Opinion
October 19, 1995
Appeal from the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board.
Claimant was the president and a 50% shareholder of a wholesale clothing company. Claimant closed the company as the result of declining sales. The Board denied his claim for unemployment insurance benefits, finding that he was not totally unemployed because he participated in and stood to gain financially from the winding down of the business. We find that substantial evidence supports the Board's decision. The collection of accounts receivable to pay outstanding debts was clearly beneficial to claimant. In addition, there was evidence that during the winding down of affairs the company maintained a bank account, telephone service and a post office box, and that claimant received the mail and signed checks for corporate expenses. Under these circumstances, substantial evidence supports the Board's decision that claimant was not totally unemployed ( see, Matter of Rance [Hudacs], 196 A.D.2d 930).
Cardona, P.J., Mikoll, Mercure, Crew III and White, JJ., concur. Ordered that the decision is affirmed, without costs.