Court Opinion

ID: 9786111
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 23:47:33.581233+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:41.777275
License: Public Domain

Chief Justice SCHROEDER,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the Court’s opinion. A driver who cannot be insured through his employer’s insurance carrier is useless. Maintaining a driving record that is insurance eligible is a condition that flows normally from the employment. There should be no need to communicate that condition. However, in this case that condition was communicated. As the Court notes:
EWS’ written employee handbook required that all employees who operated a company motor vehicle have a valid driver’s license and maintain a driving record acceptable to EWS’ insurance carrier. Harris signed the handbook and was generally aware of his employer’s policy.
It is reasonable under any standard to say that a professional driver must maintain a driving record that allows him to do his job. Harris was discharged for misconduct in connection with his employment. He had control over the conduct that resulted in him being disqualified from doing his job. He violated a condition of his employment and rendered himself useless to his employer. He should not be entitled to unemployment benefits.