Opinion
March 29, 1984.
Unemployment compensation — Burden of proof — Scope of appellate review — Willful misconduct — Findings — Notice.
1. In an unemployment compensation case, when the party with the burden of proof prevails before the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, the scope of review of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is to determine whether an error of law was committed or whether necessary findings of fact are unsupported by substantial evidence; the burden of proof on the issue of willful misconduct is on the employee. [261]
2. The Unemployment Compensation Board of Review is required to make findings which are necessary to resolve the issues raised by the evidence and which are relevant to a decision, including a finding on whether the claimant received proper notice of the hearing date. [262]
Submitted on briefs February 2, 1984, to Judges MacPHAIL, PALLADINO and BLATT, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 1603 C.D. 1982, from the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review in the case of In Re: Claim of Carson Harris, No. B-206606.
Application to the Office of Employment Security for unemployment compensation benefits. Application denied. Applicant appealed to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Appeal denied. Applicant appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Vacated and remanded.
Evalynn B. Welling, for petitioner.
Michael D. Alsher, Associate Counsel, with him Richard L. Cole, Jr., Chief Counsel, for respondent.
Carson Harris (claimant) appeals here an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) which denied him benefits pursuant to Section 402(e) of the Unemployment Compensation Law (Law), Act of December 5, 1936, Special Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, as amended, 43 P. S. § 802(e) (willful misconduct).
The claimant was employed by the New Diamond Market as a stock handler for approximately eight months. On December 20, 1981, he was ordered by his employer to transport inventory from the storage area to the display area of the store. After refusing to follow the order for the fourth time, he was discharged.
In an unemployment compensation case, where the party with the burden of proof prevailed below, our scope of review, of course, is to determine whether or not an error of law was committed or necessary findings of fact are unsupported by substantial evidence. Stackhouse v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 56 Pa. Commw. 643, 425 A.2d 869 (1981). The burden of proof, furthermore, is upon the employer to prove that the discharge of the employee was for willful misconduct. Hadvance v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 65 Pa. Commw. 447, 442 A.2d 862 (1982).
The claimant contends that he received no notice of his hearing date, was therefore precluded from attending and presenting evidence, and should not be denied benefits.
Our thorough review of the record indicates that, because of the Board's failure to make any findings of fact on the notice issue, we will be unable to resolve the question presented. The Board, of course, is required to make findings which are ". . . necessary to resolve the issues raised by the evidence and which are relevant to a decision." Cicco v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 61 Pa. Commw. 309, 313, 432 A.2d 1162, 1164 (1981). (Emphasis added.) And, as previously noted, our limited scope of review is to determine, inter alia, whether or not the findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence. Stackhouse. Until the Board makes findings on the notice issue, however, we are precluded from operating in our appellate capacity.
Neither the referee's nor the Board's decision makes any findings or even alludes to the notice issue.
On the merits of the notice issue, we believe that the Board should be guided by John Kenneth, Ltd. v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 66 Pa. Commw. 377, 444 A.2d 824 (1982).
We will, therefore, vacate the order of the Board and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 29th day of March, 1984, the order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review is vacated and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Jurisdiction relinquished.