Opinion
2014-07-17
In the Matter of the Claim of Natalie M. DeROSE, Respondent. Winston Retail Solutions, LLC, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent. (And Two Other Related Claims.).
Epstein Becker & Green, PC, New York City (Dean L. Silverberg of counsel), for appellant. Francis J. Smith, Albany, for Natalie M. DeRose and others, respondents.
Epstein Becker & Green, PC, New York City (Dean L. Silverberg of counsel), for appellant. Francis J. Smith, Albany, for Natalie M. DeRose and others, respondents.
Before: PETERS, P.J., STEIN, GARRY, EGAN JR. and DEVINE, JJ.
Appeals from six decisions of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed November 27, 2012, which ruled that Winston Retail Solutions, LLC was liable for unemployment insurance contributions based on remuneration paid to claimants and others similarly situated.
Winston Retail Solutions, LLC is a retail consulting firm that provides merchandising coordinators, such as claimants, to various clothing manufacturers. The merchandising coordinators assist Winston's clients by, among other things, installing, stocking and cleaning their display areas in retail stores that sell their brand. After claimants ceased working for Winston and applied for unemployment insurance benefits, the Department of Labor issued initial decisions finding that Winston was liable for contributions based upon the exercise of control over claimants and others similarly situated. An Administrative Law Judge sustained the decisions following a hearing and the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board agreed, ruling that claimants and others similarly situated were employees of Winston, not independent contractors. Winston now appeals.
We affirm. “Whether an employer-employee relationship exists is a factual question to be resolved by the Board and its determination in that regard will be upheld so long as it is supported by substantial evidence, even though there may be evidence in the record that could have supported a contrary conclusion” (Matter of Perdue [Environmental Compliance, Inc.-Commissioner of Labor], 47 A.D.3d 1139, 1139, 850 N.Y.S.2d 681 [2008] [citations omitted]; accord Matter of Victor [Aubrey Organics, Inc.-Commissioner of Labor], 116 A.D.3d 1327, 1327, 983 N.Y.S.2d 917 [2014] ). Here, claimants were required to sign an agreement with Winston that provided, among other things, that Winston would set their schedule and claimants were prohibited from working for any of Winston's clients during the term of the agreement and for six months thereafter. Winston provided claimants with orientation training and training manuals. Claimants were not free to hire substitutes and had to inform Winston if they could not work on a given day and Winston would arrange coverage. Winston also required daily reports from claimants, in some cases, including pictures, reflecting the services provided each day, and Winston representatives would review the reports and require claimants to fix any displays that they found unacceptable. Notwithstanding the proof in the record that could support a contrary result, the above constitutes substantial evidence supporting the determination of the Board that claimants and those similarlysituated were Winston's employees and not independent contractors ( see Matter of Cohen [Just Energy Mktg. Corp.-Commissioner of Labor], 117 A.D.3d 1112, 1113, 985 N.Y.S.2d 190 [2014];Matter of Tekmitchov [Musika LLC], 110 A.D.3d 1301, 1301, 973 N.Y.S.2d 579 [2013],lv. dismissed23 N.Y.3d 941, 987 N.Y.S.2d 594, 10 N.E.3d 1149 [2014] ). Finally, although Winston argues that our prior decision involving similar employment in Matter of Baker (P.I.M.M.S. Corp.-Hudacs), 209 A.D.2d 751, 617 N.Y.S.2d 976 (1994) is controlling, that case is factually distinguishable and we are not persuaded that a different conclusion is warranted here.
ORDERED that the decisions are affirmed, without costs.