Opinion ID: 1288441
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the commission's findings

Text: Sun Valley argues that the Commission did not fulfill its statutory obligation under I.C. § 72-716 to make adequate findings of fact. This Court has remanded unemployment cases to the Commission in the past for inadequate findings. See Comegys v. Idaho Air Nat'l Guard, 104 Idaho 767, 663 P.2d 648 (1983); Nenoff v. Culligan Soft Water, 95 Idaho 834, 521 P.2d 658 (1974), appeal after remand, 97 Idaho 243, 542 P.2d 837 (1975). In Nenoff, the Court outlined the type of findings that are adequate: In reviewing appeals from the Industrial Commission, this Court is limited by constitution, statute, and decision, to a review of questions of law. It is impossible, however, to fairly evaluate a conclusion of law of the Industrial Commission without knowing the facts upon which the Commission based its conclusion. The Commission has a duty to make findings of fact. I.C. 72-716; Swan v. Williamson, 74 Idaho 32, 257 P.2d 552 (1953); Patrick v. Smith Baking Co., 64 Idaho 190, 129 P.2d 651 (1942); In re MacKenzie, 54 Idaho 481, 33 P.2d 113 (1934). Such findings must be definite, certain and specific, and there should be no room for misunderstanding as to whether statements are intended to be findings. Swan v. Williamson, supra . In this case the Commission did not resolve the factual conflicts in the evidence. The findings of fact entered by the Commission are merely a recitation of the allegations, contentions and testimony of the parties. Such findings of fact do not permit this Court to obtain a clear understanding of the basis of the decision of the Commission and are contrary to this Court's instructions in Swan v. Williamson, supra , wherein we stated: Where there is a conflict in the testimony the duty rests upon the board, a fact finding body, to resolve such conflict, to determine what is true and what is false and to announce the facts in accordance with its findings. Statements, observations, recitals and excerpts from the testimony of witnesses, argumentative comment thereon, statements of the method of reasoning by which a conclusion is reached, that the claimant has or has not established certain facts by a preponderance of the evidence, as well as statements as to sustaining or failing to sustain the burden of proof are not proper; neither are they required by nor sufficient to satisfy the express statutory duty requiring specific, certain and reasonably concise findings of fact. 74 Idaho at 37, 257 P.2d at 554. Therefore the matter is remanded to the Industrial Commission with directions to enter findings of fact, conclusions of law and a new order conforming with those findings and conclusions. Nenoff, 95 Idaho at 836-37, 521 P.2d at 660-61 (footnotes omitted). The findings in Nenoff did not contain any statement by the Commission weighing the conflicting testimony. See Nenoff, 95 Idaho at 836 n. 4, 521 P.2d at 660 n. 4. Sun Valley maintains that this case has the same flaw that existed in Nenoff, arguing that the Commission's findings constitute merely a recitation of what the opposing witnesses said. However, a close reading of the Commission's recitations indicates that it did make sufficient findings to allow review by this Court. The Commission described Sun Valley's evidence as general averments. In contrast, the Commission termed Wulff's evidence as veritable explanations, which is a way of saying that her explanations were believable. In light of the conclusion reached by the Commission, it follows that the Commission in fact believed and accepted Wulff's testimony. In the face of believable explanations by Wulff, Sun Valley's evidence did not prove misconduct warranting denial of benefits, according to the Commission. The Commission could have been far more specific about finding the facts, but when read in the context of the Commission's rulings the findings are adequate to conduct a proper review.