In re C.M.

(Wash. Office of Admin. Hearings for the Employment Sec. Dep’t Aug. 16, 1996) ; Clearinghouse Number: 51592

Description

Claimant Was Disabled by the Effects of Long-Term Domestic Violence and Therefore Had Good Cause to Quit Employment

Abstract

On remand from the superior court, the administrative law judge has held that domestic abuse was a "disability" necessitating claimant’s voluntary quit and she was therefore eligible for unemployment benefits. Claimant’s husband repeatedly stalked her and left threatening messages at her workplace. After he threatened her with serious bodily harm during Thanksgiving week, she quit her job and relocated to another state. The Employment Security Department found that she was without good cause to leave her employment and denied her claim for unemployment benefits. She appealed. The trial court rejected claimant’s argument that the domestic violence she suffered was work-connected. However, the trial court remanded the case to the Employment Security Department to make a finding of whether the domestic violence and harassment claimant suffered at her workplace was of such a nature as to be "disabling." On remand, the administrative law judge held that, at the time that she quit, claimant was disabled due to the effects of long-term domestic violence. Noting that claimant took her final drastic action only after years of abuse, failed counseling, and other attempts to find support and remedy through support groups, family, friends, law enforcement, and the justice system, the administrative law judge held that claimant had established good cause for her voluntary quit.

Additional Information

Docket Date
1996-08-16 00:00:00+00:00