Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: the Claim of Dana A. SCUDERI, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed February 14, 2006, which, inter alia, ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because she refused an offer of suitable employment without good cause.
Claimant worked as a project management assistant until she was laid off on December 27, 2004. Thereafter, she received unemployment insurance benefits. Starting in mid-February 2005, the employer repeatedly called claimant and left messages offering her the opportunity to return to work. Claimant, however, never spoke with the employer and did not return to her job. As a result, the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board ruled that she was disqualified from receiving benefits because she refused an offer of suitable employment without good cause. In addition, the Board charged her with a recoverable overpayment of benefits pursuant to Labor Law § 597(4) and reduced her right to receive future benefits by eight effective days. Claimant appeals.
We affirm. “A claimant who refuses to accept a job for which he or she is reasonably suited by training and experience will be disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits” (Matter of Guzenski [Commissioner of Labor], 20 A.D.3d 801, 802, 798 N.Y.S.2d 580 [2005] [citations omitted] ). Here, although claimant testified that she never received any messages from the employer concerning an offer of employment, this presented a credibility issue for the Board to resolve (see Matter of Nappi [Commissioner of Labor], 260 A.D.2d 714, 714, 687 N.Y.S.2d 474 [1999] ). Substantial evidence supports the Board's finding that she refused an offer of suitable employment without good cause (see Matter of McKeon [Community Health Care-Commissioner of Labor], 306 A.D.2d 792, 793, 761 N.Y.S.2d 394 [2003] ). Claimant's failure to disclose the job offer when certifying for benefits supports the Board's finding that she made willful false statements to obtain benefits (see Matter of Turner [Commissioner of Labor], 6 A.D.3d 915, 916, 774 N.Y.S.2d 454 [2004] ).
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: May 10, 2007
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)