Court Opinion

ID: 4430547
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:43:22.567271+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:13.136112
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                      APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court."
      Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the
        parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                       SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                       APPELLATE DIVISION
                                       DOCKET NO. A-3578-16T1

ERIC LACKLAND,

        Appellant,

v.

BOARD OF REVIEW, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR and ADVOSERV OF
NEW JERSEY, INC.,

     Respondents.
_________________________________

              Argued August 14, 2018 – Decided September 4, 2018

              Before Judges Sumners and Gilson.

              On appeal from the Board of Review, Department
              of Labor, Docket No. 093,683.

              Eric Lackland, appellant, argued the cause pro
              se.

              Emily M. Bisnauth, Deputy Attorney General,
              argued the cause for respondent Board of
              Review (Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General,
              attorney; Melissa Dutton Schaffer, Assistant
              Attorney General, of counsel; Emily M.
              Bisnauth, on the brief).

              Respondent AdvoServ of New Jersey, Inc. has
              not filed a brief.

PER CURIAM
         Appellant Eric Lackland failed to telephonically appear for

his hearing before the Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal), which resulted

in   a    decision   disqualifying      him        from    receiving   unemployment

benefits because he was discharged for severe misconduct. Lackland

appealed to the Board of Review (Board), which issued a final

agency decision that he failed to demonstrate good cause for not

appearing at the Tribunal's hearing or requesting an adjournment.

We affirm.

         In October 2009, AdvoServ of New Jersey, Inc., which provides

residential care for developmentally disabled persons and sex

offenders,       hired    Lackland    as       a   full-time    community    living

specialist.       In May 2016, Lackland was terminated for taking a

resident out of the facility without permission and for repeatedly

failing     to   follow    instructions.            He    subsequently   filed   for

unemployment benefits.          The Deputy Director determined at a fact-

finding interview – in which AdvoServ did not appear – that

Lackland was eligible for benefits.                      AdvoServ appealed to the

Tribunal contending that it was not notified of the fact-finding

interview and that Lackland was terminated for severe misconduct

connected with the work.

         A Notice of Telephone Hearing for AdvoServ's appeal was mailed

to   the    parties.       At   the   hearing,       AdvoServ's    representative

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testified that appellant refused to follow instructions by taking

a resident out into the community against orders, was disrespectful

towards his supervisors, and had been written-up in the past for

similar problems.    Lackland, however, failed to call-in for the

hearing or request a postponement.          The Tribunal subsequently

reversed the Deputy's decision, determining that Lackland was

discharged for severe misconduct connected with the work as defined

by   N.J.S.A.   43:21-5(b).   The       Tribunal   found   that   Lackland

repeatedly failed to comply with his supervisor's directions,

caused a commotion, and had been issued a prior warning for similar

conduct in the past.

      Lackland appealed to the Board, claiming that he did "not

agree with the [Tribunal's] determination."         The Board denied the

appeal, determining:

           Since [Lackland] was given the opportunity to
           appear at the Appeal Tribunal hearing and as
           good cause for failing to appear or request
           an adjournment has not been presented, there
           is no valid ground for a further hearing.

           On the basis of the record below, we agree
           with [the] decision reached.

      Before us, Lackland admits he received notice of the hearing,

but claims he misunderstood the directions by believing that the

Tribunal hearing examiner would call him.          He also contends his

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employer falsely claimed that he took residents out of the facility

without permission, and that his employer falsified paperwork.

     The scope of our review of an administrative agency's final

determination is strictly limited.        Brady v. Bd. of Review, 152

N.J. 197, 210 (1997).     The agency's decision may not be disturbed

unless shown to be arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.           Ibid.

Therefore, "[i]f the Board's factual findings are supported 'by

sufficient credible evidence, courts are obliged to accept them.'"

Ibid. (quoting Self v. Bd. of Review, 91 N.J. 453, 459 (1982)).

     N.J.S.A. 43:21-5(b) provides that a person is disqualified

for benefits if he or she is discharged for misconduct connected

with the work.    Misconduct is defined as "a deliberate violation

of the employer's rules or a disregard of the standards of behavior

which the employer has a right to expect."             Silver v. Bd. of

Review, 430 N.J. Super. 44, 53 (App. Div. 2013) (citing Beaunit

Mills, Inc. v. Bd. of Review, 43 N.J. Super. 172, 183 (App. Div.

1956)).    Such conduct must be "improper, intentional, connected

with the work, malicious, and within the employee's control."

Ibid.      N.J.S.A.   43:21-5(b)   provides   an   enhanced   penalty   for

individuals discharged for "severe misconduct."         Examples of such

misconduct include "repeated violations of an employer's rule or

policy."    Silver, 430 N.J. Super. at 54.

                                     4                             A-3578-16T1
     We conclude the record supports the Board's finding that

Lackland   did   not   have    good   cause       for     not    appearing   at   the

Tribunal's     telephonic     hearing       and    that     he   committed    severe

misconduct by continued violation of his employer's rules by

failing to follow his supervisor's directions despite a prior

warning.   Hence, he has not shown that the Board violated express

or   implied     legislative      policies,          or      acted    arbitrarily,

capriciously,    or    unreasonably,        in    finding    that    appellant    was

disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits.

     Affirmed.

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