ÿWPC™ …# VUNa %¯ 0(µbÝw.å4 ' 6 0J> 0Tˆ 0^Ü 0h: 0r¢ 0| 0† 0 1u¦ 0d AM U>Ì B) DC3 AMvU*Ãí Bûv~vÓ– D3i 0Xœ AOôÆC 0D  D/M B|˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù-¡ ¢ D£ D¤ U¥ U¦ Ó€° DÒ 3|x° 2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ€- Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d7Border 1dd€- Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€"ÔÔ€"ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€"XÔÌÌApril€11,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó dPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd(0"ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€&NXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò ò›Þ ÞÌLORETTA€Z.€SLIGER,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àPutnam€County€ChanceryÌà àPetitioner/Appellee,à àà àà à)à àNo.€95„125Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌBILLY€J.€STOKES,€Commissionerà à)Ìof€the€Tennessee€Department€of€à àà à)à àAppeal€No.ÌEmployment,à àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9609„CH„00403Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌœßR€$ A1-j|¸ý[` ç `€€@ÿRß›à àRespondent,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìandà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌCOOPER€INDUSTRIES,€WAGNERà à)ÌLIGHTING€DIVISION,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àRespondent/Appellant.à àà à)ÌÌÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€PUTNUM€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€COOKEVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àHONORABLE€VERNON€NEAL,€JUDGEÌó óÌÌMS.€MARLA€K.€WILLIAMS,€BPR.€NO.€014167ÌRural€Legal€Services€of€TennesseeÌP.O.€Box€637ÌCookeville,€Tennessee€38501ÌATTORNEY€FOR€PLAINTIFF/APPELLEEÌÌÌCATHERINE€B.€CASTLEMAN,€BPR.€No.€009758ÌTenn.€Dept.€Of€Employment€SecurityÌ12th€Floor,€Volunteer€PlazaÌ500€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌNashville,€TN€37245„0100ÌATTORNEY€FOR€DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTSÌÌJIM€H.€CAMP,€BPR.€No.€003029ÌP.€O.€Box€€540ÌSparta,€TN€38583ÌATTORNEY€FOR€DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTSÌÌò òÓ  ÓREVERSED,€VACATED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌSAMUEL€L.€LEWISÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌò òLORETTA€Z.€SLIGER,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àPutnam€County€ChanceryÌà àPetitioner/Appellee,à àà àà à)à àNo.€95„125Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌBILLY€J.€STOKES,€Commissionerà à)Ìof€the€Tennessee€Department€of€à àà à)à àAppeal€No.ÌEmployment,à àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9609„CH„00403Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àRespondent,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìandà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌCOOPER€INDUSTRIES,€WAGNERà à)ÌLIGHTING€DIVISION,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àRespondent/Appellant.à àà à)Ìó óÌÌà@ àòòÔ€¼Ôò òO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óÔ€XÔóóÌÓÓÓ  Óà àÌà àThis€is€an€unemployment€compensation€case€in€which€the€petitioner€sought€judicialÏrelief€from€the€denial€of€benefits€by€filing€a€petition€for€certiorari€as€provided€by€TCA€ðð€50„7„304(h).€€The€Trial€Judge€reversed€the€denial€of€benefits€and€remanded€to€the€Agency€for€awardÏof€benefits.€€The€employer,€Cooper€Industries,€Wagner€Lighting€Division,€has€appealed€andÏpresented€the€following€issue:ÌÓÓà àà àWhether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€reversing€the€findings€of€the€Ìà àà àAdministrative€€tribunal,€œthere›€œ€being›€œ€substantial›€and€materialÌà àà àevidence€€in€€the€€record€€to€support€the€decision€of€the€Board€Ìà àà àof€Review.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€employee€has€presented€the€following€issues:ÌÓÓà àà àI.à àWhether€€an€€employee€whose€employer€sends€a€letterÌà àà àof€termination€while€she€is€out€on€medical€leave€is€dischargedÌà àà àor€has€voluntarily€quit.ÌÌà àà à2.à àWhether€€the€voluntary€quit€disqualification€provisionÌà àà àfound€€at€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„7„303(a)€(1)€is€applicable€toÌà àà àthis€case.ÌÌà àà à3.à àWhether€€Ms.€€Sliger€€was€able€and€available€for€work.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€brief€of€the€employer€admits€that€petitioner€was€employed€by€the€employer€fromÏDecember€11,€1978,€until€August€9,€1994.Ìà àIn€February,€1994,€the€employee€suffered€a€broken€leg€in€an€accident€unrelated€to€herÏwork.€€The€employer€granted€her€a€medical€leave€of€absence.ÌÌà àOn€May€12,€1994,€the€employee€filed€with€the€Department€of€Employment€Security€an€Ïapplication€for€employment€benefits.€€In€response€to€an€inquiry€from€the€Department,€theÏemployer€responded€on€May€17,€1994:ÌÓÓà àà àLoretta€is€on€a€ð ðLeave€of€Absenceðð€„€medical€with€our€company.€€She€Ìà àà àhas€not€terminated€her€employment€with€us€as€of€to€date€(sic).ÌÓÓÌà àIn€May,€1994,€the€employee€requested€termination€of€the€medical€leave€andÏreassignment€to€work,€supported€by€certificate€of€her€physician€dated€May€11,€1994€andÏstating:Ìà àÓÓà àThe€individual€is€able€to€work€with€the€following€restrictions:Ìà àà àNot€able€to€stand€or€walk€at€work.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€employeeððs€request€was€not€granted.ÌÌà àOn€May€24,€1994,€the€application€for€benefits€was€denied.€€On€July€27,€1994,€theÏdenial€was€affirmed€by€the€Appeals€Tribunal.€œ›ÌÌà àThe€employer€had€a€policy€that€terminated€employees€who€used€œ180›€days€of€leave€inÏone€year.€€As€to€her€knowledge€of€this€rule,€the€employee€testified:ÌÓÓà àà àMr.€€Martin:€€On€medical€leave€it€was€redesigned,€so€they€„€theyÌà àà àhave€€a€€policy€€at€€the€€Lighting€„€at€€Cooper€Lighting€that€„€thatÌà àà àyouððre€€€automatically€€€terminated€€after€€you€€expire€€180€€days€Ìà àà àleave€in€one€year?ÌÌà àà àMs.€€Sliger:€€I€€was€€completely€€unaware€€of€€this€until€I€was€off€Ìà àà àtwo€€and€€a€€half€months.€I€asked€other€people€inside€the€factory.Ìà àà àThey€were€unaware€of€it.€€When€I€got€my€termination€statementÌà àà àthey€€were€€made€€or€€had€€„€€they€€acknowledged€€it€€then€to€the€ÌÓÓà àà àfactory.Ìà àà àÌà àOn€August€10,€1994,€the€employer€wrote€the€employee€as€follows:ÌÓÓà àà àI€€hope€€this€€letter€€finds€€you€in€good€spirits€and€returning€to€Ìà àà àgood€€€health.€€As€€€you€€€are€€€aware,€€€our€€€company€€policy€Ìà àà àprovides€€an€€employee€€€up€€to€180€days€€in€€a€€calendar€€year€Ìà àà àfor€€a€€medical€€€leave€€of€€€absence.€€Your€€€leave€€of€€absence€Ìà àà àbegan€in€February€of€€1994€€and€is€still€continuing.€€However,€Ìà àà àyou€€€have€€reached€€your€€€maximum€€€amount€of€€time,€as€of€Ìà àà àAugust€€9,€€1994,€€for€€a€€leave€€of€€absence€and€now€we€must€Ìà àà àremove€you€from€employment€with€us.ÌÌà àà àIf€€you€have€questions€regarding€your€Co„Sav€and€RetirementÌà àà àAccount,€€€please€€contact€€Kathy€Clouse.€€Attached€is€a€letterÌà àà àand€€€election€€form€€explaining€€continuation€€of€€€health€€careÌÓÓà àà à(COBRA)€coverage.ÌÌà àOn€August€16,€1994,€the€employee€filed€a€second€claim€for€compensation€supported€byÏthe€following€statement:ÌÓÓà àà àI€€€have€€not€€worked€€since€€I€€filed€my€€last€€claim.€€€I€€am€€still€Ìà àà àunder€€the€care€of€my€doctor€€„€I€€have€€been€released€to€return€Ìà àà àto€€other€€work€„€but€€I€€still€€can€€not€€do€standing€work.€€I€did€Ìà àà àinjure€€myself€€€in€€€an€€€accident€€off€€€of€€€the€€€job.€€€I€€was€€on€Ìà àà àmedical€leave€but€my€medical€leave€expired€8„9„94.€My€regular€Ìà àà àjob€€that€€I€€had€with€Cooper€Industries€once€required€climbing€Ìà àà àstairs€„€that€is€€no€longer€required€on€that€job.€€Since€the€job€no€ÌÓÓà àà àlonger€requires€climbing€I€can€do€my€regular€job.ÌÌà àOn€August€26,€the€Department€denied€the€second€claim€because€the€employee€was€notÏable€to€work.ÌÌà àOn€August€31,€1994,€the€employeeððs€physician€certified:ÌÓÓà àà àThis€individual€is€able€to€work€with€the€following€restrictions:Ìà àà àNo€€climbing,€€continuous€€standing€€or€walking.€€Expect€twoÌà àà àmonths€€before€€regular€€full€duty€work.€€May€do€sitting€work.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€employee€appealed€to€the€Department€Appeals€Tribunal€which€held€a€hearing€onÏSeptember€27,€1994.€€ÌÌà àOn€September€29,€1994,€the€Tribunal€rendered€its€decision€affirming€the€decision€of€theÏDepartment,€stating:€ÌÓÓà àà àFINDINGS€OF€FACT:€€Claimantððs€€most€€recent€€employment€Ìà àà àprior€€to€€filing€€this€€claim€€was€€with€€Cooper€€Lighting,€€from€Ìà àà àOctober€€27,€€1980,€€until€€August€9,€1994,€as€a€manufacturingÌà àà àattendant.€€€Claimant€€€was€€€injured€€€€in€€€a€€non„work€€related€Ìà àà àaccident€€that€€broke€€both€€bones€in€her€leg.€Employee€refusedÌà àà àto€offer€employment€based€on€her€restrictive€medical€statementÌà àà àcontaining€€€€no€€€€standing€€€€or€€€constant€€€walking.€€€ClaimantÌà àà àrequested€€€a€€seated€€job€€such€€as€€inspector,€€but€€was€€denied.€€Ìà àà àClaimant€was€€then€€terminated€€on€€August€€9€€by€€letter€€dated€Ìà àà àAugust€€10€€for€€exceeding€€the€€leave€€policy€€of€€180€days€in€a€Ìà àà àcalendar€€year.€€€Claimant€€continued€€to€€look€€for€employment€Ìà àà àthat€€met€€her€€conditions€and€was€successful€in€finding€employ„Ìà àà àment€€€for€€€22€€hours€€per€€week€€which€€required€€standing€€75€Ìà àà àpercent€€of€€the€€time.€€€This€job€began€on€September€20,€1994,€Ìà àà àand€she€works€as€a€maid.€€Claimant€also€returned€to€her€doctor€Ìà àà àand€€€received€€€a€€€less€€restrictive€€statement€€that€€requires€€no€Ìà àà àclimbing,€€continuous€€standing,€€or€€walking.€€€She€€was€told€it€Ìà àà àwould€€be€€two€€months€€before€she€could€do€regular,€full„duty€Ìà àà àwork.€€She€€is€allowed€to€do€seated€work.€€Claimant€said€she€is€Ìà àà àcontinuing€to€look€for€work€and€is€not€limited€by€shift€or€hours.ÌÌà àà àCONCLUSIONS€OF€LAW:€€€The€€Appeals€€Tribunal€€is€of€theÌà àà àopinion€€€claimant€€€has€€€not€€€presented€€€her€€€employer€€€with€Ìà àà àcompetent€€medical€€statement€that€released€her€to€perform€herÌà àà ànormal€€duties.€€€The€€employer€€is€€under€€no€€duty€€to€€provide€Ìà àà àclaimant€€with€€an€€alternative€€job€€which€is€not€her€regular€job.€€Ìà àà àWe€€find€€claimant€was€ineligible€effective€week€ending€August€Ìà àà à20,€€1994,€€due€€to€€not€€being€released€by€her€doctor€as€able€to€Ìà àà àreturn€€to€€her€€normal€€job.€€€Claimant€€is€€ineligible€€under€€the€Ìà àà àmeaning€€of€€€TCA€€50„7„302(a)(4).€€€The€€Agency€€decision€€is€ÌÓÓà àà àaffirmed.€€ÌÌà àThe€employee€appealed€to€the€Board€of€Review€on€the€following€issue:€ÌÓÓà àà àTCA€€ðð€€50„7„303€(a)€(1)€„€whether€claimant€voluntarily€left€her€Ìà àà àjob€€without€€good€€cause€€connected€with€work;€if€claimant€wasÌà àà àforced€€to€€leave€€work€€due€€to€sickness€or€disability€(supportedÌà àà àby€competent€medical€proof),€whether€she€notified€her€employerÌà àà àof€€this€€as€soon€as€reasonably€practical€and€returned€and€offered€ÌÓÓà àà àherself€to€perform€her€former€duties€as€soon€as€she€was€able.€ÌÌà àTCA€ðð€50„7„302€provides€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:ÌÓÓà àà àò ò€€€€Benefit€€€eligibility€€€conditionsó ó.€€„€€(a)€€€Personal€€€eligibility€Ìà àà àconditions.€€An€€unemployed€claimant€shall€be€eligible€to€receiveÌà àà àbenefits€with€respect€to€any€week€only€if€the€commissioner€findsÌà àà àthat€all€of€the€following€conditions€are€met.ÌÌà àà à€€€€(4)€€The€€claimant€€is€€able€€to€€work,€€available€for€work,€andÌà àà àmaking€€a€€reasonable€€effort€€to€€secure€€work.€€€In€€determining€Ìà àà àwhether€€the€€claimant€€is€€making€€a€€reasonable€effort€to€secure€Ìà àà àwork,€€the€€commissioner€€shall€consider€the€customary€methods€Ìà àà àof€€obtaining€€work€€in€€the€€claimantððs€€usual€€occupation€or€any€Ìà àà àoccupation€€for€€which€€the€€claimant€is€reasonably€qualified,€the€Ìà àà àcurrent€€condition€€of€€the€€labor€market,€and€any€attachment€œtheÌ›œÌ›€Ìà àà àclaimant€may€have€to€a€regular€job.ÌÓÓà àà àÌà àTCA€ðð€50„7„303(a)(1)€provides€as€follows:ÌÓÓà àà à€€€€ò òDisqualification€for€benefits.€ó 󀄀€(a)€Disqualifying€Events.€€A€Ìà àà àclaimant€shall€be€disqualified€for€benefits:ÌÌà àà à€€€€(1)€€If€€the€€commissioner€€finds€that€the€claimant€has€left€suchÌà àà àclaimantððs€€most€€recent€€work€€voluntarily€€without€€good€cause€Ìà àà àconnected€with€such€claimantððs€work.€Such€disqualification€shallÌà àà àbe€€for€the€duration€of€the€ensuring€period€of€unemployment€and€Ìà àà àuntil€such€claimant€has€secured€subsequent€employment€covered€Ìà àà àby€€an€unemployment€compensation€law€of€this€state,€or€another€Ìà àà àstate,€€or€of€€the€€United€States,€and€was€paid€wages€thereby€ten€Ìà àà à(10)€times€such€claimantððs€weekly€benefit€amount.€€No€disquali„Ìà àà àfication€€shall€€be€€made€€hereunder,€€however,€if€€such€€claimant€Ìà àà àpresents€€evidence€€supported€€by€competent€€medical€proof€that€Ìà àà àsuch€€claimant€€was€forced€€to€leave€such€claimantððs€most€recent€Ìà àà àwork€€because€€such€€claimant€was€€sick€or€disabled€and€notified€Ìà àà àsuch€claimantððs€€employer€of€€that€fact€as€soon€as€it€was€reason„Ìà àà àably€€practical€€to€€do€€so,€€òòand€€returned€€to€€that€€employer€€and€Ìà àà àoffered€€to€€work€€as€€soon€€as€€such€€claimant€€was€again€able€to€Ìà àà àwork,€and€to€perform€such€claimantððs€former€dutiesóó.€ÌÓÓÌà àOn€January€9,€1995,€the€Board€held€a€hearing€at€which€petitioner€testified€as€follows:ÌÓÓà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€€You€last€worked€there€in€February€1994.€€ÌÓÓÓÓà àà àIs€that€right?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àAnd€you€left€for€what€reason?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àI€had€a€broke€leg.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àAnd€this€was€a€non„work€related€injury.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.Ìà àà àÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àWhen€€„€€at€€what€€point,€Mrs.€€Sliger,€€did€€you€Ìà àà àpresent€yourself€back€to€work€at€Cooper,€and€request€that€youÌà àà àbe€able€to€return€to€work€there?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àAs€soon€as€I€went€and€talked€to€them€about€myÌà àà àinsurance,€paying€it€up.€€I€guess€it€was€two€months.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àDid€you€feel€at€the€time€that€you€were€able€to€„€Ìà àà àto€do€some€work€there?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àBut€you€didnððt€feel€like€you€were€able€to€return€€Ìà àà àto€your€most€recent€job€that€you€had€done€there?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àNo.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€€When€„€at€€what€€point,€Mrs.€Sliger,€didÌà àà àyou€€feel€€that€€you€were€able€to€return€to€your€past€job,€which€Ìà àà àyou€€€testified€€€at€€€previous€€hearings€€€was€€€a€€manufacturing€Ìà àà àattendant?€€At€€what€€point€did€you€think€you€could€go€back€toÌà àà àthat?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àœI€›€could€have€went€back€„€it€was€before€Thanks„Ìà àà àgiving,€Iððd€say.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€€€What€€was€€œ€the›€€event€€that€€led€€to€€the€Ìà àà àseparation€of€your€employment,€Mrs.€Sliger.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àDue€€to€€me€€being€€out€on€€a€œmedical€›€leave€tooÌà àà àlong,€they€say.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€€€And€€that€€was€€„€€that€œ€information›€was€Ìà àà àcommunicated€to€you€by€the€August€10th€letter.€€Is€œ€that›€right?€Ìà àà àÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àAnd€at€that€time,€you€were€working?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€œ€›€œBut€›€€you€œ„€›€you€wanted€to€get€back€„€go€Ìà àà àback€to€your€job€at€Cooper?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes,€because€I€had€almost€16€years€in.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àOkay.€€And€€œDr.€›€œBranton€›€€had€€gave€€œyou€€some›Ìà àà àmedical€€restrictions.€€€œDid€›€you€€œfeel€›€œthat€›€you€were€able€€to€€doÌÓÓÓÓà àà àœyour€›€œpast€›€work€œ€there›€œas›€a€manufacturing€attendant€with€thoseÌà àà àrestrictions?€ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àOkay.€€Is€œ€that€›€œ„€›€did€I€understand€the€last€„€your€Ìà àà àlast€€question€€œwas€›€you€œ€felt€›€like€you€could€do€the€job€of€manu„Ìà àà àfacturing€attendant€with€the€restrictions?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.€€Where€were€„„„ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àIn€this€August€31st€„„„ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àRight.€€Uh„huh.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à à„„„€doctorððs€statement?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àUh„huh.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àBut€€I€€take€€it€€that€€Cooper€€Industries€œdidnððt€think›€Ìà àà àœyou›€could€do€it€with€those€restrictions?€€Is€that€„„„ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àEvidently.ÌÌà àà àMs.€Williams:à àAnd€this€medical€certificate€was€dated€AugustÌà àà à31st.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àHave€€„€€have€€you€€been€€back,€€Ms.€Sliger,€to€Ìà àà àreapply€for€work€there€since€you€got€that€August€10th€letter?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àNo.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àYou€€havenððt€€tried?€€€€I€€€noticed€€€youððre€€€on€Ìà àà àcrutches€this€morning.€€Is€this€on„going€recovery€from€those€Ìà àà àinjuries?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.Ìà àà àÌà àà àMr.€Wilson:à àAre€you€still€in€the€process€of€recovering?ÌÌà àà àMs.€Sliger:à àYes.ÌÓÓÌœ›à àOn€February€15,€1995,€the€Board€issued€its€decision€containing€the€following:ÌÓÓà àà àFINDINGS€€OF€€FACT:€€The€€claimantððs€€most€€recent€€work€€beforeÌà àà àfiling€€€this€€claim€€was€€€with€€Cooper€€Industries,€€from€€October€€27,€Ìà àà à1980,€€until€€February,€€1994.€€€The€€claimant€€left€€work€€in€€FebruaryÌà àà à1994,€€when€€she€€was€€injured€€while€€off€€duty.€€She€was€placed€on€a€Ìà àà àleave€€of€€absence€€and€€was€€unable€to€work€at€all€for€several€months.€€Ìà àà àShe€was€eventually€released€to€perform€light€duty€work.€€She€offered€Ìà àà àto€€return€€but€€the€€employer€€had€€no€€light€€duty€€work€available.€€In€€Ìà àà àAugust,€€the€€leave€€of€€absence€€expired€€according€to€the€employerððs€Ìà àà àpolicy.€€At€that€time€the€employer€sent€the€claimant€a€politely€worded€Ìà àà àletter€€telling€€her€€that€€the€€leave€€had€expired€and€that€she€was€being€Ìà àà àð ðremovedðð€€€from€€employment.€€€She€€still€€had€€not€€recovered€€from€Ìà àà àthe€injury€sufficiently€to€perform€her€former€job.ÌÌà àà àA€few€days€after€receiving€the€letter,€to€claimantððs€doctor€released€herÌà àà àto€do€sufficient€activity€so€that€she€could€perform€her€former€job.€€SheÌà àà àdid€€not€€return€€and€offer€herself€to€the€employer€to€perform€full€duty.Ìà àà àShe€has€not€had€contact€with€the€employer€since€being€released€by€the€ÌÓÓÓÓà àà àdoctor.€€Instead,€she€filed€this€unemployment€claim.ÌÌà àà àCONCLUSIONS€€OF€€LAW:€€The€€Board€€of€€Review€€holds€that€the€Ìà àà àclaimant€€is€€disqualified€€for€€benefits€€under€€TCA€ðð€50„7„303€(a)(1),€Ìà àà àbecause€€she€€voluntarily€€left€€her€€job€without€good€cause€connected€Ìà àà àwith€€the€€work€€and€€did€€not€€return€€and€offer€herself€to€perform€her€Ìà àà àformer€duties€as€soon€as€she€was€able.ÌÌà àà àThe€€claimant€€voluntarily€left€her€job€in€February,€1994,€for€purposesÌà àà àof€€this€€unemployment€€claim,€€even€€though€€she€€continued€€to€€have€Ìà àà àsome€€€€relationship€€€with€€€€the€€€employer€€€(see€€€the€€€definition€€€of€Ìà àà àð ðunemploymentðð€€contained€€in€€TCA€€ðð€€50„7„211).€€€The€€claimantððs€Ìà àà àseparation€€€in€€€February€€€was€€voluntary€€€and€€without€€good€€cause€Ìà àà àconnected€€with€€the€€work€€because€€she€€left€€due€€to€€an€€injury€€that€Ìà àà àoccurred€while€off€duty.€Under€these€circumstances€and€under€TCA€ððÌà àà à50„7„303€(a)€(1),€€she€€is€€disqualified€€for€€benefits€until€she€earns€tenÌà àà àtimes€€her€œweekly›€œbenefit›€amount€œ€in€›€other€employment,€or€until€she€Ìà àà àœsufficiently€›€œrecovers›€€€to€œ€perform›€€œ€her›€€former€€job,€€returns€€to€€the€Ìà àà àemployer€œ€and›€œoffers›€to€work€and€is€not€œreemployed.€In›€this€case€theÌà àà àœclaimant€›€œdid€not›€return€to€the€employer€and€offer€œto›€work€when€she€Ìà àà àsufficiently€œ€›€recovered€€œ€to€›€œperform›€œ€her€›€former€œ€duties.›€€œ€Therefore›€œÌà àà àshe€is›€€disqualified€œ€for€›€œbenefits›€œunder›€œTCA€ðð€50„7„303›€œ(a)›€œ(1).€›€œThe›€Ìà àà àdecision€of€the€Appeals€Tribunal€is€affirmed.ÌÌà àà àDECISION:€€The€€decision€€of€€the€€Appeals€Tribunal€is€affirmed€and€Ìà àà àthe€claim€is€denied€as€of€the€date€of€filing€under€TCA€50„7„303(a)(1).€ÌÓÓà àÌà àUpon€petition€for€certiorari,€the€Trial€Court€considered€the€matter€upon€theÏadministrative€record€and€held:ÌÓÓà àà àAfter€€consideration€€of€€€the€€arguments€€of€€€both€€parties€€and€œthe›€Ìà àà àentire€€record,€€the€€Court€€finds€€and€€holds€€that€œLoretta›€€Z.€SligerÌà àà àwas€€wrongfully€€terminated€€by€her€employer€and€there€œis›€material€Ìà àà àand€€substantial€€evidence€€in€€the€€record€œto›€support€€the€Board€of€Ìà àà àReviewððs€€conclusion€€that€€Ms.€Sliger€€was€œable›€to€work€when€she€Ìà àà àœfiled€›€œher€›€claim,€œ€but›€the€decision€€of€the€Board€of€Review€that€theÌà àà àpetitioner€œ€voluntarily›€œ€quit€›€her€job€without€good€cause€connected€Ìà àà àwith€€€her€€œwork›€œ€is›€€not€€supported€€œby€›€€evidence€œ€›€which€œ€›€is€€both€Ìà àà àmaterial€€and€€substantial€€in€€œ€light›€€of€œ€›€œthe›€€entire€€record,€and€€its€Ìà àà àdecision€œ€that›€œ€she€voluntarily›€œquit›€is€erroneous€as€a€matter€of€€law.€€Ìà àà àThe€€€decision€€€of€€€the€€€Court€€is€€more€€fully€€set€œ€›€œforth€›€€in€€€the€Ìà àà àMemorandum€œ€Opinion€›€entered€on€January€2,€1996;€€that€opinion€ÌÓÓà àà àis€fully€incorporated€herein€but€need€not€be€repeated€verbatim.à àÌÌà àThe€memorandum€of€the€Trial€Judge€contains€the€following:ÌÓÓà àà à€€€€œThe€›€œBoard€›œof€€Review›€œconcluded›€that€claimant€did€not€reapplyÌà àà àfor€€€work€€œ€with›€œCooper›€€œIndustries€›€€œafter€›€œhaving›€€œ€received€›€€the€Ìà àà àmedical€€œreport€›€œfrom›€€œDr€.›€Bratton€œ€dated€›€August€31,€1994.€€The€Ìà àà àcourt€€is€€unaware€€of€€any€€case€€or€€authority€œ€which€›€requires€œ€an›€Ìà àà àemployee€€to€€return€€to€€an€€employer€€who€œ€has€›€discharged€œ€such›Ìà àà àemployee€€in€€violation€€of€œ€its€›€own€œ€work›€policies€and€reapply€for€Ìà àà àwork€€in€€order€€to€€be€€œeligible›€œ€for€›€unemployment€œ€compensation›Ìà àà àbenefits.€€It€œ€is€›€apparent€œ€in›€this€case€that€such€requirement€wouldÌà àà àhave€€been€€an€€unreasonable€œ€and›€œ€fruitless›€effort€inasmuch€as€the€Ìà àà àemployer€€terminated€€her€€employment€œ€and€›€demonstrated€it€had€Ìà àà àno€€desire€€to€€let€€her€€work€€so€œ€long›€œ€as›€any€physical€restrictionsÌà àà àexisted.ÌÌà àà à€€€€The€€€court€€finds€€and€€holds€€that€€claimant€œ€›€was€œ€›€wrongfully€Ìà àà àœterminated€›€œby€›€her€employer€and€there€is€material€and€substantialÌà àà àevidence€€€in€€€the€€œrecord€›€€to€€support€œ€›€the€€Board€€of€€Reviewððs€Ìà àà àconclusion€€œthat€›€œMs.€›€Sliger€was€able€to€work€when€she€filed€herÌà àà àclaim,€€but€€the€€decision€œ€of›€œ€the›€Board€of€Review€that€petitionerÌà àà àvoluntarily€œ€quit€›€œher€›€job€without€good€cause€connected€with€herÌà àà àwork€€is€€not€€supported€œ€by€›€evidence€which€is€both€material€and€Ìà àà àsubstantial€€in€€light€œ€of€the›€entire€record€and€its€decision€that€she€Ìà àà àquit€€voluntarily€€is€€erroneous€œ€as€›€a€matter€of€law.€€Accordingly,Ìà àà àthe€€€decision€€of€€the€€Board€€of€€Review€€denying€€€petitionerððs€Ìà àà àeligibility€€for€unemployment€compensation€benefits€is€reversed,Ìà àà àand€€this€€cause€€is€€remanded€€to€€the€€Board€of€€Review€for€the€Ìà àà àentry€€€of€€€an€€order€€awarding€€petitioner€€such€€unemploymentÌà àà àcompensation€€benefits€€that€€she€€may€€otherwise€€be€entitled€toÌÓÓà àà àunder€the€unemployment€security€laws.Ìà à€€€€Ìœ›à àFrom€the€length€of€the€administrative€proceedings€narrated€above,€the€reaction€of€theÏTrial€Judge€is€understandable.€€However,€it€must€be€remembered€that€this€action€does€notÏinvolve€health€or€disability€insurance,€or€wrongful€discharge.€€It€involves€unemploymentÏcompensation€benefits€payable€œonly€to›€a€person€who€is€able€and€willing€to€work,€but€isÏdischarged€or€denied€restoration€after€an€absence€for€illness€or€disability.€€See€TCA€ðð€50„7„303(a)€(1).ÌÌà àUnquestionably,€petitioner€was€absent€from€work,€with€the€permission€of€herÏemployer,€from€February,€1994,€until€her€discharge€in€August,€1994,€for€a€disability€from€aÏnon„work€related€injury.€€Unquestionably,€she€made€a€partial€recovery€and€offered€to€return€butÏwas€refused€because€she€was€not€fully€recovered.€€During€the€pendency€of€her€unemploymentÏclaim,€she€again€sought€to€return,€but€was€denied€because€her€physicians€certificate€limited€herÏactivities.€€Even€though€petitioner€was€of€the€opinion€that€she€could€perform€all€her€formerÏduties€with€her€residual€disability,€she€has€not€supported€her€application€for€reinstatement€withÏher€doctorððs€certificate€that€her€previously€certified€disability€no€longer€exists.€€The€subsequent,ÏAugust€31,€1994,€certificate€of€the€physician€is€substantial€and€material€evidence€supporting€theÏfinding€of€disability€to€return€to€work,€ergo€present€disqualification€to€receive€unemploymentÏbenefits..ÌÌà àœThe€foregoing€is€determinative€in€the€present€appeal,€hence€the€effect€of€the€August€10,Ï1994,€termination€by€the€employer€need€not€be€considered.›Ìœ›œÌ›œÌ›œÌ›œÌ›Ìà àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed€and€the€decision€of€the€Board€of€Review€isÏaffirmed.€€All€costs,€including€costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€the€petitioner.€€The€cause€isÏremanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€further€appropriate€proceedings.Ìœò òÓ  ÓÔ€¼ÔÌ›à àREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÔ€XÔó óÌÓÓÓ  ÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGE