Hoh v. Levine

Decision Date27 April 1972
Citation39 A.D.2d 620,331 N.Y.S.2d 247
PartiesClaim of Lawrence J. HOH, Appellant, v. Louis L. LEVINE, as Industrial Commissioner, Respondent.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Lawrence J. Hoh, pro se.

Louis J. Lefkowitz, Atty. Gen. (Robert A. Ugelow, New York City, of counsel), for respondent.

Before HERLIHY, P.J., and STALEY, SWEENEY, SIMONS and REYNOLDS, JJ.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.

Appeal by the claimant from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed May 25, 1971, disqualifying claimant from receiving unemployment insurance benefits on the ground that he voluntarily left his employment without good cause by provoking his discharge.

The record establishes that immediately prior to his discharge the claimant had in the course of his employment constructed a plaque with the letters 'S O B' embedded thereon and had placed it on his immediate supervisor's desk. The claimant admitted that prior to making such plaque he and his supervisor had been engaged in some discussions regarding his proposal for a salary increase, which discussions had apparently not been very satisfactory to the claimant. Two representatives of the employer not having personal knowledge of the incident testified that the claimant was discharged because the plaque constituted an insult to the claimant's superior. One of such representatives testified that the manner in which the plaque was constructed would not constitute a regular product of the claimant's employment. The board apparently rejected the claimant's contention that the plaque was, in fact, merely an incident of the ordinary course of his employment and was neither intended as an insult nor originally regarded as such by him or his superior.

The record contains a great deal of hearsay evidence as to the claimant's superior having been insulted by the plaque. Ordinarily, the respondent Commissioner or an employer objecting to benefits would be expected to produce the allegedly offended superior when it appears that such employee is within their reach or control and this is particularly so, where, as here, whether the plaque constituted an insult is pretty much confined to the opinion of the one allegedly insulted. (See Matter of Guminick v. Stewart, 30 N.Y.2d 684, 332 N.Y.S.2d 634, 283 N.E.2d 612 (March 24, 1972).) However, in the present case there was sufficient substantial evidence to support the board's finding that the claimant provoked his discharge without good...

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5 cases
  • Reynolds v. Daniels, E
    • United States
    • Arkansas Court of Appeals
    • April 29, 1981
    ...329 (La.App.1961); Fetherson v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 196 Pa.Super. 498, 174 A.2d 880 (1961); Hoh v. Levine, 331 N.Y.S.2d 247, 39 App.Div.2d 620 (1972). See, Anno. 92 A.L.R. 3d 106 In the facts at bar, the Board of Review found the evidence was sufficient to show claima......
  • Raven v. Levine
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • November 30, 1972
    ...the equivalent of voluntarily leaving one's employment without good cause because of the provocation involved. (See Matter of Hoh (Levine), 39 A.D.2d 620, 331 N.Y.S.2d 247; Matter of Kreager (Catherwood), 34 A.D.2d 1033, 311 N.Y.S.2d 69, cert. den. 400 U.S. 910, 91 S.Ct. 155, 27 L.Ed.2d 149......
  • Levick v. Ross
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • July 8, 1976
    ...insults to his supervisor constitute misconduct within the meaning of subdivision 3 of section 593 of the Labor Law (Matter of Hoh (Levine), 39 A.D.2d 620, 331 N.Y.S.2d 247; Matter of Kreager (Catherwood), 34 A.D.2d 1033, 311 N.Y.S.2d 69). At claimant's request, his union instituted an arbi......
  • Mulcahy v. Levine
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • September 18, 1975
    ...through misconduct. The board's decision is supported by substantial evidence and must, therefore, be affirmed (Matter of Hoh (Levine), 39 A.D.2d 620, 331 N.Y.S.2d 247; cf. Matter of Raven (Levine), 40 A.D.2d 128, 338 N.Y.S.2d Decision affirmed, without costs. ...
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