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| UCBOR Decides All PA UC Appeals |
WHAT IS THE PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW? ARE THERE LAW FIRMS THAT HELP CLAIMANTS FILE APPEALS OF REFEREE DECISIONS?
As of this writing, the UCBOR is made up of 3 people:
Richard W. Bloomingdale –
Chairperson
Eileen B. Melvin – Member
Larry Dunn - Member
These 3 people (the identities change but the number - 3 - always stays the same) consider every single appeal filed by anyone contesting a decision made by a Referee following an Unemployment Hearing. There are many such appeals, and many, but not all, are rejected with limited discussion.
HERE ARE
SOME OTHER LINKS YOU MAY FIND WORTHWHILE:
Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Unemployment Appeal Hearing
in Pennsylvania?
Every Unemployment Hearing is recorded. Once an appeal is filed, a transcript of the proceedings is produced. The UCBOR's staff reviews the transcript, and all exhibits that were introduced at the Hearing. Both parties have a right to file a Brief explaining why they believe the Referee's decision is incorrect/correct. Any such Briefs will be considered as well.
The UCBR is Looking for Precise Legal Briefs
in an Appropriate Format
The UCBOR has reviewed thousands of appeals, and recognize nearly every fact pattern and legal issue presented. Referees are similarly knowledgeable about fact patterns and the law; that is why a relatively low percentage (say less than 20%) of Referee decisions are overturned.
If you did not have an attorney representing you at the Hearing, the percentages are lower. Why? Because the Board in most cases bases its decisions on legal issues that were raised before the Referee at the Hearing. So? Most reversals are due to legal mistakes involving evidentiary issues, (as opposed to reversing credibility determinations made by the Referee), and attorneys best understand how to raise and preserve legal issues for an appeal.
The best way to make sure that you preserve you rights at an Unemployment Hearing is to understand before you get there what is going to happen, and to formulate your strategy accordingly.
Typically, it can 1) affirm the Referee's decision (usually); 2) reverse the Referee's decision (sometimes); or, 3) send the case back to the Referee to obtain evidence or to hold a new Hearing; this is called a "remand" (infrequently).
DOES THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW CONSIDER NEW EVIDENCE ON AN APPEAL? LAWYERS WHO HELP PENNSYLVANIA EMPLOYEES WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
Almost never. The parties on appeal are "stuck" with whatever testimony, evidence and arguments that were presented at the initial Hearing before the Referee.
You Only Get ONE Bite at the Apple
It is at the Referee Hearing!
The most common (albeit rare) exception to this rule we have seen? Where an employee, after the Hearing, discovers evidence that he or she could not possibly have discovered prior to the Hearing that proves that the employer perjured itself at the Hearing. Don't count on this happening in your case -- it is very rare.
Sometime the Board will remand the case if it believes the Referee failed to ask certain questions, or failed to obtain certain evidence. Again, these situations happen infrequently, and it is likely that only an attorney who knows a lot about Pennsylvania unemployment law will be able to "spot" that issue and point it out to the UCBOR.
DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW HOLD HEARINGS?
Never. All Pennsylvania Unemployment Hearings are held by Referees. The UCBOR rarely if ever considers new evidence on an appeal, and never conducts its own Hearing.
WHAT DO I DO IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW DENIES MY APPEAL? LOOKING FOR LAWYER TO ASSIST WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM IN PENNSYLVANIA?
You may appeal to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. Unless you have been represented by counsel throughout your unemployment claims process, the likelihood of finding an attorney who will handle such an appeal for you is likely low - any any such attorney will likely seek a substantial fee. Why? Because, at this stage, any reversals are going to be based only on legal issues that were raised at the Hearing (and argued before the UCBOR), and attorneys are best suited to raise and preserve such arguments.
WHAT TYPES OF CASES ARE GOOD TO APPEAL TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW IN PA? MY UNEMPLOYMENT REFEREE WAS UNFAIR AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO PRESENT MY CASE - CAN I APPEAL?
Typically, cases that were incorrectly decided via a misapplication of the law. In such cases, filing a legal brief can be very helpful. Such examples often relate to evidentiary matters such as Hearsay, or misapplication of legal precedent.
Trying to prove that the Referee misunderstood facts, that he/she was wrong in making credibility determinations or that the Referee unfairly favored one side of the other are usually rejected by the UCBOR.
Sometime the Board will remand the case if it believes the Referee failed to ask certain questions, or failed to obtain certain evidence. Again, these situations happen infrequently, and it is likely that only an attorney who knows a lot about Pennsylvania unemployment law will be able to "spot" that issue and point it out to the UCBOR.
DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW HOLD HEARINGS?
Never. All Pennsylvania Unemployment Hearings are held by Referees. The UCBOR rarely if ever considers new evidence on an appeal, and never conducts its own Hearing.
WHAT DO I DO IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW DENIES MY APPEAL? LOOKING FOR LAWYER TO ASSIST WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM IN PENNSYLVANIA?
You may appeal to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. Unless you have been represented by counsel throughout your unemployment claims process, the likelihood of finding an attorney who will handle such an appeal for you is likely low - any any such attorney will likely seek a substantial fee. Why? Because, at this stage, any reversals are going to be based only on legal issues that were raised at the Hearing (and argued before the UCBOR), and attorneys are best suited to raise and preserve such arguments.
WHAT TYPES OF CASES ARE GOOD TO APPEAL TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BOARD OF REVIEW IN PA? MY UNEMPLOYMENT REFEREE WAS UNFAIR AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO PRESENT MY CASE - CAN I APPEAL?
Typically, cases that were incorrectly decided via a misapplication of the law. In such cases, filing a legal brief can be very helpful. Such examples often relate to evidentiary matters such as Hearsay, or misapplication of legal precedent.
We have also seen a number of cases where the Board remanded for a new Hearing, or
reversed the Referee's Decision, if it feels the Referee failed to adequately
protect the rights of a claimant that was not represented by counsel at the
hearing. This is somewhat rare, and
usually involves situations where the Referee allowed and relied upon (what
should have been inadmissible) hearsay.
Trying to prove that the Referee misunderstood facts, that he/she was wrong in making credibility determinations or that the Referee unfairly favored one side of the other are usually rejected by the UCBOR.
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