Boynton v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs.

[Cite as Boynton v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 2022-Ohio-2597.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
Brenda L. Boynton, :
Appellant-Appellant, :
No. 21AP-481
v. : (C.P.C. No. 21CV-1291)
Director, Ohio Department of Job & : (ACCELERATED CALENDAR)
Family Services et al.,
:
Appellees-Appellees.
:
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on July 28, 2022
On brief: Law Offices of Gary A. Reeve, and Gary A. Reeve,
for appellant. Argued: Gary A. Reeve.
On brief: Dave Yost, Attorney General, and David E. Lefton,
for appellee Director, Ohio Department of Job & Family
Services. Argued: David E. Lefton.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
LUPER SCHUSTER, P.J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Brenda L. Boynton, appeals from a judgment of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas affirming the decision of the Ohio Unemployment
Compensation Review Commission ("commission") disallowing Boynton's application for
unemployment compensation benefits. For the following reasons, we affirm.
I. Facts and Procedural History
{¶ 2} From June 2018 until August 2020, Boynton worked as a customer service
representative for Family Dollar Stores of Ohio, Inc. ("Family Dollar"). In this position,
Boynton's duties included greeting and waiting on store customers, completing sales at the
No. 21AP-481 2
register, opening freight boxes, and stocking shelves with merchandise. During her
employment with Family Dollar, Boynton was under the care of George Barnett, Jr., M.D.,
due to her low back pain, leg discomfort, and heart-related issues. At Boynton's request,
Family Dollar permitted her to rest one foot on a shopping basket while working to help
ease her low back pain and leg discomfort. For approximately one year, Boynton's normal
workday hours with Family Dollar were from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Beginning in April
or July 2019, however, Family Dollar permitted Boynton to work reduced hours—from
8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.—because of her physical ailments. Then, on either July 31 or
August 1, 2020, Boynton informed her boss and manager of the store, Bart Tallman, that
she was ending her employment with Family Dollar, effective August 14, 2020. Boynton
provided three reasons to Tallman for her resignation: her unhappiness with Family
Dollar's employee rewards program; her need to take care of her fiancé, who was in failing
health; and her low back pain and leg discomfort while standing at work. Prior to her
completion of the two-week notice period, Boynton had an emotionally upsetting
disagreement with a co-worker. She spoke with Tallman about the disagreement, left the
store, and did not return.
{¶ 3} On September 9, 2020, Boynton filed an application for unemployment
compensation benefits with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services ("ODJFS").
Boynton's physician, Dr. Barnett, answered several questions on the application.
Dr. Barnett wrote he had been treating Boynton for 20 years and that she suffers from
several heart-related conditions and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. When
asked whether he had restricted the type of work Boynton may perform, Dr. Barnett wrote:
"[N]ot at this point, patient is an older individual with medical concerns." And when asked
whether he had advised Boynton to quit employment, Dr. Barnett wrote: "No, but she will
know when it is time to not work anymore." (Record of Proceedings at 24.)
{¶ 4} ODJFS disallowed Boynton's application, and she appealed this
disallowance. After ODJFS transferred jurisdiction to the commission, a commission
hearing officer conducted a telephonic hearing in the appeal. Both Tallman and Boynton
testified at the hearing. On February 16, 2021, the commission hearing officer issued a
decision affirming the disallowance of Boynton's application for unemployment
compensation benefits. The hearing officer found that Boynton did not act reasonably
No. 21AP-481 3
because she did not, prior to resigning from work, discuss with Family Dollar the concerns
that she identified as causing her resignation. The hearing officer also noted that Boynton
was under no medical restrictions at the time of her resignation, citing Dr. Barnett's
statements indicating that Boynton had not been physically unable to work and that he
never advised Boynton to quit working. Based on these facts, the hearing officer concluded
that Boynton quit her Family Dollar employment without just cause and therefore affirmed
the disallowance of Boynton's application. The commission denied Boynton's request for
further review. Boynton then appealed to the trial court, which affirmed the commission's
decision upon finding that it was not unlawful, unreasonable, or against the manifest
weight of the evidence.
{¶ 5} Boynton timely appeals to this court.
II. Assignment of Error
{¶ 6} Boynton assigns the following error for our review:
The Common Pleas Court's review of the whole record led to an
incorrect conclusion denying unemployment compensation
benefits to Appellant Brenda Boynton ("Boynton") given the
manifest weight of the evidence.
III. Discussion
{¶ 7} In her sole assignment of error, Boynton contends the trial court erred in
affirming the commission's order disallowing her application for unemployment
compensation benefits. She asserts the disallowance was against the manifest weight of the
evidence. This assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶ 8} R.C. 4141.282 governs appeals from decisions of the commission. The statute
provides:
The court shall hear the appeal on the certified record provided
by the commission. If the court finds that the decision of the
commission was unlawful, unreasonable, or against the
manifest weight of the evidence, it shall reverse, vacate, or
modify the decision, or remand the matter to the commission.
Otherwise, the court shall affirm the decision of the
commission.
R.C. 4141.282(H). This means a reviewing court may reverse a commission decision "only
if it is unlawful, unreasonable or against the manifest weight of the evidence." Tzangas,
No. 21AP-481 4
Plakas & Mannos v. Ohio Bur. of Emp. Servs., 73 Ohio St.3d 694 (1995), paragraph one of
the syllabus. This standard applies in "all reviewing courts, from the first level of review in
the common pleas court, through the final appeal in" the Supreme Court of Ohio. Id. at
696. Therefore, the focus of this court's analysis is on the commission's decision rather
than the common pleas court's decision. Houser v. Dir., Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs.,
10th Dist. No. 10AP-116, 2011-Ohio-1593, ¶ 7, citing Carter v. Univ. of Toledo, 6th Dist. No.
L-07-1260, 2008-Ohio-1958, ¶ 12. And pursuant to this standard, a reviewing court "is not
permitted to make factual findings or reach credibility determinations." Houser at ¶ 7,
citing Tzangas at 696, citing Irvine v. Unemp. Comp. Bd. of Review, 19 Ohio St.3d 15, 18
(1985). "Judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence going to all the
essential elements of the case will not be reversed by a reviewing court as being against the
manifest weight of the evidence." C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Constr. Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 279(1978), syllabus.
{¶ 9} Here, Boynton challenges the commission's denial of her unemployment
compensation benefits claim. R.C. 4141.29(A)(5) provides that an individual is eligible for
unemployment compensation benefits when that individual "[i]s unable to obtain suitable
work." Pursuant to R.C. 4141.29(D)(2)(a), however, a claimant is ineligible to receive such
benefits if she resigned from employment without "just cause." Hampton v. JKB Mgt. Co.,
10th Dist. No. 18AP-719, 2020-Ohio-277. The commission denied Boynton's
unemployment compensation benefits claim on this basis; it found she quit work without
just cause. Boynton disagrees, arguing she resigned for just cause because Family Dollar
denied her request for reasonable accommodation.
{¶ 10} "Traditionally, just cause, in the statutory sense, is that which, to an
ordinarily intelligent person, is a justifiable reason for doing or not doing a particular act."
Rider v. Dir., Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 16AP-854, 2017-Ohio-8716,
¶ 9. Under this standard, " 'an employee is required to cooperate with the employer to
resolve work-related problems. * * * If the employee does not cooperate or give the
employer sufficient time to accommodate the employee's needs [and] concerns, that
employee will usually not be found to have just cause if he or she quits.' " Watkins v. Dir.,
Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 06AP-479, 2006-Ohio-6651, ¶ 21, quoting
Stapleton v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 163 Ohio App.3d 14, 2005-Ohio-4473, ¶ 32
No. 21AP-481 5
(7th Dist.), citing Irvine at 18. " 'Essentially, an employee must notify the employer of the
problem and request it be resolved, and thus give the employer an opportunity to solve the
problem before the employee quits the job; those employees who do not provide such notice
ordinarily will be deemed to quit without just cause, and, therefore, will not be entitled to
unemployment benefits.' " Watkins at ¶ 22, quoting Shephard v. Ohio Dept. of Job &
Family Servs., 166 Ohio App.3d 747, 2006-Ohio-2313, ¶ 26 (8th Dist.). Because the
existence of just cause depends on the factual circumstances of each case, this
determination is primarily an issue to be resolved by the trier of fact. James v. State
Unemp. Rev. Comm., 10th Dist. No. 08AP-976, 2009-Ohio-5120, ¶ 11; Perkins v. Ohio
Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 18AP-900, 2019-Ohio-2538, ¶ 12.
{¶ 11} Evidence in the record supported the commission's disallowance of
Boynton's application for unemployment compensation benefits based on the absence of
just cause for her resignation from work at Family Dollar. At the commission hearing,
Boynton testified there were three reasons she left her employment with Family Dollar: her
unhappiness with Family Dollar's employee rewards program; her need to take care of her
fiancé, who was in failing health; and her low back pain and leg discomfort while standing
on the job. The commission found that Boynton resigned from employment without first
raising these issues with Family Dollar. Such communication would have provided Family
Dollar an opportunity to address these issues as it deemed appropriate and necessary. In
this appeal, Boynton does not challenge this factual determination except to contend that
Family Dollar did not reasonably accommodate her ongoing and worsening physical
ailments. At the commission hearing, Boynton testified that, in the past, Family Dollar had
accommodated her reported back pain and leg discomfort by granting her request for
reduced work hours and allowing her to prop a foot on a basket while standing at a register.
Thus, her testimony demonstrated that Family Dollar was aware she had back pain and leg
discomfort while working, and it took steps, as requested by her, to address the problem.
But Boynton also testified that, other than "maybe" asking to sit down during her entire
shift in "a joking way," before quitting, she did not seek further accommodation with Family
Dollar based on her physical ailments. (Record of Proceedings at 163.) By not apprising
Family Dollar of the issue, Boynton did not provide her employer an opportunity to take
further action to address that issue.
No. 21AP-481 6
{¶ 12} Additionally, the record supported the commission's finding that Boynton
was under no medical restriction when she resigned. On Boynton's application for
unemployment compensation benefits, her treating physician indicated that while he
diagnosed Boynton with a lumbar spine condition, he had placed her under no medical
restriction concerning the type of work she could perform, and he did not advise her to quit
her employment with Family Dollar based on her physical ailments. Thus, while Boynton
unfortunately may have endured some back pain and leg discomfort on the job, the
evidence before the commission did not show she was medically restricted from performing
her job at Family Dollar without accommodation.
{¶ 13} Accordingly, we find some competent, credible evidence in the record
supported the commission's conclusion that Boynton quit work without just cause, and,
therefore, she was ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits. Because the trial
court did not err in finding that the commission's decision disallowing Boynton's
application for unemployment compensation benefits was not unlawful, unreasonable, or
against the manifest weight of the evidence, we overrule her sole assignment of error.
IV. Disposition
{¶ 14} Having overruled Boynton's sole assignment of error, we affirm the judgment
of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Judgment affirmed.
NELSON, J., concurs.
JAMISON, J., dissents.
NELSON, J., retired, formerly of the Tenth Appellate District,
assigned to active duty under authority of Ohio Constitution,
Article IV, Section 6(C).
JAMISON, J., dissenting.
{¶ 15} Because I would reverse the decision of the trial court affirming appellees',
Director, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Family Dollar Stores of Ohio,
Inc., decision disallowing appellant's application for unemployment compensation
benefits, I respectfully dissent from the majority decision.
No. 21AP-481 7
I. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶ 16} Appellant assigns the following as trial court error:
[1.] The Common Pleas Court's review of the whole record led
to an incorrect conclusion denying unemployment
compensation benefits to Appellant Brenda Boynton
("Boynton") given the manifest weight of the evidence.
II. LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶ 17} In appellant's assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court
erred in affirming the commission's decision disallowing her claim for unemployment
benefits. I agree with appellant.
{¶ 18} R.C. 4141.282(H) governs appeals from decisions of the commission to the
court of common pleas. The statute provides:
The court shall hear the appeal on the certified record
provided by the commission. If the court finds that the
decision of the commission was unlawful, unreasonable, or
against the manifest weight of the evidence, it shall reverse,
vacate, or modify the decision, or remand the matter to the
commission. Otherwise, the court shall affirm the decision of
the commission.
{¶ 19} In an R.C. 4141.282 appeal, "reviewing courts may reverse just cause
determinations 'if they are unlawful, unreasonable, or against the manifest weight of the
evidence.' " Shepherd Color Co. v. Dir., Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No.
CA2012-11-244, 2013-Ohio-2393, ¶ 19, quoting Tzangas, Plakas & Mannos v. Ohio Bur. of
Emp. Servs., 73 Ohio St.3d 694, 696 (1995). This standard applies to all reviewing courts,
including common pleas courts and appellate courts. Perkins v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family
Servs., 10th Dist. No. 18AP-900, 2019-Ohio-2538, ¶ 11, citing Tzangas at 696. The focus
of the analysis on appeal is the commission's decision rather than the decision of the
common pleas court. Perkins at ¶ 11, citing Irvine v. Unemp. Comp. Bd. of Rev., 19 Ohio
St.3d 15, 18 (1985), citing Carter v. Univ. of Toledo, 6th Dist. No. L-07-1260, 2008-Ohio-
1958, ¶ 12.
{¶ 20} Here, the commission denied appellant's application for unemployment
benefits on the grounds that she quit her employment without just cause. Pursuant to
R.C. 4141.29(D)(2)(a), a claimant is ineligible to receive unemployment benefits if "[t]he
No. 21AP-481 8
individual quit work without just cause." R.C. 4141.29(D)(2)(a); Houser v. Dir., Ohio Dept.
of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 10AP-116, 2011-Ohio-1593, ¶ 8. " 'Traditionally, just
cause, in the statutory sense, is that which, to an ordinarily intelligent person, is a justifiable
reason for doing or not doing a particular act.' " Id., quoting Irvine at 17. "The
determination of whether just cause exists necessarily depends on the unique factual
considerations of the particular case." Irvine at 17 "A just cause determination must be
consistent with the purpose of the Unemployment Compensation Act, which is to provide
financial assistance to individuals who become and remain involuntarily unemployed due
to adverse business and industrial conditions." Brooks v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family
Servs., 10th Dist. No. 08AP-414, 2009-Ohio-817, ¶ 12, citing Tzangas at 697. "The act
protects those employees who have no control over the situation that leads to their
separation from employment." Brooks at ¶ 12, citing Tzangas at 697.
{¶ 21} In affirming the disallowance of appellant's application for unemployment
compensation, the commission set forth the following reasoning:
A claimant must act as a reasonably prudent person would act.
Here, the claimant did not act as a reasonably prudent
[person] would act when she resigned her employment due to
dissatisfaction with a store reward program, to take care of her
fiancé, and because she was experiencing back and leg pain.
The claimant did not discuss any of her concerns with the
employer prior to resigning her employment. The claimant
was not under medical restrictions at the time of her
resignation. The claimant's physician, Dr. George Barnett,
supplied information to the Director's file. Dr. Barnett
indicated that he was not aware of a time that the claimant
was unable to work and that he never advised her to quit her
employment. Therefore, the Director correctly found that the
claimant quit work without just cause in connection with
work.
(May 21, 2021 Commission's Decision, Ex. A, at 2.)
{¶ 22} The sole issue before this court is whether the circumstances of appellant's
separation from Family Dollar entitled her to seek unemployment benefits. In order to
collect unemployment benefits, an employee who resigns from employment bears the
burden of proving that he or she resigned for just cause. Sandi Jo Turner v. Mission
Essential Personnel, LLC et al., 10th Dist. No. 11AP-961, 2012-Ohio-5470, ¶ 9, citing
No. 21AP-481 9
R.C. 4141.29(D)(2)(a), Underhill v. Unemp. Comp. Rev. Comm., 10th Dist. No. 10AP-617,
2011-Ohio-1598, ¶ 17-18; Irvine at 17. "In cases in which an employee encounters
circumstances that might force resignation, the employee must first notify the employer of
problems prior to resigning or risk a finding of resignation without just cause." Sandi Jo
Turner at ¶ 9, citing DiGiannantoni v. Wedgewater Animal Hosp., Inc., 109 Ohio App.3d
300 (10th Dist.1996). The purpose of such notice is to provide the employer an opportunity
to resolve the conflict before the employee is forced to resign. DiGiannantoni at 307.
"Notice to the employer, however, is not alone enough to establish just cause; the employer
must have a realistic opportunity to correct the problem." Sandi Jo Turner at ¶ 9, citing
Underhill at ¶ 19.
{¶ 23} A significant factor in determining whether an employee had just cause to
resign is the employee's fault in creating the situation that led to his or her resignation.
Watkins v. Dir., Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 06AP-479, 2006-Ohio-
6651, ¶ 21, citing Stapleton v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 163 Ohio App.3d 14, 2005-
Ohio-4473 (7th Dist.). "Thus, 'an employee is required to cooperate with the employer to
resolve work-related problems. * * * If the employee does not cooperate or give the
employer sufficient time to accommodate the employee's needs or concerns, that employee
will usually not be found to have just cause if he or she quits.' " Watkins at ¶ 21, quoting
Stapleton at ¶ 32, citing Irvine at 18. "As a result, 'employees who experience problems in
their working conditions must make reasonable efforts to attempt to solve the problem
before leaving their employment.' " Watkins at ¶ 22, quoting Shephard v. Ohio Dept. of
Job & Family Servs., 166 Ohio App.3d 747, 2006-Ohio-2313, ¶ 26 (8th Dist.)
{¶ 24} The hearing officer determined that appellant left her employment without
just cause because she "resigned her employment without speaking to the employer
regarding her dissatisfaction with the store reward program, need to care for her fiancé,
and her back and leg pain." (Sept. 3, 2021 Decision & Jgmt. Entry at 5.) The record,
however, does not support this finding as the testimony at the hearing establishes Family
Dollar had prior knowledge that appellant experienced low back pain, and tingling and
numbness in her legs while working, Family Dollar made prior efforts to accommodate
appellant's worsening condition, but a further accommodation was not realistic.
No. 21AP-481 10
{¶ 25} Appellant provided the following testimony at the hearing in response to
questions from the hearing officer:
Q. Okay. And the medical problems you had were solely in
your, at least that are causing you to quit your employment,
were just the pain in your back, low back and the legs. Is that
accurate?
A. Yes
Q. Okay
A. My doctor was aware of it. Plus I did tell, um, I may have
mentioned it on, ah, maybe at least one occasion to Bart. And
I did ask that my hours be reduced, um, by two hours per shift,
which that did occur around approximately April or July of
2019. So the company did kind of, you know, help me out that
way. Um, they weren't happy about it. I kind of got the
impression that they really weren't happy about it, but they
did it anyway.
(Apr. 1, 2021 Commission's Tr. at 159.)
{¶ 26} The evidence shows that appellant had received an accommodation for her
low back issues on two occasions prior to her resignation, as Family Dollar allowed her to
rest her foot on a basket while working at the register, and subsequently granted her request
to work fewer hours. There is no evidence that these accommodations were provided for
any reason other than appellant's low back pain, and the tingling and numbness in her legs.
Bart Tallman admitted he knew appellant was having problems with her back and that she
asked to work fewer hours as an accommodation for her low back pain. Thus, the evidence
at the hearing unequivocally establishes that Family Dollar was on notice that appellant's
ongoing low back pain and the tingling and numbness in her legs was impacting her ability
to work as a customer service representative at Family Dollar, and Family Dollar had an
opportunity to resolve the problem.
{¶ 27} At the commission hearing, appellant responded to the hearing officer's
question about the possibility of seeking further accommodation for her low back issues:
Q. I understand that you, you spoke to the employer around
April or July of 2019 about reducing your schedule. Had you
ever talked to the employer after that about anything that
could be done on their end so you could keep your
employment with Family Dollar?
No. 21AP-481 11
A. Well, not in a serious way, maybe a joking way like. 'Can I
sit down all my shift? You know, since my back hurts.' * * *
Um, and, and at that point, ah, I kind of got the distinct
impression that I kind of wasn't doing enough work. That, you
know what I'm saying? I pretty much stayed up front at the
cash register. I would put away freight in between customers,
as, as I was expected to do. However, there were times when I
couldn't do that and the lines would get long, and I'd call
someone and they'd come up and, you know, help out or
whatever. Um, I just think that the structure of the way the
store works, sitting down the whole shift wouldn't be an
option. So to answer your question, no, I didn't because I
didn't think that it would, ah, be approved and I, I really didn't
know what my options were at that point.
(Tr. at 163-64.)
{¶ 28} Appellant's testimony establishes that allowing her to sit while working as a
customer service representative would not have been realistic. Appellant's testimony in
this regard is unchallenged. At a minimum, appellant's testimony shifted the burden to
Family Dollar to produce some evidence that a further accommodation was realistic.
Family Dollar presented no evidence at the hearing to support such a finding. Even if the
commission hearing officer found appellant's testimony unworthy of belief, a finding which
is not expressed in the hearing officer's decision, there is no evidence rebutting her claim
that a further accommodation was unrealistic. Moreover, after Tallman had actual notice
appellant would be resigning in two weeks due, in part, to low back pain and the tingling
and numbness in her legs while standing on the job, he offered her no alternative.
{¶ 29} Dr. Barnett reported on the questionnaire that he had been treating appellant
for several low back conditions including intervertebral disc degeneration in the lumbar
region, midcervical disc disorder, and radiculopothy w/lower extremity symptoms. In
response to the query whether he had recommended any work restrictions due to these
conditions, Dr. Barnett wrote: "No, but she will know when it is time to not work anymore."
(Apr. 6, 2021 Notice of Eligibility Issue at 33.) In my view, the previous accommodations
made by Family Dollar for appellant's, low back condition, the absence of any further
available accommodation, and Dr. Barnett's unchallenged statement in the record to the
affect that appellant's low back condition would eventually force her into retirement, clearly
satisfied appellant's burden of proof in this case. Though Dr. Barnett's response on the
No. 21AP-481 12
questionnaire regarding the date appellant would be unable to work was indefinite, it was
the only medical evidence submitted to the hearing officer. Family Dollar did not present
any medical evidence to rebut Dr. Barnett's answers to the questionnaire.
{¶ 30} While appellant admitted she asserted additional reasons for her decision to
leave her position, the evidence presented at the hearing establishes that her worsening low
back condition and the absence of a reasonable accommodation was the primary reason
she resigned. Appellant did not rely on her dissatisfaction with the rewards program or her
fiancé's failing health concerns when she requested fewer hours. Indeed, appellant's
testimony shows that her four-hour shift at Family Dollar did not preclude her from
providing the type of care required by her fiancé.1
{¶ 31} Family Dollar next contends that the circumstances surrounding her
resignation on July 31, 2020, and her subsequent failure to complete the two-week notice
period support a finding that she did not act reasonably when she resigned. The evidence
does not support such a finding.
{¶ 32} Appellant provided the following testimony at the hearing:
It was not my intention to leave my employment with Family
Dollar before the two-week notice. However, I was
overwrought that day emotionally and I felt * * * I would say
something I shouldn't have and I just was not feeling very
good that day. I had a headache. I was nauseated. And I did
mention that to Bart how, I was feeling * * *. It was not my
intention not to come back. But I did leave that day and I think
that, that did end up being the last day I worked at Family
Dollar.
(Tr. at 161.)
{¶ 33} Appellant's testimony that she left work on August 6, 2020 due to illness is
unchallenged, and Tallman admitted that appellant informed him she would not be
returning to work to complete the two-week notice period "due to COVID concerns." (Tr. at
170.) Accordingly, to the extent that appellant was expected to work for another week under
such circumstances, the evidence shows that appellant did not behave unreasonably in
failing to return to work after August 6, 2020.
1Appellanttestified that her responsibilities included taking her fiancé's temperature each morning, making
sure he was taking his medication, and providing nutrition via feeding tube.
No. 21AP-481 13
{¶ 34} Based on the foregoing, I would find that appellant satisfied her burden of
proving she did not create the situation that led to her resignation, her employer had prior
notice of the situation that led to her resignation, there was no realistic accommodation
available, and she was unable, due to illness and/or COVID concerns, to work through the
two-week notice period. The only medical evidence in the record permits the conclusion
that appellant's low back conditions would eventually cause her stop working. Thus, the
only reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the evidence in the record is that appellant
had just cause for resigning her position and that the commission's finding to the contrary
was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly, I would hold that the trial
court erred when it affirmed the commission's decision to disallow appellant's application
for unemployment benefits based on a finding of no just cause.
{¶ 35} Respectfully, I would sustain appellant's assignment of error and reverse the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. I would remand to the court of
common pleas to issue an order requiring the commission to grant appellant's application
for unemployment benefits.