In re the Claim of Stearns
Opinion of the Court
—Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed April 28, 1999, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because her employment was terminated due to misconduct.
Claimant, a school bus driver, was suspended from her duties in 1997 after a blood alcohol test showed an unacceptably high level of alcohol in her blood. Claimant thereafter completed a substance abuse program and was allowed to return to work. Notably, claimant was informed in writing that she would be subject to a five-year period of frequent, randomly scheduled alcohol testing and a positive result would result in her dismissal. Subsequently, claimant was discharged after a December 2, 1998 alcohol test performed shortly after she completed her morning driving duties was shown to exceed the employer’s maximum level for a safety sensitive job.
Inasmuch as claimant violated the reasonable terms of the employer’s alcohol policy despite being warned of the consequences for doing so, we find that substantial evidence supports the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board’s decision
We have reviewed claimant’s remaining contentions and find them to be unpersuasive under the circumstances.
Cardona, P. J., Her cure, Carpinello, Graffeo and Mugglin, JJ., concur. Ordered that the decision is affirmed, without costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.