 341 (1987). The claimant bears the burden of showing all of the eligibility requirements have been satisfied. Burnside, 112 Idaho at 1042, 739 P.2d at 341; Owen v. Newberg Cedar, 101 Idaho 77, 78-79, 609 P.2d 144, 145-46 (1980) (holding that claimant has burden of establishing that the offered employment was not suitable work); Howard v. Department of Employment, 100 Idaho 314, 316, 597 P.2d 37, 39 (1979) (It is well settled that the burden of proving and establishing statutory eligibility for unemployment benefits rests with a claimant.). In Burnside this Court noted that [n]o hard or fast rule definitive of elements of proof of those requirements of benefit eligibility `should be or perhaps could be adopted; it must depend, at least in part, upon the particular facts and circumstances as developed in each case.' Burnside, 112 Idaho at 1042, 739 P.2d at 341 (quoting Hudson v. Hecla Mining Co., 86 Idaho 447, 452, 387 P.2d 893, 896 (1963)).