Horsman Dolls Inc. v. State Unemployment Comp. Comm'n.

• Decision Date: 31 January 1946
• Docket Number: No. 13.,13.
• Citation: 134 N.J.L. 77,45 A.2d 681
• Parties: HORSMAN DOLLS, Inc., v. STATE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION COMMISSION.
• Court: New Jersey Supreme Court

134 N.J.L. 77

45 A.2d 681

HORSMAN DOLLS, Inc.,

v.STATE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION COMMISSION.

No. 13.

Court of Errors and Appeals of New Jersey.

Jan. 31, 1946.

Appeal from Supreme Court.

Proceeding by Horsman Dolls, Inc., against the State of New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Commission to review an order of the Commission removing to itself an appeal then pending before legal assistant to whom it had been referred by the Commission. Order was set aside by the Supreme Court on certiorari, 133 N.J.L. 11, 42 A.2d 777, and the Commission appeals.

Reversed.

Justices CASE and PERSKIE, and Judge DILL dissenting.

Charles A. Malloy, of Trenton (Herman D. Ringle, of New Brunswick, of counsel), for appellant.

Alexander Budson, of Trenton, and Bilder, Bilder & Kaufman, of Newark (Samuel Kaufman, of Newark, of counsel; Bernard Hellring, of Newark, on the brief), for respondent.

BROGAN, Chief Justice.

The question presented by this appeal is the validity of an order of the Unemployment Compensation Commission by which the Commission ‘removed to itself’ an appeal of Horsman Dolls, Inc., then pending before Mr. Nowels, employed by the Commission as a legal assistant, to whom it had been referred by the Commission. As a matter of procedure, the reference comes from the office of the Chief of Contributor's service. Mr. Nowels had been designated to act in the capacity of ‘referee’ by the Commission's Executive Director some years ago. The Supreme Court, certiorari having been allowed, vacated the order in question holding that the reference once made was irrevocable; and further that the commission had no power, under the statute which created it, R.S. 43:21-1 et seq., N.J.S.A., to make the regulation in question (No. 10) which permitted it to ‘remove’ to itself or its Executive Director ‘for determination, any proceeding (pending) before a Referee.’ 133 N.J.L. 11, 42 A.2d 777. This we think, was error.

The basic question involved in the appeal which had been referred to Mr. Nowels was whether Horsman Dolls, Inc., an employer, had been assigned a proper contribution rate or tax for the year 1942. The employer contended that the rate assigned it was too high; that the rate fixed had been ‘Adversely affected’ by ‘improper charges' made against its account. Its right to a refund of contributions paid under protest for 1942 was necessarily involved. The employer charges that the Commission relieved Mr. Nowels of the case because it had learned that he was about to determine the matter in favor of the employer.

Despite our conclusion (a) that a reference once made is not irrevocable and (b) that a subordinate in the Commission has no power of decision in the matter of tax rate, adjustment thereof, or refund to the employer, we are impelled to say that, assuming the power in a subordinate to decide a matter referred to him, any attempt to dictate what his judgment should be or to coerce him in the conscientious expression of his opinion cannot be defended. On the other hand, it is only fair to say that Mr. Nowels, in deposition, unequivocally stated that neither the Executive Director nor any member of the Commission ever directed him ‘to make a decision in favor of the Commission.’ It is clear, however, that Nowels was of the opinion that the rate of tax imposed on the employer was excessive and that he informed the Commission and its Executive Director of his view and that thereafter he was relieved of the matter.

Resuming our examination of the question in this case: Mr. Nowels was designated as ‘referee’. There is no such office eo nomine, provided for in the statute, supra. There is provision for a representative of the Commission as ‘Deputy’ to be designated by the Executive Director, to examine claims; and he has power to decide the issue; or he may refer it to an appeal tribunal or a board of review, etc. Section 6(b). There is provision for a ‘salaries examiner’, Section 6(d), who serves in the appeal tribunal; for a board of review, Section 6(e), which, among other things, is empowered to affirm, modify or set aside the decision of the appeal tribunal and this board may remove to itself or transfer to another appeal tribunal the proceedings on any claim pending before an appeal tribunal, etc., but in all cases under this chapter of the statute the subject matter is that of claims for benefits and nothing else. This class of claim has to do only with the rights of employees, under the statute, and does not extend beyond such subject matter. In its opinion, supra, the Supreme Court recognized that the statute made no provision for a ‘referee by that name’ and seemed to consider that ‘referee’ and ‘salaried examiner’ were more or less identical. We find no support for that view in the statute. The salaried examiner functions only in the matter of claims for benefits-not in the matter of contribution rate or refund. On the precise issue between the respondent and the Commission, our view is that the statute, Section 14(g), entrusts the matter of determining whether the contributions by the employer were erroneously collected and whether there should be an ‘adjustment’ or refund exclusively to the Commission or its Executive Director. Such determination is reviewable by certiorari, Section 14(e).

The statute, supra (11th section), under the heading ‘Administration’, contains a particularized grant of power to the Commission for the accomplishment of the aims and objects of the statute. The Commission has the duty to determine matters of policy, has rule making powers, may require reports, make investigations, etc. It may appoint such officers, accountants, attorneys, experts, etc., as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the statute, Section 11(d). There is provision for hearing, the swearing of witnesses, depositions, and power of subpoena, etc. Sections 11(h) and (i).

It is contended by the Commission that by virtue of this grant of power under this section of the statute, the Commission has power to refer such matter to a referee or, as the...