Opinion
2013-06-20
In the Matter of the Claim of Shirin S. MULDOWNEY, Appellant. v. COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, Respondent.
Raymond P. Kott II, Williamsville, for appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Linda D. Joseph of counsel), for respondent.
Raymond P. Kott II, Williamsville, for appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Linda D. Joseph of counsel), for respondent.
Before: ROSE, J.P., LAHTINEN, SPAIN and EGAN JR., JJ.
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed February 6, 2012, which ruled, among other things, that claimant was ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits because she was not totally unemployed.
Substantial evidence supports the determination that claimant was ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits because she was not totally unemployed. The record establishes that, during the period in which claimant received unemployment insurance benefits, she worked in the evenings and on weekends as a licensed real estate agent. Specifically, claimant testified that, while receiving benefits, she attended meetings and training sessions in a real estate office, handed out business cards, used her cell phone to make and receive business calls, advertised properties, held open houses, showed property to clients, negotiated sales, contacted inspectors, prepared extensive paper work and closed two deals that earned her commissions. Such activities, which were in furtherance of a plan to produce income, constitute employment ( see Matter of Petrillo [Commissioner of Labor], 2 A.D.3d 948, 767 N.Y.S.2d 679 [2003];Matter of Melnick [Commissioner of Labor], 268 A.D.2d 863, 864, 701 N.Y.S.2d 728 [2000];Matter of Savage [Commissioner of Labor], 253 A.D.2d 924, 924, 677 N.Y.S.2d 817 [1998] ). We also reject claimant's argument that her confusion regarding the reporting requirement rendered her conduct not willful. Claimant received and read a copy of the Department of Labor handbook that explained that such activities were to be reported, notwithstanding any lack of compensation. Nevertheless, claimant indicated on her certification for benefits that she was not involved in any business activity. Because it is the responsibility of a claimant to ensure accurate reporting regarding any business activity when certifying for unemployment insurance benefits, substantial evidence supports the Board's finding that claimant made false statements to obtain benefits, even if it was unintentional, which is insufficient ( see Matter of Bowlby [Commissioner of Labor], 31 A.D.3d 939, 940, 818 N.Y.S.2d 661 [2006];Matter of Petrillo [Commissioner of Labor], 2 A.D.3d at 949, 767 N.Y.S.2d 679).
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.