51 Pa. Commw. 19 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1980
Opinion by
This is an appeal by petitioner Tony Panaro (Claimant) from an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review affirming the Referee’s denial of unemployment benefits. The Referee had determined that Panaro was discharged for acts constituting "willful misconduct” and therefore was ineligible for benefits, pursuant to Section 402(e) of the Unemployment Compensation Law. Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, 43P.S. §802(e).
On August 16, 1978, the claimant was discharged from his job as a construction specialist for the Urban Development Authority of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had been so employed for three and one-half years; and his job required him to establish specifications for construction projects and to inspect projects to insure their completion.
The Unemployment Compensation Board of Review found, affirming the Referee, that the claimant
In “willful misconduct” cases, the employer has the burden of proof. Harrison v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 34 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 364, 383 A.2d 965 (1978); Williams v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 32 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 641, 380 A.2d 932 (1977). Not only must the employer prove the claimant committed some act which constitutes “willful misconduct”, the employer must also prove that the act in question was the actual reason for the claimant’s discharge. Tundel v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 44 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 312, 404 A.2d 434 (1979). Further, this Court has held that if the alleged infraction occurred at a time too remote from the date of the claimant’s discharge, then that infraction cannot support a finding that the claimant was discharged for “willful misconduct.” That is, an incident of “willful misconduct” cannot be temporally remote from the ultimate dismissal and still be the basis for a denial of benefits. Tundel v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, supra; Unemployment Compensation Board of Review v. Dravage, 23 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 636, 353 A.2d 88 (1976). From this rule it follows that the evidence of the case must show that the conduct in question was not too remote from the time the claimant was discharged. It is our conclusion that the evidence in the case at bar does not meet that proof requirement.
The employer alleged that claimant Panaro improperly recommended payments to contractors on
We must conclude that the Board’s finding that the claimant was discharged for “willful misconduct” is not supported by substantial record evidence; and therefore, we must reverse the Board’s determination that the claimant is ineligible for benefits.
Order
And Now, the 25th day of April, 1980, the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, No. B-168187 dated January 22, 1979, denying benefits to claimant Tony J. Panaro, is reversed.