GUADALUPE F. JAVIER, APPELLANT,
v.
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. AND FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION, APPELLEES

Fla. 3d DCA | 2004-09-22
No. 3D03-3111
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and GERSTEN and GREEN, JJ.
882 So. 2d 524 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (2004) Positive Treatment
Cited by 3 cases

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Synopsis

Claimant Javier was disqualified from unemployment compensation benefits for failing to attend a scheduled hearing. After remand to determine good cause for nonattendance, the appeals referee found no good cause based on claimant's confusion with paperwork and reliance on her son's translation assistance. The court affirmed the reinstatement of the original disqualification decision.


Holding

The court held that claimant failed to establish good cause for her nonattendance. Because good cause was not established, the previous decision disqualifying claimant from benefits was reinstated. The Unemployment Appeals Commission's affirmance of the appeals referee's order was correct.


Headnotes

[1] Good cause for failure to attend a scheduled unemployment compensation hearing is any cause which indicates an additional hearing is reasonably necessary in the interest…

[2] If good cause for failure to attend a scheduled hearing is not established, a previous decision disqualifying a claimant from benefits shall be reinstated.

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Key Quotes

“Good cause for failure to attend a scheduled hearing is any cause which indicates an additional hearing is reasonably necessary in the interest of justice.”

Establishes the legal standard for determining good cause under Florida Administrative Code Rule 60BB-5.017

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Facts & Procedural History

Claimant Javier did not attend a scheduled unemployment compensation hearing on April 23, 2003. She received timely notice of the hearing with clear i…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

The claimant was disqualified from unemployment compensation benefits when she did not attend the hearing on the claim. After the Unemployment Appeals Commission remanded the case to determine whether there was good cause for her not having done so, the appeals referee found, in accordance with Florida Administrative Code Rule 60BB-5.017 1 Good cause for failure to attend a scheduled hearing is any cause which indicates an additional hearing is reasonably necessary in the interest of justice. If good cause is not established, the previous decision shall be reinstated.

The hearing record shows that the claimant did not attend the scheduled hearing because she was confused with all the paperwork she received and her son did not want to be bothered translating the documents for her. The claimant’s testimony shows that she received the Notice of Hearing in a timely manner and the Notice clearly stated the date and time of the hearing. The claimant has failed to show she exercised due diligence to attend the .April 23, 2003, hearing on time as scheduled. Accordingly, the previous Decision of Appeals Referee dated May 22, 2003, is reinstated.

We find no error in the Unemployment Commission’s affirmance of this order. See Reloba v. Westside Sanitation, Inc., 711 So. 2d 141 (Fla. 3d DCA 1998).

Affirmed.

. 60BB-5.017. Nonappearance of Parties.

(1) Except as provided in Rule 60BB-5.016, F.A.C., the appeals referee may, notwithstanding failure of a party to appear, proceed with the hearing.

(2) Failure of the appellant to appear at the hearing shall constitute grounds for dismissal of the appeal.

(3) Upon written request of the appellant or upon the referee’s own motion, the appeals referee shall for good cause rescind a dismissal decision and reopen the appeal. Upon written request of the appellee or upon the referee’s own motion, the appeals referee shall for good cause rescind a decision and reopen the appeal if the appellee did not appear at the last scheduled hearing and the referee has entered a decision adverse to the appellee. The appeals referee shall have the authority to reopen an appeal under this rule provided that the request has been filed or motion entered with 20 days of rendition of the decision.

(a) A threshold issue to be decided at the hearing held to consider reopening an appeal shall be whether there is a good cause for proceeding with an additional hearing. If good cause is found, the appeals referee shall proceed on the merits. If good cause is not found, the referee shall reinstate the decision. The referee shall have no further authority with respect to a reinstated decision; however, any party or other person entitled by law to do so may file an appeal of the reinstated decision in accordance with Chapters 60BB-6 and 60BB-7, F.A.C. (b) Denial without hearing’-of a request to reopen an appeal shall be in writing. The requesting party may appeal the denial by filing an appeal with the Unemployment Appeals Commission in the manner set forth in Chapters 60BB-6 and 60BB-7, F.A.C.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Alonso v. Reemployment Assistance Appeals Comm'n, 345 So. 3d 369 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023)
    …ion by the Commission caused the untimeliness of [appellant’s] appeal, and [appellant] has not otherwise asserted the existence of circumstances tantamount to a due process violation.”) (footnote omitted); Javier v. Goodwill Indus. of S. Fla., Inc., 882 So. 2d 524, 525 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (holding that a claimant who was confused by the Unemployment Appeals Commission paperwork, and was unable to translate the documents, was not entitled to a good cause exception).…
  • Milner v. Fla. Unemployment Appeals Comm'n & Waste Mgmt., 82 So. 3d 1026 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011)
    …ision, including the grounds for decision. “ ‘Good cause for failure to attend a scheduled hearing is any cause which indicates an additional hearing is reasonably necessary in the interest of justice.’ ” Javier v. Goodwill Indus, of S. Fla., Inc., 882 So. 2d 524, 525 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (quoting appeals referee’s order). In the present case, Mr. Milner was not at home when the notice of hearing arrived,3 and he did not learn about the hearing until he called the Agency to inquire as to the date of the hearin…
    1 / 2

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