Court Opinion

ID: 2796298
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-23 23:09:19.681421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:18:59.593793
License: Public Domain

FILED 

                                                                     APRIL 21, 2015 

                                                               In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

                                                             W A State Court of Appeals, Division III 

          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

                             DIVISION THREE 

MARTIN L. MICHAELSON,                       )         No. 33011-7-111
                                            )
                    Appellant,              )
                                            )
             v.                             )
                                            )
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY                         )         PUBLISHED OPINION
DEPARTMENT,                                 )
                                            )
                    Respondent.             )

      BROWN, J. - Martin Michaelson successfully appealed to the Pierce County

Superior Court to review the Employment Security Department's Commissioner'S

decision affirming an order denying him unemployment benefits. We, like the superior

court, review the commissioner's ruling that adopted the findings of fact and conclusions

of law of the administrative law judge (ALJ). First, Mr. Michaelson contends the

commissioner erred in finding his employment was justifiably terminated after he was

involved in three chargeable accidents within a year while driving trucks for Food

Services of America (FSA). Second, he contends the commissioner erred in concluding

his behavior was misconduct disqualifying him from unemployment benefits. Mr.

Michaelson argues he was merely negligent in one accident and not at fault in two

accidents, and thus no misconduct occurred.
No. 33011-7-111
Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Dep't

       We disagree with Mr. Michaelson's first contention because FSA followed its

progressive discipline policy, but we agree with his second argument. We hold the

commissioner erred in concluding his negligent behavior in the last year of his ten-year

employment was disqualifying misconduct because the record lacks evidence his

behavior was of "such degree or recurrence to show an intentional or substantial

disregard of [FSA's] interest." RCW 50.04.294(1)(d). Accordingly, we, like the superior

court, reverse the commissioner's decision denying unemployment benefits and award

attorney fees to Mr. Michaelson under RCW 50.32.160.

                                          FACTS

       Mr. Michaelson was a delivery driver for FSA from August 2003 through March

2013. He received FSA's handbook detailing corporate policy when he was hired. FSA

follows a progressive disciplinary policy where a written warning is issued for the first

chargeable incident, followed by another written warning and suspension for the second

chargeable incident, then termination for the third chargeable incident occurring within a

12-month period. A "chargeable" incident 1 is one where the driver is accountable for the

collision. This policy was designed to protect FSA's interests: three accidents in a 12­

month period led FSA to believe the potential of further accident was greater, which

would cause FSA liability.

       First, on May 19,2012, Mr. Michaelson backed into a car. He claimed he

followed FSA's policy of getting out and looking (GOAL) before he began to reverse and

       1 "Chargeable" incidents are also referred to as "preventable" incidents by the
parties and the ALJ.

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II
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     Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Oep't

     took other precautions, but he failed to notice a just-parked car behind him too late to

     stop and caused over $1,000 in damage. FSA determined this accident was

     chargeable and issued Mr. Michaelson a written warning. Second, on August 24,2012,

     Mr. Michaelson rolled back into a car after stopping, costing FSA over $1,300 in

     damages. He admitted the accident was chargeable and received his second written

     warning and a work suspension. Third, on March 12,2013, Mr. Michaelson backed into

     a loading dock, bending his bumper. He reported the damage to FSA and bent the

     bumper back into place. FSA determined the March 12 incident was chargeable.

           FSA discharged Mr. Michaelson, citing his three chargeable accidents within a

     12-month period as the reason. FSA believed it had to protect itself from further

     damage to property and potential damage to employees and others.

           The Employment Security Department (the Department) denied Mr. Michaelson's

     claim for unemployment benefits, stating U[d]ue to the potential serious consequences

     and/or frequency of [his] preventable accidents, it is determined [his] actions can not

     [sic] be deemed simple negligence but rather willful and deliberate misconduct." Clerk's

     Papers (CP) at 59. Finding Mr. Michaelson's actions were misconduct, an ALJ and a

     Commissioner's Review Judge affirmed the Department's decision.2 Mr. Michaelson

     appealed. The Pierce County Superior Court reversed, deciding misconduct was not

     established. The Department appealed.

           2 The review judge adopted all the ALJ's findings and conclusions. We refer to
     them as the commissioner's findings and conclusions.

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Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Dep't

                                       ANALYSIS

                                     A. Misconduct

       The issue is whether the commissioner erred in deciding Mr. Michaelson's three

accidents constituted misconduct disqualifying him from unemployment benefits.

       1. Standard of Review. Washington's Administrative Procedure Act (APA),

chapter 34.05 RCW, governs judicial review of employment benefits decisions. Griffith

v. State Dep't of Emp't Sec., 163 Wn. App. 1,6,259 P.3d 1111 (2011). "The []APA

allows a reviewing court to reverse an administrative decision when, inter alia: (1) the

administrative decision is based on an error of law, (2) the decision is not based on

substantial evidence, or (3) the decision is arbitrary or capricious." Tapper v. Emp't

Sec. Dep't, 122 Wash. 2d 397, 402,858 P.2d 494 (1993) (citing RCW 34.05.570(3».

      We, like the superior court, apply APA standards to the administrative record. Id.

We review the commissioner's decision, not the ALJ's decision or the superior court's

ruling. Markam Group, Inc. v. Dep't of Emp't Sec., 148 Wash. App. 555, 560, 200 P.3d
748 (2009). We review the underlying ALJ decision to the extent it is adopted by the

commissioner. Griffith, 163 Wash. App. at 6. We consider the commissioner's decision

prima facie correct. Id. The burden of demonstrating the decision's invalidity is on the

party asserting invalidity. Id. We review the commissioner's fact findings for substantial

evidence in light of the whole record. Smith v. Emp't Sec. Dep't, 155 Wash. App. 24, 32,

226 P.3d 263 (2010). "Substantial evidence is evidence that would persuade a fair-

minded person of the truth or correctness of the matter." Id. at 32-33. We defer to

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    Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Dep't
i
    factual decisions and view the evidence in the light most favorable to the party who

I
j
    prevailed in the highest forum with fact-finding authority; here, this is the Department.

    William Dickson Co. v. Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency, 81 Wash. App. 403,

    411,914 P.2d 750 (1996). As such, we "will not substitute [our] judgment on witnesses'

    credibility or the weight to be given conflicting evidence." W Ports Transp., Inc. v.

    Emp't Sec. Dep't, 110 Wn. App. 440,449,41 P.3d 510 (2002). "Unchallenged findings

    of fact are generally verities on appeal." Griffith, 163 Wash. App. at 6. We review the

    commissioner's legal conclusions for legal errors. Id. While we may substitute our view

    for the commissioner's, we nonetheless give "substantial weight to the [c]ommissioner's

    interpretation due to the agency's special expertise." Id. at 6-7 (internal quotation marks

    omitted).

           Whether an employee's actions constitute misconduct is generally a mixed

    question of fact and law. Markam, 148 Wash. App. at 561. "When reviewing mixed

    questions of law and fact, we accept the [c]ommissioner's unchallenged factual findings,

    apply the substantial evidence standard to the challenged findings of fact, independently

    determine the applicable law, and apply the law to the facts." W. Ports Transp., Inc.,
110 Wash. App. at 450 (stating application of law to facts is de novo). Thus, we determine

    if substantial evidence supports the commissioner's factual findings, and if so, if these

    facts constitute disqualifying misconduct under the Employment Security Act.

           2. Factual Findings. Mr. Michaelson challenges portions of the commissioner's

    finding of fact 4 and 8. In finding of fact 4, the commissioner found Mr. Michaelson "was

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No. 33011-7-111
Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Dep't

involved in a preventable accident" on May 19, 2012. CP at 79. Mr. Michaelson

contends that accident was not his fault. It is undisputed that Mr. Michaelson had to be

aware of his surroundings and use the GOAL method to ensure he safely reversed. In

its post-accident investigation, FSA determined Mr. Michaelson failed to adequately

comply with FSA's safety procedures when he hit a stationary vehicle positioned behind

his vehicle. FSA paid to repair the damaged car. The commissioner gave more weight

to FSA's version of the conflicting testimony; we do not substitute our judgment.

       In finding of fact 8, the commissioner found FSA discharged Mr. Michaelson

"from employment for his third preventable accident during a one year period." CP at

79. Mr. Michaelson mainly disputes the description "preventable." However, all three

accidents were preventable. Substantial evidence supports the commissioner's finding

that the first accident was preventable. Mr. Michaelson admitted liability for the second

accident. The third accident was preventable because had he examined the trailer

before lowering it, as was dictated by FSA's policy, he would have noticed the trailer

lowered substantially more than other trailers he drove. Thus, this finding is supported

by substantial evidence.

       3. Legal Conclusions. Absent a statutory disqualification, unemployed workers

are generally eligible for benefits. Griffith, 163 Wash. App. at 8. "Construction of the

benefits statute which 'would narrow the coverage of the unemployment compensation

laws' is viewed 'with caution.'" Id. (quoting Shoreline Comm. College Dist. NO.7 v.

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Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Oep't

Emp't Sec. Oep't, 120 Wash. 2d 394, 406,842 P.2d 938 (1992)); see also RCW 50.01.010

(stating the Employment Security Act "shall be liberally construed").

       An employee is not entitled to unemployment benefits if he is discharged from

employment for misconduct. RCW 50.20.066(1). In relevant part, "misconduct" is

defined as "[c]arelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence to show an

intentional or substantial disregard of the employer's interest." RCW 50.04.294(1 )(d).

'''Carelessness' and 'negligence' mean failure to exercise the care that a reasonably

prudent person usually exercises." WAC 192-150-205(3). RCW 50.04.294(3) excludes

the following acts from the definition of misconduct:

       (a) Inefficiency, unsatisfactory conduct, or failure to perform well as the
           result of inability or incapacity;
       (b) Inadvertence or ordinary negligence in isolated instances; or
       (c) Good faith errors in judgment or discretion.

      The parties disagree about whether or not Mr. Michaelson's accidents constituted

misconduct. The Department relies on Markam and Smith. The holding in Markam is

that an employee's inability to perform work, regardless of how many mistakes were

made, is not misconduct. Markam, 148 Wash. App. at 564. Markam is inapplicable, as

neither party argues Mr. Michaelson was unable to perform his job.

       In Smith, the court found a county employee engaged in misconduct when he

recorded his conversations with members of the public without the public's knowledge

and consent because this potentially damaged the county's reputation. Smith, 155 Wn.

App. at 36. The Smith court determined the commissioner's conclusion deciding the

employee's conduct disregarded the county's interest because it exposed the county to

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Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Oep't

litigation and liability, as well as impacted citizens' willingness to discuss issues, was not

arbitrary or capricious. Id. at 36-37.

       Similar to Smith, Mr. Michaelson disregarded FSA's interests by exposing FSA to

litigation and liability. But the employee's actions in Smith were not ordinary negligence;

the Smith court found the employee "intentionally performed an act in willful disregard

for its probable consequences." Smith, 155 Wash. App. at 37. Mr. Michaelson had three

chargeable accidents in the last year of his employment and just one in the nine

previous years. At most Mr. Michaelson failed to exercise ordinary negligence, the care

a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in similar circumstances. The

record lacks evidence to support a conclusion that Mr. Michaelson's carelessness or

negligence was of "such degree or recurrence to show an intentional or substantial

disregard of [FSA's] interest." RCW 50.04.294(1 )(d). Nothing indicates Mr.

Michaelson's behavior was willful, reckless, or even grossly negligent. Although Mr.

Michaelson's carelessness or negligence in the last year of his employment justified his

discharge according to FSA policy, considering his long, generally good driving record,

we cannot say his chargeable accidents evidence the necessary misconduct to

disqualify him from receiving unemployment benefits.

                                     B. Attorney Fees.

       Mr. Michaelson requests reasonable attorney fees pursuant to RCW 50.32.160,

RCW 50.32.100, and RCW 4.84.010. RCW 4.84.010(6) allows a prevailing party to

recover statutory attorney fees. Under RCW 50.32.160, unemployment benefits

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No. 33011-7-111
Michaelson v. Emp't Sec. Oep't

claimants are entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs if the decision of the

commissioner is reversed or modified on appeal. "The purpose of [RCW 50.32.160],

when read with RCW 50.32.100 and RCW 50.32.110, is to provide for regulation of

attorney fees incurred in relation to administrative or court proceedings." In re Griswold,

102 Wash. App. 29, 46-47,15 P.3d 153 (2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Because he prevails here, Mr. Michaelson is entitled to attorney fees and costs on

appeal under RCW 50.32.160, assuming compliance with RAP 18.1 (d).

       Reversed.

I CONCUR: 

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                                     33011-7-III

      FEARING, J. -(concurring)   I concur. Three negligences do not make a

misconduct.

I CONCUR: