Henry v. Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc.

SUPERIOR COURT
OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE
T. HENLEY GRAVES SUSSEX COU NTY C OUR THO USE
RESIDENT JUDGE 1 THE CIRCLE, SUITE 2
GEORGETOWN, DE 19947
(302) 856-5257
July 22, 2015
Gina Henry
204 High Street
Seaford, Delaware 19973
Re: Gina Henry v. Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc.;
C.A. No. S15A-01-002
Date Submitted: June 23, 2015
Date Decided: July 22, 2015
Dear Ms. Henry:
Gina Henry appeals the decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board that found
Ms. Henry had been discharged from her place of employment for just cause in connection with that
employment. The Board’s decision is affirmed for the reasons stated below.
Nature and Stage of the Proceedings
Ms. Henry was employed by Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc. (“Employer”) as a general
laborer in Employer’s marination department from November 22, 2013, until she was discharged on
July 28, 2014. A claims deputy reviewed Ms. Henry’s claim for unemployment benefits and
determined Ms. Henry had been terminated for just cause and, therefore, she was disqualified from
the receipt of benefits. Ms. Henry appealed this determination and a hearing was set for September
15, 2014, before an Appeals Referee. Ms. Henry failed to appear at the scheduled time and place
and the Appeals Referee dismissed the appeal. Ms. Henry appealed that decision and the
Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board (“the Board”) accepted Ms. Henry’s reason for failing to
attend the September 15th hearing and remanded the matter for a hearing. The Appeals Referee held
a hearing on October 20, 2014, and subsequently reversed the claims deputy’s determination by way
of written decision mailed October 23, 2014. Employer appealed and the Board held a hearing on
December 3, 2014. By way of written decision mailed January 2, 2015, the Board reversed the
Appeals Referee’s decision and held Ms. Henry is not entitled to unemployment benefits. Ms. Henry
filed a timely appeal with this Court and the case is ripe for decision.
Discussion
When reviewing a decision of the Board, this Court must determine whether the Board’s
findings and conclusions of law are free from legal error and are supported by substantial evidence
in the record.1 “Substantial evidence” is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept
as adequate to support a conclusion.”2 The Court’s review is limited: “It is not the appellate court’s
role to weigh the evidence, determine credibility questions or make its own factual findings, but
merely to decide if the evidence is legally adequate to support the agency’s factual findings.”3
Section 3314 of Title 19 of the Delaware Code provides, in pertinent part, that one shall be
disqualified for unemployment benefits if she has been “discharged from [her] work for just cause
in connection with [her] work.”4 “Generally, the term ‘just cause’ refers to a wilful or wanton act
in violation of either the employer’s interest, or of the employee’s duties, or of the employee’s
1
Unemployment Ins. Appeal Bd. v. Martin, 431 A.2d 1265 (Del. 1981); Pochvatilla v.
U.S. Postal Serv., 1997 WL 524062 (Del. Super.); 19 Del. C. § 3323(a) (“In any judicial
proceeding under this section, the findings of the [Board] as to the facts, if supported by evidence
and in the absence of fraud, shall be conclusive, and the jurisdiction of the Court shall be
confined to questions of law.”).
2
Gorrell v. Division of Vocational Rehab., 1996 WL 453356, at *2 (Del. Super.).
3
McManus v. Christiana Serv. Co., 1997 WL 127953, at *1 (Del. Super.).
4
19 Del. C. § 3314(2).
expected standard of conduct.”5 Where a decision to terminate an employee is based upon
misconduct, the employer has the burden of establishing the misconduct.6 “Misconduct, a term
generally synonymous with ‘just cause’ does not denote ‘mere ... inadvertence in isolated instances
or good faith errors in judgment.’”7 Violation of a reasonable company policy may constitute just
cause for termination, provided the employee is aware of the policy and the fact that the violation
thereof may result in the employee’s termination.8 Termination for insubordination may constitute
“just cause” if “the insubordination consists of a wilful refusal to follow the reasonable directions
or instructions of the employer.”9 Under certain circumstances, a single act of insubordination may
rise to the level of “just cause” to terminate an employee.10
In Ms. Henry’s case, the Appeals Referee reversed the decision of the claims deputy because
1) Employer failed to introduce into evidence a copy of its policy that Ms. Henry allegedly violated;
and 2) Employer’s representative did not have first-hand knowledge of, and was unable to testify to,
the specific incidents that formed the basis for the decision to terminate Ms. Henry’s employment.
At the Board hearing, Employer introduced a copy of its Employee Benefits Orientation Booklet,
together with signed acknowledgment of receipt thereof. Employer also presented the testimony of
three eye witnesses to the incident that lead to the suspension, and ultimate termination, of Ms.
5
Abex Corp. v. Todd, 235 A.2d 271, 272 (Del. Super. 1967).
6
McCoy v. Occidental Chem. Corp., 1996 WL 111126, at *3 (Del. Super.).
7
Price v. Blue Plate Diner, 2003 WL 21537924, at *2 (Del. Super.) (quoting Starkey v.
Unemployment Ins. Appeal Bd., 340 A.2d 165, 166-67 (Del. Super. 1975)).
8
Burgos v. Perdue Farms, Inc., 2011 WL 1487076, at *2 (Del. Super.).
9
Scott v. Unemployment Ins. Appeal Bd., 1993 WL 390365, at *4 (Del. Super.) (citation
and quotation marks omitted).
10
Jarrell v. Amerispec Home Inspections, Inc., 2011 WL 3908162, at * 4 (Del. Super.).
Henry’s employment.11 Ms. Henry did not appear at the hearing.
The Board made the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:
The Board finds that [Ms. Henry’s] conduct was insubordinate. Three witnesses
testified that Claimant refused to comply with her Supervisor’s request that she tie
bags. In addition to insubordination being a sufficient basis for just cause, Employer
has also included a policy within its handbook pertaining to insubordination. [Ms.
Henry] was aware of this policy as she acknowledged receiving the handbook by
signature on November 18, 2013. Employer has demonstrated sufficient just cause
to discharge [Ms. Henry].
On appeal, Ms. Henry attempts to reargue the facts of the case and attacks the veracity of
Employer’s witnesses.12 Unfortunately for Ms. Henry and as stated above, this Court must review
the case on the record and may not make factual findings. Moreover, this Court may not weigh
questions of witness credibility.13
Employer’s representative admitted into evidence a copy of Employer’s orientation booklet,
which outlines conduct that subjects an employee to disciplinary action, “up to and including
termination.” Enumerated in that list is “Engaging in insubordination, including refusal to perform
assignments.” By all accounts, including Ms. Henry’s, Ms. Henry refused to perform her Employer-
assigned task of tying bags on July 23, 2014. Ms. Henry argues she did so out of concern for her
pregnancy but, as agreed by both parties, Employer did not have any reason, much less written
medical evidence thereof, to believe Ms. Henry was unable to perform her assigned work
responsibilities at that time. Melinda Lamas, Ms. Henry’s supervisor, testified that Ms. Henry was
11
Before the Appeals Referee, Employer relied on several incidents of improper conduct
for which Ms. Henry had been disciplined to justify Ms. Henry’s termination. On appeal before
the Board, Employer focused primarily on the final incident that led to Ms. Henry’s termination.
12
Ms. Henry also challenges the basis for a subsequent denial of unemployment benefits.
That denial, however, is not properly before the Court at this time.
13
McCoy, 1996 WL 111126, at *3 (“It is within the discretion of the Board, not the
court[,] to weigh the credibility of witnesses and to resolve conflicting testimony.”).
yelling and angry when she refused to perform her task at Ms. Lamas’ request. Ms. Henry was on
notice that such behavior could result in the termination of her employment. The Court finds the
Board’s decision is supported by substantial evidence and is free from legal error.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated herein, the Board’s decision disqualifying Ms. Henry from receiving
unemployment benefits is AFFIRMED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Very truly yours,
T. Henley Graves
oc: Prothonotary
cc: Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc.
Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board