Court Opinion

ID: 2653137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-13 01:01:56.986203+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:23.921349
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 113

                ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION I
                                       No. E-13-687

                                                 Opinion Delivered   February 12, 2014
ROBERT PATTERSON
                              APPELLANT          APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS
                                                 BOARD OF REVIEW
V.                                               [NO. 2013-BR-01851]

DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE SERVICES
                    APPELLEE                     REMANDED

                            KENNETH S. HIXSON, Judge

       Appellant Robert Patterson appeals the May 30, 2013 decision of the Appeal Tribunal

that found Patterson liable to repay $5360 in unemployment benefits to which Patterson

was not entitled pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-10-532(a) (Supp. 2013)

(fraudulent overpayment). The period at issue was for weekly benefits paid to him between

January 9 and June 5, 2010, during which Patterson did not report his correct wages received.

The Board of Review denied his request for appeal pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated

section 11-10-525(a), and he filed a timely appeal to us, seeking review of the Appeal

Tribunal decision, pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-10-525(f). We remand.

       The record on appeal is confusing. It appears that there were two overpayment-of-

benefit cases going on simultaneously regarding Patterson, and references to each case were

evidently intermingled with the other. This appeal pertains to alleged overpayment of
                                 Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 113

benefits for the period of January 9, 2010, through June 5, 2010. This claim originated with

a 901 A Audit Request to the employer dated November 1, 2011. This claim is designated

as claim number 2013-BR-01851 and will be referred to herein as the “June Claim.” While

the June Claim was being prosecuted, another audit to determine whether overpayment of

benefits was made for the period of July 10, 2010, through December 25, 2010. This claim

originated with a 901 A Audit Request to the employer dated December 15, 2011. While

all of the documents related to that audit are not contained in the record before us on appeal,

it appears that this audit is designated as claim number 2012-BR-01011, and will be referred

to herein as the “December Claim.”

       In both, the Department of Workforce Services sought to recover overpayment of

unemployment compensation, alleging that Patterson submitted incorrect wage information

for the respective periods. In the June Claim, the Department alleged overpayment in the

amount of $5360. The Department determined that Patterson was liable to repay the sum

of $5360, and it is the June Claim addressed in this appeal. In the December Claim, the

Department alleged overpayment in the amount of $6479. Although not entirely clear on

the record before us, it appears that the Department found Patterson liable to repay $6479 to

the fund, and Patterson failed to timely appeal.

       On appeal of the June Claim to the Appeal Tribunal, it affirmed the earlier finding that

Patterson should repay $5360 in overpaid unemployment benefits. The confusion arises upon

the review of the Reasoning and Conclusions issued by the Tribunal and the statute it

purported to apply:

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                                 Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 113

       REASONING AND CONCLUSIONS: The Department issued a determination
       that the claimant did not report his correct wages from January 9, 2010, through June
       5, 2010. That determination was affirmed on appeal to the Board of Review in docket number
       2012-BR-01011 [the December Claim]. As the claimant did not report correct wages,
       he was at fault in causing the overpayment. Therefore, the claimant shall be liable to
       repay the overpayment.

       DECISION: The Notice of Fraud Determination issued by the Department under
       Ark. Code Ann. §11-10-532(a) is affirmed. The claimant is liable to repay $5360 to the
       fund.

(Emphasis added.)

       It appears that the Tribunal was confused regarding the simultaneous, yet independent,

claims. We are presented with (1) no findings that the claimant made a “knowing”

misrepresentation or omission to the Department, or, (2) if the relevant findings were made

in the December Claim proceeding, those findings are not in the record on appeal to us.

       There are differing types of overpayment determinations in section 11-10-532,

depending on the intent of the claimant. The most serious determination is found at section

11-10-532(a), which provides that if the claimant is found to have knowingly made a false

statement or misrepresentation or omission of material fact, then the claimant shall be liable

to repay the amount to the fund, and upon which a ten-percent penalty attaches. Id. at

subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2). The other type of overpayment determination is found at 532(b),

which provides that if the claimant received unemployment benefits by reasons other

than fraud or willful misrepresentation or omission, then the claimant shall be liable for

repayment of the amount of the overpayment only; the claimant is not assessed the penalty.

Id. at subsection (b)(1). Subsection (b)(2) permits the Department to waive recovery of the

overpayment if a finding is made that the overpayment was received “without fault” of the

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claimant and upon a finding that recovery of overpayment “would be against equity and good

conscience.”

       Here, at the Department of Workforce Services level, the Department made a “fraud”

determination and stated:

       There were no facts developed in this case. . . . As a result of disqualification . . . in
       accordance with § 11-10-532(a)(1) it is determined that you have been over paid
       benefits. . . . . Once the overpayment becomes final . . ., the amount owed shall
       accrue interest at the rate of 10% per year . . . . In addition, beginning on July 1,
       2001, a penalty of 10% of the amount of overpayment . . . shall be assessed on fraud
       overpayments.

       Patterson appealed the Department’s determination to the Appeal Tribunal. The

Appeal Tribunal recited the issue before it as whether Patterson received unemployment

benefits to which he was not entitled “as a result of making a false statement or

misrepresentation of a material fact knowing it to be false or knowingly failing to disclose a

material fact” pursuant to “Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-10-532(a).” The Tribunal

decision does not specifically address the issue of interest and penalty, but it does affirm the

Department’s decision under subsection (a). The Tribunal compounds the confusion in its

Reasoning and Conclusions by finding that Patterson was “at fault” in causing the

overpayment. The statute references “fault” only in subsection (b) as it relates to the issue of

whether to waive recovery of overpayment on an equitable basis. The Tribunal has, perhaps

inadvertently, combined “fraud” terminology under subsection (a) with “fault” terminology

under subsection (b).

       The Board of Review’s findings of fact are conclusive if supported by substantial

evidence, which is such relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate

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to support a conclusion. Magee v. Dir., 75 Ark. App. 115, 55 S.W.3d 321 (2001). We review

the Board’s findings of fact in the light most favorable to the Board’s decision, and credibility

calls are for the finder of fact. Id. If fair-minded persons could reach the Board’s conclusion,

it must be affirmed. Id. Notably, the appellate courts require sufficient findings of fact and

conclusions of law to review on appeal from a Board of Review decision. Id.

       Here, the Appeal Tribunal rendered no findings of fact, nor were any developed at the

Department level. The transcript of the Appeal Tribunal hearing does not contain any

evidence or facts regarding whether Patterson made a knowingly false statement or omission;

no credibility determination was made. The only evidence regarding the submission of

incorrect wages was that Patterson testified that he followed the directions of the agency’s

representative. The Tribunal may have intended to rely upon the documents found in the

December Claim, but those are not a part of the record on appeal.

       If adequate findings of fact are not made on the issue presented, we remand to the

Board for it to provide findings of fact and conclusions of law upon which to perform proper

appellate review. See Johnson v. Dir., 2013 Ark. App. 74; Bergman v. Dir., 2009 Ark. App.
724; Magee v. Dir., 75 Ark. App. 115, 55 S.W.3d 321 (2001). The Appeal Tribunal failed to

render any findings on the issue presented—whether Patterson’s failure to correctly report his

earnings during those weeks was knowingly fraudulent, as contemplated by subsection (a).

Consequently, we remand.

       Remanded.
       PITTMAN and WALMSLEY, JJ., agree.
       Robert Patterson, pro se appellant.
       Phyllis Edwards, for appellee.

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