Court Opinion

ID: 9721846
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:10:49.728319+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:28.896849
License: Public Domain

*775HOFFMAN, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority opinion correctly stated that the “[referee] may consider all hearsay of whatever nature to which a timely objection by an interested party is not made.” I have carefully studied the record in this case and I cannot find any statement made by the claimant which can be characterized as an objection to the referee reading from a document and asking questions as to the truth of such statements. Claimant clearly admitted in answers to referee’s questions that she was given verbal warnings for excessive absenteeism; she was given written warnings; she was suspended and given a final disciplinary action of one day off with pay; that she was absent again and was discharged for absenteeism. This was clearly established by the claimant’s responses which are set out in the majority opinion. Her explanation of the last act of absenteeism was stated by the claimant to be for reasons of sickness. Although she stated that she had a doctor’s statement, the record clearly shows that no statement from any doctor was submitted for the April 2 incident.
Further, I do not believe that the evidence here in question can be classified as hearsay evidence. Hearsay includes written or verbal testimony of statements made out of court which is offered to prove the truth of matters asserted therein. See: Simmons v. State (1978), Ind.App., 371 N.E.2d 1316. Here, claimant’s verbal answers to questions propounded by the examiner at the hearing serve as the basis of proving the truth of those matters, thereby removing the evidence from the realm of hearsay.
I would therefore affirm the Review Board’s decision.