Opinion
520644.
03-10-2016
In the Matter of the Claim of Sydnee WAGGONEER, Respondent. Preston Leasing Corporation, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Ganz Wolkenbreit & Siegfeld LLP, Albany (Matthew M. Zapala of counsel), for appellant. Samuel D. Castellino, Big Flats, for Sydnee Waggoneer, respondent. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Mary Hughes of counsel), for Commissioner of Labor, respondent.
Ganz Wolkenbreit & Siegfeld LLP, Albany (Matthew M. Zapala of counsel), for appellant.
Samuel D. Castellino, Big Flats, for Sydnee Waggoneer, respondent.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Mary Hughes of counsel), for Commissioner of Labor, respondent.
Opinion
ROSE, J.
Appeals from two decisions of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed August 15, 2014, which ruled, among other things, that Preston Leasing Corporation was liable for additional unemployment insurance contributions on remuneration paid to claimant and others similarly situated.
Preston Leasing Corporation provides localized promotional marketing services for goods and products manufactured by its clients in the cosmetics and alcohol industries. Claimant, as a promotional sales model who provided services to Preston, distributed samples of the clients' products and free merchandise featuring those clients' logos or emblems. When claimant's work at Preston came to an end, she filed an application for unemployment insurance benefits, and the Department of Labor determined that claimant was an employee entitled to benefits and that Preston was liable for additional contributions on remuneration paid to claimant and others similarly employed. Following a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge sustained those determinations and, upon administrative appeal, the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board affirmed. Preston now appeals.
We affirm. “Whether an employment relationship exists within the meaning of the unemployment insurance law is a question of fact, no one factor is determinative and the determination of the ... [B]oard, if supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole, is beyond further judicial review even though there is evidence in the record that would have supported a contrary conclusion” (Matter of Isaacs [Speedy Media Assoc., LLC—Commissioner of Labor ], 125 A.D.3d 1077, 1078, 3 N.Y.S.3d 776 2015 [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]; see Matter of Viau [New York State Off. of Ct. Admin.-Commissioner of Labor ], 125 A.D.3d 1223, 1224–1225, 2 N.Y.S.3d 702 2015; Matter of Ruano [Legal Interpreting Servs., Inc.-Commissioner of Labor ], 118 A.D.3d 1088, 1088, 987 N.Y.S.2d 491 2014, lv. dismissed 24 N.Y.3d 1039, 998 N.Y.S.2d 163, 22 N.E.3d 1031 2014 ). “An employer-employee relationship exists when the evidence shows that the employer exercises control over the results produced or the means used to achieve the results [although] control over the means is the more important factor to be considered” (Matter of Empire State Towing & Recovery Assn., Inc. [Commissioner of Labor ], 15 N.Y.3d 433, 437, 912 N.Y.S.2d 551, 938 N.E.2d 984 2010 [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]; accord Matter of Isaacs [Speedy Media Assoc., LLC—Commissioner of Labor ], 125 A.D.3d at 1078, 3 N.Y.S.3d 776).
Here, Preston directed potential promotional sales models to fill out an application and to provide references. Preston established the pay rates, paid claimant directly regardless of whether a client paid Preston and, at times, reimbursed claimant for certain travel or incidental expenses. Preston determined the time, date and location of the promotional events, as well as the particular products that claimant would be required to distribute at the events (see Matter of North [Young People's Chorus of N.Y.-Commissioner of Labor ], 133 A.D.3d 1071, 1072, 20 N.Y.S.3d 219 2015 ). Prior to a promotional event, Preston's managers instructed claimant to dress appropriately (see id.) and not to distribute products at the events that were not being promoted. The managers also explained what was expected of her at the event and informed her of what she should say at the events about the clients' products. If claimant could not report for a scheduled event or complete her shift, she was expected to contact a manager at Preston. Following an event, she was expected to fill out a Preston “recap form” summarizing her time spent at and information about the event, and she was required to submit the form to a manager at Preston. While claimant could and did work for other companies, she did not maintain her own business for promotional sales marketing. On occasion, Preston would contact its clients to review and critique claimant's work at the promotional events, and Preston directly handled clients' complaints (see Matter of Chopik [Newman–Hartnett ], 145 A.D.2d 747, 749–750, 535 N.Y.S.2d 268 1988; see also Matter of North [Young People's Chorus of N.Y.-Commissioner of Labor ], 133 A.D.3d at 1072, 20 N.Y.S.3d 219). Accordingly, we conclude that there is substantial evidence to support the Board's finding of an employer-employee relationship (see Matter of Caufield–Ori [Blumberg–Sweeney ], 233 A.D.2d 558, 559, 649 N.Y.S.2d 512 1996, lv. dismissed 89 N.Y.2d 982, 656 N.Y.S.2d 740, 678 N.E.2d 1356 1997; Matter of McDonald/Richards, Inc. [Sweeney ], 232 A.D.2d 916, 917, 649 N.Y.S.2d 75 1996, lv. denied 89 N.Y.2d 806, 654 N.Y.S.2d 716, 677 N.E.2d 288 1997; Matter of Horn [Hudacs ], 201 A.D.2d 816, 816–817, 607 N.Y.S.2d 498 1994; Matter of Horne [Colonia, Inc.-Hudacs ], 188 A.D.2d 922, 922, 591 N.Y.S.2d 880 1992 ).
ORDERED that the decisions are affirmed, without costs.
PETERS, P.J., GARRY, EGAN JR. and CLARK, JJ., concur.