Opinion
July 15, 1999
Appeals from two decisions of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed March 17, 1998, which, upon reopening and reconsideration, rescinded its prior decisions filed January 23, 1998 and ruled Early Intervention Center of Suffolk Inc. liable for unemployment insurance contributions on remuneration paid to claimant and those similarly situated.
William R. Garbarino (Donald R. Hamill of counsel), Sayville, for appellant.
Jaeger Block (Steven M. Jaeger of counsel), Islandia, for Carol J. Montalto, respondent.
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-General (Steven Segall of counsel), New York City, for Commissioner of Labor, respondent.
Before: MERCURE, J.P., CREW III, YESAWICH JR., PETERS and GRAFFEO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Substantial evidence supports the decisions of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board finding that Early Intervention Center of Suffolk Inc. (hereinafter EIC), an agency which arranges for tutorial services for children who are not performing well academically due to poor speech, language or motor skills, exercised sufficient control over claimant and those similarly situated to establish an employer-employee relationship. After an interview, claimant, a tutor, entered into a tutorial agreement with EIC which was written by EIC. In addition to EIC retaining the right to require tutors to attend workshops and meetings, the agreement also provided that tutors could not deny their services based upon a child's race, sex, color or handicap. Tutors were required to personally render the tutoring services, any adjustments in a tutor's work schedule required EIC approval, and they were required to submit bimonthly client summary sheets and documentation of services. Any assessments, evaluations or progress reports regarding the tutored child became the property of EIC. The agreement also prohibited tutors from working for competitors while performing services for EIC as well as for two years following the termination of the agreement.
Under these circumstances we find no reason to disturb the Board's decisions, even if evidence in the record could support a contrary conclusion (see generally, Matter of Educaid Inc. [Hartnett], 176 A.D.2d 420, lv denied 79 N.Y.2d 751; Matter of Schwartz [Creative Tutoring — Roberts], 91 A.D.2d 778).
ORDERED that the decisions are affirmed, without costs.