Opinion
Argued September 10, 1974
September 27, 1974.
Unemployment compensation — Scope of appellate review — Error of law — Findings of fact — Sufficient evidence — Credibility — Weight of evidence — Inferences — Words and phrases — Wilful misconduct — Threats to superiors.
1. In an unemployment compensation case review by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is limited to questions of law and a determination of whether the findings of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review are supported by the evidence, leaving to the Board questions of credibility and evidentiary weight and giving to the party prevailing below the benefit of all reasonable and logical inferences to be drawn from the evidence. [315]
2. Wilful misconduct such as to disqualify an employe from receipt of unemployment compensation benefits is the wanton and wilful disregard of the employer's interest, the deliberate violation of rules, the disregard of behavior standards which the employer can expect or negligence manifesting culpability, wrongful intent, evil design or intentional and substantial disregard of the employer's interests or the employe's duties and obligations. [315-16]
3. An employe discharged for threatening to inflict bodily injury upon a superior is discharged for wilful misconduct and is ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits. [315-16]
Argued September 10, 1974, before Judges CRUMLISH, JR., WILKINSON, JR. and ROGERS, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 1520 C.D. 1973, from the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, in case of In Re: Claim of Marcus R. Wilson, No. B-119223.
Application to Bureau of Employment Security for unemployment compensation benefits. Application denied. Applicant appealed to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Referee awarded benefits. Benefits denied by Board. Applicant appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
Bernard S. Shire, with him Shire, Bergstein Bialon, for appellant.
Sydney Reuben, Assistant Attorney General, with him Israel Packel, Attorney General, for appellee.
This is an appeal by Marcus R. Wilson from an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board), reversing the referee's determination that he was entitled to compensation. The Board found that the appellant was discharged for wilful misconduct. After a careful review of the record, we affirm.
In unemployment compensation cases, our review is limited to questions of law and a determination as to whether the Board's findings are supported by the evidence. Questions of credibility and the weight to be given evidence are for the Board. In addition, the party that prevailed below is to be given the benefit of any inferences which can reasonably and logically be drawn from the evidence. Shira v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 10 Pa. Commw. 457, 310 A.2d 708 (1973).
At the hearing before the referee, Mr. Wilson admitted that he was disaffected with the manager of the plant in which he worked and stated to a fellow employe that "the old man should get off my back or I would ship him out of there in a plastic bag." The manager who had had previous encounters with the appellant summoned the police who found a knife on his person and a loaded revolver in his automobile.
Appellant contends that the Board acted improperly in considering written statements from the manager who was in another state at the time of the hearing, and the fellow employe, who reasonably enough preferred not to participate in the hearing. The statements were used by the referee only for the purpose of questioning the claimant. The latter's responses provide ample support for the Board's findings and conclusions.
Wilful misconduct involves (1) the wanton and wilful disregard of the employer's interest, (2) the deliberate violation of rules, (3) the disregard of standards of behavior which an employer can rightfully expect from his employe, or (4) negligence which manifests culpability, wrongful intent, evil design, or intentional and substantial disregard for the employer's interests or the employe's duties and obligations. Kentucky Fried Chicken of Altoona, Inc. v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 10 Pa. Commw. 90, 309 A.2d 165 (1973). A threat to inflict bodily injury upon a superior is clearly within this definition. The appellant's explanation of his threatening statement, significantly, is that it was intended to frighten the manager, not that it was said in pure jest.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 27th day of September, 1974, it is ordered that the appeal of Marcus R. Wilson from the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review be and it hereby is dismissed.