Court Opinion

ID: 3198899
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-04-28 16:09:44.098483+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:23.209003
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Jamar H. Young,                               :
                             Petitioner       :
                                              :
                v.                            :   No. 695 - 700 C.D. 2015
                                              :   Submitted: February 26, 2016
Unemployment Compensation                     :
Board of Review,                              :
                    Respondent                :

BEFORE:         HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
                HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
                HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE SIMPSON                              FILED: April 28, 2016

                Jamar H. Young (Claimant), representing himself, petitions for review
from six orders of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) that
affirmed a referee’s dismissal of his appeals from several notices of determination
(notices) as untimely pursuant to Section 501(e) of the Unemployment
Compensation Law1 (Law). Despite the Board’s determinations that Claimant’s
appeals were untimely, in his uncounseled brief, Claimant offers little argument
regarding the untimeliness of his appeals. Upon review, we must affirm.

                On August 13, 14 and 15, 2014, the local unemployment
compensation (UC) service center issued several notices, which ruled Claimant
ineligible for UC benefits because he did not report all of his earnings from his

       1
           Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, as amended, 43 P.S.
§821(e).
employment with United Parcel Service for numerous weeks between 2010 and
2014. The notices also established fault overpayments.2 Copies of the notices
were mailed to Claimant at his last known post office address on August 13, 14
and 15, 2014. The notices informed Claimant that the final days to timely appeal
were August 28, 29, and September 2, 2014, respectively. Claimant admitted he
received the notices no later than September 2014.

              Thereafter, on October 21, 2014, Claimant contacted the service
center by telephone, and he was advised of his right to file late appeals. Claimant
filed faxed petitions for appeal of the notices, which the service center received on
December 4, 2014.

              A referee held a hearing on Claimant’s appeals at which Claimant
appeared and testified. Additionally, Andrea Quirk of the Erie UC service center
testified by telephone.

              After the hearing, the referee issued decisions in which he found
Claimant offered no explanation for the six-week delay between his conversation
with the service center and the faxed appeals. The referee further found Claimant
was not misinformed or misled as to his appeal rights. Dismissing Claimant’s
appeals as untimely, the referee explained (with emphasis added):

                   [Claimant] testified that there was an issue with his mail,
              and he did not receive the [notices] until sometime in
              September 2014. [Claimant] further testified that he was
       2
         Additionally, in two instances, the notices indicated that Claimant had invalid waiting
weeks in 2011 and 2013, which had to be changed to valid waiting weeks.

                                               2
                shocked by the decisions, and did not contact the [s]ervice
                [c]enter until some point later. The evidence shows that
                [Claimant] did have a discussion with the [s]ervice [c]enter on
                October 21, 2014, at which time he was specifically advised of
                his appeal rights, including the right to file a late appeal. For
                reasons unknown, [Claimant] then waited another 6 weeks to
                file his appeals.

                      Based on the evidence in the record, [Claimant’s] appeals
                were not filed until 12/4/14, the date that they were stamped as
                received by the UC [s]ervice [c]enter’s fax machine. Moreover,
                there is nothing in the record to indicate that there was any
                breakdown in the administrative process, or any fraud or non-
                negligent conduct of [Claimant] which would otherwise excuse
                the late filing of the appeals by [Claimant]. Accordingly,
                [Claimant’s] appeals must be dismissed in accordance with
                Section 501(e) of the Law.

Certified Record (C.R.), Item No. 13, Referee’s Dec., 1/14/15, at 2.

                Claimant appealed, and the Board issued orders affirming the
referee’s decisions and adopting and incorporating the referee’s findings and
conclusions. Claimant now petitions for review to this Court.3

                Initially, we note, in UC cases, the Board is the ultimate fact-finder
and is empowered to resolve all conflicts in evidence, witness credibility and
weight afforded to the evidence. Ductmate Indus., Inc. v. Unemployment Comp.
Bd. of Review, 949 A.2d 338 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008). Unchallenged findings are
conclusive on appeal. Campbell v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 694
A.2d 1167 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997). In addition, we are bound by the Board’s findings

      3
          This Court consolidated Claimant’s appeals of the six Board orders issued in this case.

                                                 3
so long as the record, taken as a whole, contains substantial evidence to support
them. Ductmate.

              On appeal,4 Claimant does not dispute the fact-finder’s determinations
that his appeals of the notices were untimely. Instead, most of his brief relates to
the merits of the notices.        However, he very briefly asserts he experienced
problems receiving mail at his address.            Also, in his Statement of the Case,
Claimant asserts, “[he] did not understand fully what was going on ,once [sic] the
letter was received of me. The language in the letter was intimidating,fearful, [sic]
threatening my imprisonment,and [sic] accusatory.” Br. of Pet’r at 2.

              In response, the Board informed this Court that it would not file a
brief in this matter.

              Section 501(e) of the Law states, as relevant:

              Unless the claimant … files an appeal with the board, from the
              determination contained in any notice required to be furnished
              by the department … within fifteen calendar days after such
              notice was delivered to him personally, or was mailed to his last
              known post office address, and applies for a hearing, such
              determination of the department, with respect to the particular
              facts set forth in such notice, shall be final and compensation
              shall be … denied in accordance therewith.

       4
         Our review is limited to determining whether necessary findings of fact were supported
by substantial evidence, whether errors of law were committed or whether constitutional rights
were violated. Johns v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 87 A.3d 1006 (Pa. Cmwlth.),
appeal denied, 97 A.3d 746 (Pa. 2014).

                                              4
43 P.S. §821(e).5 “The requirement that an appeal be filed within fifteen days is
jurisdictional, precluding either the Board or a referee from further considering the
matter.” Gannett Satellite Info. Sys., Inc. v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review,
661 A.2d 502, 504 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1995) (citation omitted). The time for taking an
appeal cannot be extended as a matter of grace or mere indulgence. Russo v.
Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 13 A.3d 1000 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010).

                 However, the Board may consider an untimely appeal in limited
circumstances. Hessou v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 942 A.2d 194
(Pa. Cmwlth. 2008). The burden to establish the right to have an untimely appeal
considered is a heavy one because the statutory time limit established for appeals is

       5
           Further, Section 101.82(b)(3) of the Board’s regulations states, in relevant part:

                 (b) A party may file a written appeal by any of the following methods:

                                                    ****
                     (3) Fax transmission.

                        (i) The filing date will be determined as follows:

                              (A) The date of receipt imprinted by the Department, the
                        workforce investment office or the Board’s fax machine.

                                                    ****

                 (ii) A party filing an appeal by fax transmission is responsible for delay,
                 disruption, interruption of electronic signals and readability of the
                 document and accepts the risk that the appeal may not be properly or
                 timely filed.

                 (iii) A fax transmission is timely filed if it is received by the Department
                 appeal office, workforce investment office or Board before midnight on
                 the last day of the appeal period in accordance with this subsection.

34 Pa. Code §101.82(b)(3) (emphasis added).

                                                   5
mandatory. Roman-Hutchinson v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 972
A.2d 1286 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).

             A petitioner may satisfy this heavy burden in one of two ways.
Hessou.     First, he can show administrative breakdown or fraud.                Cook v.
Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 671 A.2d 1130 (Pa. 1996); Hessou.
Second, he can show non-negligent conduct beyond his control caused the delay.
Cook; Hessou. “[F]ailure to file an appeal within fifteen days, without an adequate
excuse for the late filing, mandates dismissal of the appeal.” Hessou, 942 A.2d at
198 (quoting U.S. Postal Serv. v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 620 A.2d
572, 573 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993)).

             In addition, a party seeking permission to file a nunc pro tunc or “now
for then” appeal must proceed with reasonable diligence once he knows of the
necessity to take action.       Schofield v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver
Licensing, 828 A.2d 510 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003). Thus, an application must be filed
within a reasonable time after the occurrence of the extraordinary circumstance.
Nixon v. Nixon, 198 A. 154 (Pa. 1938).

             Here, the referee made the following supported findings, which the
Board adopted. On August 13, 14 and 15, 2014, the service center mailed the
notices, which found Claimant ineligible for UC benefits for numerous claim
weeks between 2010 and 2014, to Claimant’s last known address.6 Referee’s Dec.,

      6
         Specifically, the service center deemed Claimant ineligible for UC benefits under
Sections 4(u), 43 P.S. §753 (defining the term “unemployed”), 401 and 401(c), 43 P.S. §801,
(Footnote continued on next page…)

                                            6
Finding of Fact (F.F.) No. 1; C.R. at Item #6. The notices also established fault
overpayments under Section 804(a) of the UC Law, 43 P.S. §874(a). Id. The
notices were not returned as undeliverable by the postal authorities. F.F. No. 2.
The notices indicated the last day to appeal was August 28, 29 and September 2,
respectively. F.F. No. 3; C.R. at Item #6. Claimant recalled receiving the notices
no later than September 2014. F.F. No. 4; C.R., Item #12, Referee’s Hearing,
Notes of Testimony (N.T.), 1/12/15, at 8.

              On October 21, 2014, Claimant contacted the service center by
telephone and was advised of his right to file late appeals during that conversation.
F.F. No. 5; N.T. at 8, 10-11; C.R., Item #1 at 53. Claimant filed faxed appeals of
the notices, which were received on December 4, 2014, as indicated by the service
center fax machine’s printed received on dates on the petitions for appeal. F.F. No.
6; C.R., Item #7. Claimant offered no explanation for the six-week delay between
his telephone conversation with the service center and the faxed appeals. F.F. No.
7; N.T. at 10. Claimant was not misinformed or misled as to his appeal rights.
F.F. No. 8; N.T. at 6-14.

              Further, the fact-finder determined, “there is nothing in the record to
indicate that there was any breakdown in the administrative process, or any fraud
or non-negligent conduct of Claimant which would otherwise excuse the late filing
of the appeals by Claimant.” Referee’s Dec. at 2. Likewise, in his brief to this

(continued…)

801(c) (“Qualifications required to secure compensation”) and 404(d), 43 P.S. §804(d) (“Rate
and amount of compensation”).

                                             7
Court, Claimant does not clearly explain how his untimely appeals resulted from
administrative breakdown or fraud or non-negligent conduct beyond his control.
Because Claimant does not challenge the Board’s findings, they are conclusive on
appeal. Campbell.

            In addition, before the referee Claimant offered no testimony that he
was confused regarding his right to appeal or the appeal deadlines stated on the
notices. To that end, the following exchanges occurred at the referee’s hearing
(with emphasis added):

            [Referee]: All right. It looks like you faxed your appeal[s] on
            December 4th [2014]. Why was that? Why did you wait so
            long, I guess is what I’m trying to find out?

            [Claimant]: Because I really -- to be honest I was in a state of
            shock. I did not understand why I had all of these notices
            dating back so many years.

            [Referee]: Did you contact the [s]ervice [c]enter to find out
            what was happening?

            [Claimant]: I did. (inaudible).

            [Referee]: Do you recall when you spoke with the [s]ervice
            [c]enter people?

            [Claimant]: No, I don’t.

                                        ****

            [Agency representative]: … [A]ccording to the most recent
            claim record … that is where any notes will be made if you had
            called in to contact us about those -- information. And it
            appears that you called in and only spoke with us once and that
            was October 21st [2014]. And you were indicated -- or we had
            told you that you could file an appeal if you did not agree at

                                        8
               that point in time. So you called in in October. Why did you
               wait until December [to file the appeals]?

               [Referee]:     Do you know why, sir?

               [Claimant]: No. I just -- I just didn’t.

N.T. at 8, 10.7

               For these reasons, we are constrained to affirm the Board’s decisions
dismissing Claimant’s appeals as untimely under Section 501(e) of the Law.

                                             ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge

       7
          Without any discussion or explanation, Claimant provides a citation to this Court’s
unreported decision in Haley v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Pa. Cmwlth.,
No. 296 C.D. 2011, filed December 29, 2011). There, we affirmed a Board decision dismissing
a claimant’s appeal from a referee’s decision as untimely where the claimant faxed her appeal
eight days after the appeal deadline after an initial unsuccessful attempt to file it by email. The
claimant testified that after she experienced difficulties filing her appeal by email she called a
number she found online and was directed to mail the appeal to the Commonwealth Court rather
than to the Department of Labor and Industry. However, the claimant could not identify the
telephone number, with whom she spoke or the entity she called for assistance. Ultimately, this
Court determined: “Without this information, it is impossible to say whether [the] [c]laimant’s
failure to timely file her appeal was caused by a breakdown in the UC administrative system or
by non-negligent circumstances related to the [c]laimant.” Id., slip op. at 5-6 (emphasis deleted).
Thus, we concluded the Board lacked authority to consider the merits of the claimant’s appeal
from the referee’s decision and properly refrained from doing so.
        Our careful review of Haley fails to disclose any support for Claimant’s position here.

                                                9
       IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Jamar H. Young,                     :
                     Petitioner     :
                                    :
           v.                       :   No. 695 - 700 C.D. 2015
                                    :
Unemployment Compensation           :
Board of Review,                    :
                    Respondent      :

                                  ORDER

           AND NOW, this 28th day of April, 2016, the orders of the
Unemployment Compensation Board of Review are AFFIRMED.

                                   ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge