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Matter of Smith

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Feb 3, 2000
269 A.D.2d 654 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)

Opinion

February 3, 2000

Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed October 27, 1998, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because her employment was terminated due to misconduct.

Lo Pinto, Schlather, Solomon Salk (Daniel L. Hoffman of counsel), Ithaca, for appellant.

Joshua D. Lock, PrimeCare Medical Inc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for PrimeCare Medical Inc., respondent.

Before: CARDONA, P.J., MERCURE, CREW III, SPAIN and GRAFFEO, JJ.


MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Claimant was terminated from her employment as a registered nurse at a correctional facility after she initiated a course of treatment for alcohol withdrawal for an inmate, which included the administration of a narcotic, without a physician's order and without first obtaining the inmate's medical chart. In our view, substantial evidence supports the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board's decision that claimant engaged in disqualifying misconduct (see, Matter of Wright [Commissioner of Labor], 249 A.D.2d 668). Contrary to claimant's argument, her conduct was clearly adverse to the employer's best interest and had potentially serious consequences (see, id.). Notably, the Board found that claimant knew she needed a doctor's order and, if the inmate had been severely symptomatic, she had other options available which she did not pursue. Claimant's testimony that she acted appropriately merely presented a credibility issue, which the Board was free to resolve against her (see, Matter of Dennis [Westgate Nursing Home — Sweeney], 233 A.D.2d 730, lv denied 89 N.Y.2d 811). Claimant's remaining contentions have been reviewed and found to be unpersuasive.

ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.


Summaries of

Matter of Smith

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Feb 3, 2000
269 A.D.2d 654 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
Case details for

Matter of Smith

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of the Claim of MARGARET A. SMITH, Appellant. PRIMECARE…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Feb 3, 2000

Citations

269 A.D.2d 654 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000)
701 N.Y.S.2d 754