Court Opinion

ID: 9544757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:01:27.426967+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:13:35.165969
License: Public Domain

RICHARDSON, J.
I concur in the result reached by the majority. However, I believe that once the majority has determined that the scope of review under section 409.2 of the Unemployment Insurance Code (all statutory references are to this code) is limited to issues of law which cannot, as a matter of due process, affect the previously adjudicated rights of the parties to the underlying controversy, all subsequent discussion of Carroll’s compliance with seek-work instructions unnecessarily examines the trial court’s factual findings. Under the standard expressed in part I of the majority opinion, in my view the correctness of the board’s ruling on the facts need not be reviewed.
I further concur in the majority’s conclusion that a claimant is entitled to rely on the specific “course of action” recommended by the EDD “[w]hen the EDD is better situated than the claimant to know ‘customary methods of obtaining work . .. and the current condition of the labor market.’” (Ante, p. 112.) I emphasize, however, that it is not my understanding that the majority holds, because it is not at issue, that the EDD in all cases must prescribe a detailed seek-work plan for all claimants. In some instances, a claimant’s superior knowledge of the employment market may place a heavier burden on such claimant to use his initiative in seeking work.
In summary, the case before us does not present the questions—what constitutes (1) adequate “specific and reasonable instructions” by the EDD, or (2) adequate compliance with such instructions by all claimants, who must make “all reasonable effort to secure employment on *119their own behalf”? (§ 100.) In my view, the majority correctly holds that there is no independent “seek-work” requirement imposed on claimant under subdivision (c), which is greater than the requirements expressed in subdivision (e) of section 1253, and with that holding I concur.
Clark, J., concurred.