IN RE: the Claim of Vivian G. WASHINGTON (2003)

Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed September 11, 2002, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because her employment was terminated due to misconduct.

Claimant was discharged from her employment as a family homemaker for a children's aid society after she was accused of stealing a coworker's purse and using one of the credit cards without authorization.   The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, overruling the decision of the Administrative Law Judge, found that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because she lost her employment due to misconduct.   We affirm.

 “An employee's apparent dishonesty * * * can constitute disqualifying misconduct” (Matter of Huggins [Samaritan Med. Ctr.-Commissioner of Labor], 257 A.D.2d 877, 878, 684 N.Y.S.2d 73 [citations omitted];  see Matter of Alvarez [Commissioner of Labor], 297 A.D.2d 859, 747 N.Y.S.2d 62).   Although claimant maintains that she was falsely accused, the Board was free to credit the testimony of the cardholder and a coworker, who stated that they were able to positively identify claimant from a surveillance video taken at the store where the unauthorized transaction occurred (see generally Matter of Titus [Sweeney], 220 A.D.2d 919, 632 N.Y.S.2d 319).   In view of the foregoing, substantial evidence supports the Board's decision that claimant, whose employment position required a high standard of honesty and integrity, engaged in disqualifying misconduct (see Matter of Titus [Sweeney], supra;  Matter of Barrientos [Hudacs], 190 A.D.2d 926, 593 N.Y.S.2d 581), notwithstanding the fact that the criminal charges against claimant were dismissed (see Matter of Rivera [Catherwood], 28 A.D.2d 1036, 283 N.Y.S.2d 676).

ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.