NOTE: Minnesota takes the cake. This state has far far and away more and dumber unemployment cases per capita than any other. After reading four or five cases in a row where a drunk who can't show up for work tries to collect, or a fistfight follows a prank, or where irate employees cuss out the boss in blistering profanity but do not think that is misconduct, we weary. It makes you wonder: Is crime so low in Minnesota that the courts have nothing better to do than listen to this stuff?

Therefore, this is no exhaustive collection of Minnesota case law, but tries to be a representative one.

-- January 2007

2007

Amsler -- October 2007

The director of operations wrote himself unauthorized checks.

Heinonen -- October 2007

Hired specifically to care for her grand-daughter. When her grand-daughter's care ceased, she applied for unemployment.

Jackson -- October 2007

Under certain circumstances, a company officer may collect unemploym,ent if they have filled out a form beforehand. She did not fill out the form.

Krizak -- October 2007

The client told the staffing company they didn't want him any more because of attendance problems.

Rannow -- October 2007

The doctor told her not to drive for six months. She could not get a ride.

Schultenover -- October 2007

When this temp staffer's assignment ran out, he did not call for another one.

Sholl -- October 2007

Did not return to work because she thought she would be harassed.

Beck -- September 2007

Frequently tardy or absent.

Bennett -- September 2007

He says he was given the rest of the day off for his daughter's birthday. The employer says he was not. The Unemployment Law Judge decides who to believe. The court does not.

Bucher -- September 2007

A triage nurse does not work as carefully and thoroughly as they think she should. Often warned; finally fired.

Docktor -- September 2007

Quit when her hours were reduced to 15 pewr week. But the court doesn't think this is good reason to quit.

Garcia -- September 2007

Quit to take another job which had not yet been offered to him at a company he later found out was not hiring.

Hulett -- September 2007

Did not want to perform administrative duties. But quit when demoted so as not to have to perform them.

Osland -- September 2007

A driving instructor is fired for talking on her cell, running errands, etc. during lessons.

Swift -- September 2007

A nurse "has a documented history of inappropriate conduct toward residents"

Truong -- September 2007

Quit because she and her supervisor didn't get along.

Woods -- September 2007

Used the company kitchen, the company food, the company utensils, and the company's employee on the company's time, while herself on the company clock, to cater an event for the company's customer, all for her own profit.

Edwards -- August 2007

Quit to rescue his two sons who were living on the streets of Chicago with their crack addicted mother. The Department says this is not a work related reason. The court thinks this is a pretty good reason to quit, nevertheless, and would like to give him a chance to prove it.

Lamah -- August 2007

Quit his temp assignment to take his ill son to Africa to see his recently deported wife. But then the doctors advised him against going.

Scheller -- August 2007

He had 30 days to appeal. He appealed on the 31st day.

Bruner -- July 2007

Suffers from depression. Hired as a WalMart greeter. Not cheerful enough.

Cumming -- July 2007

Quit when he thought he might be fired.

Machacek -- July 2007

A resident kicked her. She kicked back.

Neloms -- July 2007

Quit when frustrated in his desire for advancement.

Olabiyi -- July 2007

A pregnant aide placed on unpaid medical leave is not looking for work, so cannot collect.

Quern -- July 2007

Would not follow procedures; rolled her eyes.

Reber -- July 2007

Required to drive the company van. Lost his license for drunk driving. Lost his job for no license.

Winans -- July 2007

Showed up late, left early, falsified his time sheet, did not complete the work, and stole. Other than that, no good reason to fire him.

Adam -- June 2007

A restaurant manager is fired for not keeping the place clean.

Emmons -- June 2007

A bartender would disappear in the middle of his shift.

Kortas -- June 2007

Denied benefits for misconduct, he appealed. After the hearing, they denied him for having quit.

Williams -- June 2007

Hurt on the job; released for light work; would not report.

Williams -- June 2007

The lot boy cussed the sales manager.

Bowman -- May 2007

They say he stole the drills. He says he signed them out.

Galbert -- May 2007

Late because she sent her appeal letter to the unemployment office instead of the appeals office.

Hagen -- May 2007

Provoked by a hostile customer.

Huisman -- May 2007

She handed in her resignation effective in two weeks. They accepted it effective immediately. She may only collect unemployment for the two weeks from when they told her to go and when she was going to go anyway.

James -- May 2007

Someone says he yelled at a customer. He says he didn't. The hearing officer decides who to believe; not the court.

Lynch -- May 2007

Quit when a drastic change in commission structure took a whopping bite out of her income. Yet they say she quit without cause.

McCoy -- May 2007

Quit to take a job which paid a little less but did not require she pay for daycare. The job fell through. Now they won't pay her unemployment, saying that because hse quit for a job which paid less, she wasn't quitting for a better job.

Megas -- May 2007

Says he missed his hearing when hospitalized. Has to go to court to get a chance to prove it.

Parsons -- May 2007

A part time nursing assistant cancelled sixteen shifts in six weeks. Ultimately, two clients refused to have her assigned to them.

Smithwhite -- May 2007

Frequently absent or tardy; warned several times.

Thompto -- May 2007

Used his $40 dinner allowance to buy restaurant gift cards.

Welter -- May 2007

A midwife refused to comply with the employer's medical protocol.

Worden -- May 2007

The hearings officer decides which side to believe; not the court. No additional documents may be presented to the court which were not presented at the hearing.

Axelson -- April 2007

When her temp assignment ended, the agency called her to offer another assignment. She wouldn't listen to details, said she'd call back, but never did. This is the same as refusing a job.

Garcia -- April 2007

The employer furloughed him for five months, during which he collected unemployment. Then the employer laid him off and gave him severance. Because of the severance five months later, the Department wants him to pay back the five months benefits.

Kariniemi -- April 2007

While he was out of work collecting unemployment, he looked for jobs for his painting business. The Department says he was not unemployed because looking for jobs is work! Now they want to penalize him for fraud.

Leehy -- April 2007

He quit because they cut his pay. But the pay cut and demotion were because of poor job performance.

Lenzmeier -- April 2007

She was paid straight commission; therefore, she refused to train her supervisor, because she was not paid to do that.

Pluta -- April 2007

He claims he did not throw the remote control, he only tossed it.

Scheeler -- April 2007

While laid off, he moved to Montana. When the employer called him back to work, he refused.

Vang -- April 2007

Her hearing had already been rescheduled several times, when she called to ask it be postponed again, because she had just started a new job which conflicted with the hearing time. Request denied.

Wichman -- April 2007

The Unemployment Law Judge failed to determine which witnesses were credible.

Bell -- March 2007

A truck driver argued about his assigned routes.

Bukkuri -- March 2007

She was unemployed three months before she applied for benefits. Her application may not be backdated.

Eaton -- March 2007

Attendance problems. She says the supervisor is making it up. The Unemployment Law Judge decides who is credible.

Goodburn -- March 2007

A delivery driver is fired for stopping at a fast food restaurant for lunch, talking on his cell phone, and missing work. The court will not re-weigh the evidence.

Kforce -- March 2007

This company does not want to inherit the unemployment tax rates of its parent company.

Hase -- February 2007

He insisted the employer should lay him off. The employer would not. So he quit and applied for unemployment.

He -- February 2007

Falsified his time cards. Thinks he should collect.

Johnson -- February 2007

Quit because the stockroom was messy and crowded, because a contractor was abusive, and because she didn't get a pay raise.

Jones -- February 2007

She can't work mornings because she has to get her daughter off to school. She can't work evenings because she can't see in the dark. She doesn't have a vehicle to get to work. So she quit.

Jorgenson -- February 2007

While collecting unemployment, she coached a school basketball team, for which the school paid her two small lump sums. The DEED wants her to pay back the benefits she recieved, asserting that she earned weekly wages.

Klover -- February 2007

Falsified his employment application to conceal previous shenanigans.

Bakke -- January 2007

Refused to sign a warning.

Buck -- January 2007

As part of her workers comp settlement, she agreed to quit. Now she can't collect unemployment because she quit.

Chung -- January 2007

The casino had to fire him when he lost his gaming license.

Cotter -- January 2007

They told her they might lay her off in a week or two. So she quit.

Ebert -- January 2007

Collected unemployment. Later, received retroactive social security disability. Now he has to pay back the benefits he received while waiting for his disability to come through.

Fisher -- January 2007

Unsafe working conditions: Quit because the marina did not provide him a spotter when lifting yachts.

Foltz -- January 2007

Alcohol on the job, last chance agreement, alcohol again, quit rather than take a test.

Goodman -- January 2007

Quit after negative performance reviews. Claims the boss is hard on her because of her gender.

Manderfield -- January 2007

She can't work Saturdays because she can't find daycare.

McGinity -- January 2007

Fought the HR department, lost, then quit, claiming a hostile work environment.

Patterson -- January 2007

The employer says she did not call in. She says she did. The hearings officer believed the employer.

Post -- January 2007

Became agitated and irate. Told to go home and cool off. Then fired.

Proudfoot -- January 2007

They met to complain about her performance. Then she quit.

Roberts -- January 2007

At the hearing, his witnesses were to testify by telephone. But their calls were disconnected.

Schwartz -- January 2007

Appealed too late.

Storbeck -- January 2007

Fired because she refused to take an "ethics exam".

Ywswf -- January 2007

She says she was laid off. They say she quit when assigned to a shift which would conflict with her class schedule. Despite the fact she was not attending school at the time, the unemployment law judge finds the employer more credible.

2006

Canter -- December 2006

Unprofessional conduct.

Caron -- December 2006

Injured on the job. Has the right to go to his own doctor. Cannot be forced to go to the company doctor.

Cole -- December 2006

Under-reported her earnings while collecting unemployment.

Enterprise Communication -- December 2006

A part time consultant was laid off. The company has fought this claim tooth and nail at every stage.

Gura -- December 2006

The boss's jealous wife made her have to quit.

Khan -- December 2006

Did not do her assigned tasks.

Larson -- December 2006

She appealed 130 days too late.

Michael -- December 2006

Quit because of stress over his family.

Nelson -- December 2006

The hearing officer believed the employer's witnesses, not her.

Norvell -- December 2006

Did not observe attendance policy.

Schultz -- December 2006

Asked for Friday off. Didn't get it. Quit.

Shambour -- December 2006

Got a DWI while off duty; therefore can't drive crews to work sites; therefore can't do the job.

Terra Firma -- December 2006

The roofers have their own companies, bring their own tools, supervise themselves, and work by the job. But because the contractor buys the shingles, they are considered employees of the contractor, rather than subcontractors. So the contractor must pay unemployment taxes on the roofers.

Williams -- December 2006

Says he quit because the van he was assigned to drive was unsafe.

Baumgartner -- November 2006

An eighth grade teacher did not want to be assigned to teach fifth grade.

Keith -- November 2006

He says that, because the employer did not attend the hearing, he should be believed.

Abfalter -- October 2006

Quit because she thought she would be fired.

Juhl -- October 2006

He says his inexcused absence was not misconduct because it did not cause the employer hardship and because there was some confusion whether he had permission to take off.

Pierce -- October 2006

Fired because he opened the cash register using the emergency switch instead of the no sale key. Once.

Regis -- October 2006

A truck driver is fired for not reporting an accident.

Savick -- October 2006

While on unemployment, he filed for disability. Therefore, the DEED wants him to pay back the benefits he received, because, if he was disabled, he wasn't able and available to work.

Scheid -- October 2006

After a heated discussion, he walked out.

Wright -- October 2006

A forklift driver had numerous accidents. After the last accident, tested positive for alcohol.

AMFAM -- September 2006

When the airline cut pay 25%, the workers considered themselves locked out. Some classes of workers got unemployment; others did not.

Cotton -- September 2006

Customers complained he was rude.

Ellis -- September 2006

A prison guard fired for sleeping on duty thinks he should collect unemployment.

Kollross -- September 2006

They say she was an independent contractor. She says she did not quit. It's complicated.

LaBeau -- September 2006

Because she later won workers compensation for the time during which she had collected unemployment, she will have to repay the unemployment benefits she received.

Misel -- September 2006

Employer policy promises performance reviews each six months with raises for good performance. But they did not do the reviews; hence they did not grant any raises. So he quit.

Rice -- September 2006

A counselor failed to report suspected sexual abuse of a child.

Richter -- September 2006

The employer gave him notice of an impending layoff. He didn't like the severance package offered. So he quit.

Skarhus -- September 2006

A restaurant employee paid for her sandwich, but not for extra beef and cheese bread.

Southwest Motors -- September 2006

They hire drivers for twenty bucks a trip to bring cars from autctions to the dealer. These drivers are independent contractors.

Wigfield -- September 2006

Attendance problems. Last chance agreement. More attendance problems.

Yang -- September 2006

Because a nurse advised him not to seek work while he was laid off, the DEED wants him to pay back the unemployment benefits he received.

Blonker -- August 2006

Quit because she objected to training her replacement

Bushard -- August 2006

Fired for disconnecting callers without reading the script.

Hatgidakis -- August 2006

Obtained signatures on blank authorization forms.

McJimsey -- August 2006

The temp staffing company assigned her to work for which she was not suited.

Heeralall -- August 2006

The employer told him to turn in his key, take hist stuff, return his uniform, leave, and pick up his final check later. But the unemployment law judge claims he quit.

Nehmzow -- August 2006

Quit, claiming abuse and bad treatment.

Nichols -- August 2006

A colleague was repeatedly mean to her. She told management. Management warned the colleague. But the bad behavior continued. So she quit.

Norby -- August 2006

Did not follow instructions.

Nutall -- August 2006

Attendance problems.

Oliver -- August 2006

A truck driver thought he was getting bad route assignments; so he quit.

Ostapenko -- August 2006

The training program he selected costs more than the department will reimburse.

Ostrom -- August 2006

He has evidence that he was looking for a job; but the hearings officer never asked for it.

Owens -- August 2006

Didn't complete the work. Fell asleep during meetings. Didn't want to account for his whereabouts.

Parker -- August 2006

Insubordinate, abusive, and threatening.

Powers -- August 2006

A history of losing her temper and swearing.

Silva -- August 2006

Part of her job is driving a van. Fired for careless driving.

Van Hee -- August 2006

A property manager failed to charge the early termination fees required by the owners.

Williams -- August 2006

The employer says he was late once a week. He says he was only late four times a month. O K.

Ambaye -- July 2006

Said he was out of work when he was not. Now, has to pay back the benefits he received, plus a penalty.

Garcia -- July 2006

Did not call in; did not show; did not open the office.

Hebrink -- July 2006

Disrespected a patient.

Humenik -- July 2006

Tight management does not amount to a hostile work place.

Jaskowiak -- July 2006

Missed his hearing. But the subsequent notice telling him how to apply for reconsideration did not advise him of his rights.

Jelinek -- July 2006

A delivery driver had pornographic cards in his truck.

Krmpotich -- July 2006

His job was not secure. His wife accepted a job elsewhere. He quit to move with her.

Lee -- July 2006

Her commissions were based on figures which they refused to give her access to.. So she quit.

Malinowsky -- July 2006

Failed a drug test; kicked out of rehab; thinks he should collect unemployment.

North American -- July 2006

A cleaning service claims it's cleaners are independent contractors.

Ojala -- July 2006

He gave 45 days notice. They replaced him next week.

Petelin -- July 2006

A little harmless horseplay. The employer took it too seriously.

Popel -- July 2006

He did not submit paperwork in a timely and complete manner.

Stratton -- July 2006

Quit for medical reasons; but did not give the employer a chance to accomodate his needs.

Walker -- July 2006

Quit because she thought she was going to be fired.

Duran -- June 2006

Quit because dissatisfied with the working conditions.

Hiti -- June 2006

They paid him benefits. Then they decided he was ineligible. Now, he must pay back the benefits.

Khan -- June 2006

Her husband was killed in a robbery. Therefore, when the store began requiring her to carry the deposit to the bank, she refused and quit.

Lysdahl -- June 2006

Cash shortages. But what counts is: Failed to deposit the cash as instructed.

Mason -- June 2006

One of the partners at the law firm would get angry and cuss. So this secretary quit.

Mittag -- June 2006

They told her if they got any more complaints about her, she would be fired. They did.

Ryan -- June 2006

Inappropriate use of petty cash funds and unauthorized expenditures.

Steele -- June 2006

He cannot collect unemployment because, even though he was laid off from his other job, he continues to be a self-employed real estate agent

Stewart -- June 2006

She worked for a business owned by her husband's family. When her husband said he wanted a divorce. she quit.

Tandan -- June 2006

A housekeeper repeatedly entered residents' rooms withoyt knocking.

Adam -- May 2006

Argued with the boss.

Ali -- May 2006

He is a student; therefore ineligible. He says he would quit if offered a job. Not good enough.

Behnke -- May 2006

Frequently tardy.

Kennedy -- May 2006

He appealed one day too late.

Kirsch -- May 2006

"There is no common-law or equitable basis for allowing unemployment benefits. "

Morales -- May 2006

The unemployment department does not want to pay benefits for the period between when he was laid off and when he applied. But they had advised him to delay application.

Murfield -- May 2006

Ate a pint of ice cream without paying for it.

Nutassy -- May 2006

Refused to perform the work as instructed. Threw papers at the manager. Claims it's all discrimination.

Redepenning -- May 2006

She quit because the manager bumped into her with a pan.

Rubbelke -- May 2006

Says the reason she was frequently late was owing to her medical condition.

Sidney -- May 2006

After she reported a colleague for stealing, she got telephone threats and a rock through her window. She quit.

Tate -- May 2006

Refused to sign a warning, because it said he had alcohol on his breath.

Busch -- April 2006

His side business interfered with his work.

Chappelear -- April 2006

She says she was fired. The employer says she quit. The Unemployment Law Judge decides which one to believe.

Currie -- April 2006

Quit when they demoted her and drastically cut her wages.

Foster -- April 2006

Refused to take the classes which the employer required for job training.

Gephart -- April 2006

A seasonal employee could have worked in the shop during the down season; instead, he decided to take the winter off to catch up on some projects.

Kieft -- April 2006

He was learning on the job. He made mistakes. Two costly mistakes by a beginner do not constitute misconduct.

Hebzinski -- April 2006

He didn't apply for enough jobs. So they cut off his unemployment.

Ho -- April 2006

Two altercations, one sexual harassment, and yelling at the supervisor.

Montague -- April 2006

She quit because of insufficient staffing.

Pearcy -- April 2006

A bookkeeper made a mistake; then transferred money from account to account to make it even.

Auren -- March 2006

Because his vacation pay was paid by his union, not his employer, it will not be deducted from his unemployment benefits. But

Bollig -- March 2006

His pension is deducted from his unemployment benefits.

Davis -- March 2006

He got upset when his paycheck was misplaced in the mail. Said he wouldn't work until he was paid. They say he quit; he says he was fired.

Domineck -- March 2006

His timecard shows that he wrote in start and quit times for three days when he had called in sick.

Gray -- March 2006

Chronic tardiness.

Keohane -- March 2006

She demanded more money. They gave her more. She signed a contract. She still wanted more. So she quit.

Kettula -- March 2006

Whenever there was a paperwork error, the store would take credit for the sale from her account. She took one back.

Kokal -- March 2006

Dropped his truck into an auger. Fired for not following safe procedure.

Mbwaro -- March 2006

A nurse aide didn't perform the required duties.

Orum -- March 2006

Laid off. Waited for his employer to recall him, rather than actively looking for work.

Tran -- March 2006

His first benefit year ran out. He must work and earn before beginning a new claim.

Alberle -- February 2006

They say he faked an inventory. The court says he collects because they did not show he faked it several times.

Ancrum -- February 2006

While placed on unpaid involuntary administrative leave, he may collect unemployment, despite the fact he was eventually terminated for misconduct.

Davis -- February 2006

Her absence was due to illness. The fact she did not have a doctor's note does not make it misconduct, despite employer policy.

Leduc -- February 2006

His time sheets do not macth the building access logs.

Olisa -- February 2006

The DEED denied his request to subpoena three witnesses who could support his version of events.

Petersen -- February 2006

Repeatedly tardy.

Pomeroy -- February 2006

They sped up the production line. He couldn't keep up. He found another job and quit. Couldn't pass the physical at the new job. Now he's out of work.

Sabet -- February 2006

Asked permission to fire someone. They told her no. She did it anyway.

Sorenson -- February 2006

Said he had ro reduce his work for medical reasons. But would not produce a doctor's note, because he didn't want to get a doctor involved.

Jackson -- January 2006

Called in sick four minutes before her shift.

Jeffrey -- January 2006

The hair salon closed. The company offered her work at another salon. But her customers would not follow her there.

Joseph -- January 2006

Her social security is deducted from her unemployment benefits.

Powell -- January 2006

When she applied for a job as office manager, she did not reveal that she was up foir burglary and forgery.

Sloat -- January 2006

Bad mouthed the company, porn surfed, and rifled through Human Resource files.

2005

Neal -- November 2005

Various attendance problems

Oachs -- November 2005

Quit because of stress.

Soder -- October 2005

Arm surgery led to work restrictions, so he quit.

Young -- October 2005

No call; no show.

Beitsch -- September 2005

The van driver talked with his passengers.

Boe -- September 2005

Migraines made her miss work.

Hodges -- September 2005

Extended leave of absence unauthorized.

Jenkins -- September 2005

Jailed. Could not get the employer to respond by phone to authroize work release.

Odegard -- September 2005

Applied for and collected over 9 grand in unemployment while her was in prison. Telephone claims are mighty convenient.

Abdi -- August 2005

Absenteeism, incompatibility, personal business, etc.

Batterson -- August 2005

Falsified his doctor's excuse.

Heille -- August 2005

Conducted her own business from work.

McNutt -- August 2005

Jailed for DWI. Asked his sister to tell the employer he couldn't come in. That wasn't good enough.

Studley -- August 2005

To receive Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits, he needed to enroll in a federally approved training program. He enrolled in a state approved program which was not federally approved.

Vickers -- August 2005

A drug counselor was hard on addicts.

Almquist -- July 2005

Had to drive for work. Lost his license DWI.

Duklet -- July 2005

Volunteered to be laid off.

Frank -- July 2005

He applied to be transferred and was approved. But before they could find a replacement for him, he quit.

Garrison -- July 2005

Her contract was not renewed.

Lee -- July 2005

Made a sensible remark which a customer did not like.

Morris -- July 2005

They fired her nephew, so she quit.

Santema -- July 2005

Ongoing conflicts with a subordinate.

Trigo -- July 2005

This van driver did not seat belt her disabled passengers.

Anderson -- June 2005

She quit because they gave her more responsibilities.

Ashong -- June 2005

A school custodian neglected to lock the doors.

Davis -- June 2005

A laborer quit because she got pregnant.

Earn -- June 2005

Cussed the boss.

Hartley -- June 2005

A switchboard operator is stressed by abusive calls made by a worker's ex-boyfriend.

Manke -- June 2005

Says she never got the notice, and that's why she appealed late.

Matteson -- June 2005

She was laid off the day shift. Six months later, the employer offered her an evening shift. She refused.

Nelson -- June 2005

On strike, locked out, worked one week and quit. Wants Trade Readjustment Act benefits.

Rebeck -- June 2005

He was caught doctoring a receipt to balance the till.

Skjod -- June 2005

They switched him from salary to commission; so he quit.

Walters -- June 2005

They disagreed about selling the business.

Andrews -- May 2005

Claimed harrassment; quit.

Carlson -- May 2005

Her job was eliminated. They offered her another. Instead, she applied for unemployment.

Cook -- May 2005

The boss kept feeling her up.

Gutierrez -- May 2005

A mason has trouble working enough hours in Winter.

Jacob -- May 2005

He said he was unemployed and collected unemployment while he had a job. Now he has to pay back what he received, plus a fine.

Johnson -- May 2005

The shop closed. The owner offerred her a job at another shop. She thought she would make less there, so she quit.

Montanari -- May 2005

Five various misconducts.

Ryan -- May 2005

As soon as he hurt his back at work, they began to complain about his performance.

Samuel -- May 2005

An insurance saleman paid strictly commission may be an independent contractor; but if he is paid benefits as well, he is an employee.

Valdez -- May 2005

Signed in at 3:45, but put down 3:30.

Vaughn -- May 2005

An administrative assistant unwittingly got caught in the middle of her boss's family dispute.

Yaggy -- May 2005

A colleague stressed her out, so she quit.

Black -- Apr. 2005

Had a fight, argued with the supervisor, tardy several times.

Bulbula -- Apr. 2005

Offered work, but turned it down.

Huston -- Apr. 2005

Too many points accumulated on the point system.

Jewett -- Apr. 2005

An apprentice bricklayer did not want to do laborer's work.

Kouatli -- Apr. 2005

She wanted to take a month off. The employer could not guarantee her job would still be there when she returned.

Mattila -- Apr. 2005

Managers wanted to meet with her to discuss performance. She refused.

Meyer -- Apr. 2005

She has no wage credits.

Nygaard -- Apr. 2005

Complained about sexual harassment, but asked the employer to do nothing about it. When the employer did nothing about it, quit.

Raskin -- Apr. 2005

The manager made unauthrized payments to himself.

Rippentrop -- Apr. 2005

He got tired of dealing with the owner, who he said often drank on the job.

Williams -- Apr. 2005

A nursing home resident accused him of sexual harassment.

Giller -- Mar. 2005

A daycare teacher handed her charges off to another teacher and left before her replacement showed up.

Kaiser -- Mar. 2005

The temp agency offered him another assigment, but at a lower rate of pay. He turned it down.

Malkowski -- Mar. 2005

Failed a drug test. Required to take a leave of absence and rehab. Wants to collect unemployment while on leave.

Rowe -- Mar. 2005

Performance problems. Refused to sign their "corrective action plan".

Snyder -- Mar. 2005

A pattern of absences.

VanNess -- Mar. 2005

A bartender served drinks to a colleague until he got sick, then continued serving hime until he assaulted her.

Washington -- Mar. 2005

Alcohol, cocaine, and pot. Claimed he was going to rehab again, but did not go.

Wavescorx -- Mar. 2005

He asked for time off, but was denied. He says he was fired for asking. They say he just didn't show up after that.

Zupfer -- Mar. 2005

A seasonal cashier was asked to stay on after the Christmas season. He refused, then didn't show up for four days.

Benedix -- Mar. 2005

A short fuse.

Hull -- Feb. 2005

Complaints about a cable installer's performance and coutesy.

Mellin -- Feb. 2005

The final incident wasn't much; but he had exhausted the progressive discipline policy.

Roedl -- Feb. 2005

He thinks the unemployment benefits from his previous claim should have been included in the calculation of wage credits for his new claim because they are considered taxable income.

Schilling -- Feb. 2005

Neglected to enter estimates, contracts, and appointments in company computer. Referred prospects to other contractors.

Schilling -- Feb. 2005

After 15 years experience doing the same job for someone else, she was sure that she knew a better way.

Sherriff -- Feb. 2005

A cook repeatedly made sexual remarks to the housekeepers.

Strande -- Feb. 2005

Did not do as she was told.

Thoreson -- Feb. 2005

The new owner promised her the same annual bonus, but did not pay it. So she quit.

West -- Feb. 2005

Insubordination, poor patient care, inability to work with others, and profanity.

Bady -- Jan. 2005

Changed her schedule without approval and falsified her time card.

Faley -- Jan. 2005

The owner posted a list of those who had been late. The manager was on the list. He got angry. Did not come in next day.

Galindo -- Jan. 2005

They told her they wouldn't need her until next Monday. She thought she was fired.

Morden -- Jan. 2005

Did not call in to TeleClaim as required.

Walvatne -- Jan. 2005

A history of innapropriate behavior. Anger management does not help.

2004

Fischer -- Dec. 2004

Shortages in her cash drawer.

Critzer -- Dec. 2004

Right before the catered wine party, the restaurant owner told the servers that the restaurant was going to keep all the tips! A couple of waitresses figured they'd get back at them by drinking the wine.

Forte -- Dec. 2004

A black African woman quit her job claiming racial and religious discrimination by a black supervisor.

Almlie -- Dec. 2004

Frequent attendance problems.

Abdel-Ghani -- Dec. 2004

A car salesman refused to shake Jewish customer's hand, cussed women, abused customers, called the manager crazy.

Stevenson -- Dec. 2004

A cashier marked down two bars of soap to a dime apiece, then bought them. She said she didn't know it was wrong, because she had done it before.

Williams -- Nov. 2004

A nursing home aide was fired for waking residents too early in the morning.

Minnich -- Nov. 2004

Punched her boyfriend's time card.

Dahdi -- Nov. 2004

The hearing officer refused to admit into evidence a video tape which showed the assault for which he was fired.

Detert -- Nov. 2004

The employer told her she could collect unemployment while on voluntary leave. Wrong.

Blevins -- Nov. 2004

Told off the boss.

Fennert -- Nov. 2004

A courier took the wrong medications, got confused, and drove to the wrong place.

Mack Cunningham v Family & Children’s Service -- Nov. 2004

He told the supervisor never talk to him like that again. So she fired him.

Knowles -- Oct. 2004

The boss claimed he falsified his time. So he quit.

Rolf -- Oct. 2004

They said she slept on the job.

Larson -- Oct. 2004

He asked for a raise. The boss said no. He asked for fewer hours at the same rate of pay. The boss said no. He quit.

Zwackman -- Oct. 2004

A construction worker quit when assigned to a job site farther away.

Wickstrom -- Oct. 2004

They told her they were looking for someone to replace her. So she quit.

Nadine Schnettler v College of St. Benedict -- Oct. 2004

The boss wrote her that her performance needed to improve. So she wrote back that she resigned.

Donald Frishberg v Best Cleaners -- Sept.. 2004

A man with a bad back took a job which required lifting.

LeeAnn Grivna v Riverside Dental -- Sept. 2004

She had surgery. The employer told her take a few extra days off. But he did not pay her for those days.

Clara Brown v National American University -- Sept. 2004

A school receptionist borroed money from several students.

Airport security staff -- Sept. 2004

A whole staff of airport security guards lose their jobs when the Feds take over airport security following 9/11

Steven Grounds v Archer Daniels Midland -- August 2004

He wrote complaints in the log book.

Kathryn Koch v Sheldahl -- August 2004

She cashed a paycheck to which she was not entitled.

Kathleen Wadsworth v USPS -- July 2004

Mail carrier quits when assigned to different route.

Waletich Corp. v Commissioner -- July 2004

An employer may not appeal via telephone.

Bruce Benson v Coca Cola -- June 2004

Coke truck driver got a ticket for driving a snowmobile drunk. Did not report the ticket to the company.

Michelle Sykes v WalMart -- June 2004

She requested that the department subpoena witnesses for her hearing, but the department did not issue them.

Olesugun Osunlana v County of Ramsey -- June 2004

His request for days off was denied on the day he was off.

Hussein, Ahmed and Abdi v Cypress Semi-Conductor -- June 2004

A voluntary reduction in force.

Carolyn McAdoo v Midwest Patrol -- June 2004

FAA contract requires security guards to attend training session. She did not. Nor did she return to work.

Adar Oble v American Building Maintenance -- June 2004

Somail immigrant appeals late, saying she could not understand the notice mailed to her.

Tina Sorenson v Life Style -- June 2004

Fired the property manager when police were called to her home for domestic dispute.

Kimberly Gombold v Aramark Educational Resources -- June 2004

Quit because the place was understaffed.

Jillian McClure v Northwest Airlines -- June 2004

Took voluntary leave because employer told her she could collect unemployment. Employer wrong.

Leonard Merchlewitz v Winona Lighting -- June 2004

Fourth warning equals discharge

Timothy Butler v Butler Trucking -- June 2004

Was scheduled to be on call. Argued with the co-owner when he called.

Tara Bray v Dogs & Cats -- May 2004

Mere unsatisfactory performance does not constitute employment misconduct.

Florence Lee v T & K Foods -- May 2004

Got ill. Could not work. Says she gave the employer a doctor's note; but the employer says she did not.

Terry McMullen v Butler Trucking -- May 2004

Not yet scheduled to be on call. Argued with the co-owner when she called.

Gregory Crow v Data Recognition -- May 2004

While on unemplyment, turned down a job.

John Bureau v Syntegra -- May 2004

personal items on corporate credit card.

Toby Zeno v Turning Point -- May 2004

Ran errands for the residents at a live-in rehab and charged a fee.

Vladimir Abramov v Macy's West -- May 2004

Did not admit to criminal conviction on his employment application because did not understand English.

Marvin Wolf v Universal Sign -- May 2004

The boss told him he was acting like an independent contractor and not a team player. So he left.

Carrie Boyd v. Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe -- May 2004

Off-duty casino employee drank and swam in the pool.

Tara Bray v. Dogs & Cats -- May 2004

Did not complete all tasks on time.

David carlson v. USPS -- May 2004

Mailman threw junk mail in the trash.

David Schoeneck v. Fargo Electronics -- May 2004

Accepted severance rather than get fired.

William Joeit v. Auto Medics -- May 2004

Tow truck driver neglected to cover a car with open windows. Rain got in and damaged it.

Jane Lease v. Lawrence Carlson -- May 2004

Too many personal phone calls and smoke breaks.

Cynthia Woods v. Spectrum Community Health -- May 2004

If she saw a medication record which another worker had not initialed, she would enter that other person's initials.

Charles Ciali v. Northwest Airlines -- May 2004

In lieu of layoff, the company offered voluntary leave of absence.

Lonnie Norberg v. Twin Cities Glass Block -- May 2004

The employer says he refused a job offer; but the court says no offer was made.

James Hansen v. Central Lock -- April 2004

After an accident, reported more injuries to insurance company than to boss.

Yei Hall v. Masterson Personnel -- April 2004

Temp staffer argued with clients.

Roger Simonson v. Commissioner -- April 2004

Wants extended benefits.

Christine Sieben v. WalMart -- April 2004

Persisted in serving out of date food.

Brett Mellem v. Kaufman Sign -- April 2004

Fails to meet project deadlines.

Barbara Hanegraaf v. McDonough Truck -- April 2004

Quit when her employer screamed and swore in her face. But does not collect.

Mabelu Werutaw v. Wackenhut -- April 2004

Failed the pre-hire test, but was hired anyway. They wanted him to take the test again a year later, but he refused.

Jon Ask v. SDH -- April 2004

Late, absent, and poor performance. Finally fired for not picking up after an event.

Arthur Katz v. Municipal Parking -- April 2004

They did not like his opinions on race, and fired him when he was found asleep on the job.

Michael Solien v. WalMart -- April 2004

A college student is not eligible for unemployment

Margaret Policone v. St. Paul College -- April 2004

An angry and stressful work environment. She took leave; then didn't come back.

Edwin Hirte v. Tech-Logic -- April 2004

Colleagues complained about him. Customers complained about him. They fired him.

Thomas Hagel v. TCR -- April 2004

Refused to sign an "action plan" designed to reform his conduct, because he disputed the conduct cited in it.

Wendell Maddox v. VSI -- April 2004

He took leave; then quit. Thinks he should get unemployment because the company would have laid him off had he returned.

Lewis Davis v. Majerus Garage -- April 2004

Quit after argument with foreman.

Carolyn Reuben v. Hennepin County -- April 2004

Argumentative and rude.

Ismahan Abdi v. Masterson Personnel -- April 2004

Muslim woman refuses to wear pants. Job requires it.

Jessie Peterson v. Landmark Bank -- April 2004

Teller chronically late; often absent.

Eddie Davis v. Stainlez -- April 2004

Chronically late; often absent.

Keith Hook v Bloomington Auto Care -- March 2004

Late nearly every single day from the first day on.

Michael Daniels v Onan Corp. -- March 2004

Uses the company email to send dirty cartoons baching Osama.

Valerie Brewster v Community Memorial Hospital -- March 2004

Childcare problems lead to poor attendance.

Lani Starren v Thief River Falls -- March 2004

Quit because owner did not allow jeans.

Anna Wegner v Diamond Product Co. -- March 2004

Did not follow procedure when mixing chemicals.

William Verhaigh v CSM -- March 2004

Hotel employee rents a hotel room with an employee discount; then has a wild party there.

Judy Schlueter v Reiner Contracting -- March 2004

They started deducting sick days from vacation days. So she quit.

Kathleen DuSchane v Northwest Airlines -- March 2004

Took unpaid voluntary leave in lieu of layoff. During leave, was laid off with severance. Now the department demands she pay back the benefits she received. Unpaid leave is not unemployment.

Douglas Hertling v Anderson Trucking -- March 2004

When he got mad, he would cuss and kick a machine.

Jane Andrist v City of Wanaimingo -- March 2004

They told her quit or get fired. So she quit.

Richard Reynolds v Star Tribune -- March 2004

Took unauthorized breaks and let the press run out of paper.

Michael Mapes v WalMart -- March 2004

At a managers' "retreat", several men get drunk and visit the women's lodge.

Gregory Kvidera v Rotation Engineering -- March 2004

CEO claims misconduct minor and inadvertent. Testimony not credible.

Michael Bowman v Wrecker Services -- March 2004

Very late, very often.

Timothy Moot v Mats -- March 2004

He called to say he would be late. They demoted him when he came in late.

Tina Sorenson v. Life Style -- February 2004

Lawyer tricks: They try to use a technicality to deny her right to appeal.

Joanne Julius v Temp Force -- February 2004

A client asked a temp agency to remove her from the job. When told, she got mad and quit the temp agency.

Dennis Thom v Bailey Nurseries -- February 2004

Padded his work history when applying for the job.

Lisa Hieronymous v Johnson & Johnson -- February 2004

Falsified her time sheets, took unearned commissions, and may have even stolen money.

Laura Borchard v Mega Stop -- February 2004

Deli manager quits because the kitchen is unsafe and unclean.

Kevin Paquette v Exterior Systems -- February 2004

Took the job saying he could do the lifting. Quit when he found out he couldn't.

Joseph Goodwin v Slumberland -- February 2004

Scuffle in the parking lot.

Mario S. Vargas v. Northwest Area Foundation -- January 2004

He says hostile work environment. They say refused to perform.

Michelle Lyons v Commissioner -- January 2004

While collecting unemployment and claiming to be looking for work, she had both back and carpal tunnel surgeries, and applied for disability. Now the Department wants her to pay back the benefits she received.

Joseph King v. Metropolitan Airport -- January 2004

Says he faxxed an appeal. Department said they did not get it. Faxxed again. This time they say it's too late.

Robert Schlemmer v Metropolitan Institute of Arts -- January 2004

Depression medication caused insomnia caused tardiness.

Alice Moore v Second Harvest -- January 2004

The employer would not let her take time off to get physical therapy for her arm.

Sadat Mahamed v Anagram -- January 2004

Injured on the job. Several days off. Did not return to work nor call afterwards.

Kenneth Lang v Independent School Dist. -- January 2004

When he misbehaved, they investigated his background and found he had falsified his employment application.

Adrienne Wuorinen v Louisa Johnsen -- January 2004

The employer's testimony is not believable.

James Larrimer v JC Penney -- January 2004

One minor dissatisfaction after another does not add up to a good enough reason to quit.

Diane Hall v Park Nicolet -- January 2004

Too many angry arguments with colleagues and patients.

Paul Landreville v Northshore Mining -- January 2004

Did not follow important safety procedures.

Mario Vargas v Northwest Area Foundation -- January 2004

Refuses to participate in a performance plan designed to remedy his conduct.

2003

Marlon Williams v. Archives Corp. -- December 2003

Did not punch in

Louis Volk v. EAH Schmidtt Assoc. -- December 2003

Attendance, arguments, falsifying records.

Tanya Scott v. Municipal Parking -- December 2003

Says her diabetes made her late.

Celesta Dupri v. Target -- December 2003

Medical leave expired. She did not return.

Michael W. Honeyford v. Brown & Bigelow -- November 2003

Attendance problems.

Andre Pope v. Commissioner -- November 2003

A student may not collect.

Cuitlahuac Sanchez v. Jennie-O Turkey -- November 2003

Glove-challenged food worker.

Mary Ann Meyer v. Metropolitan Airports Commission -- November 2003

Nasty to her colleagues

Deone Ross v. HOM Furniture -- November 2003

Moved the truck two feet without a spotter.

Sara Williams v. Catholic Charities -- November 2003

No call, no show.

Andrea L. Theisen v. Fond du Lac Management -- October 2003

Slot attendant lost her gaming license

Noushin Shafiee v. Grossman Chevrolet -- October 2003

She quit when they wouldn't let her take her vacation on the dates she had planned.

Phyllis Swenson v. WalMart -- Oct. 2003

Allowed a non-family member to use her employee discount card.

Wendy Malinsky v. CARYN -- Oct. 2003

The owner's daughter in law horned in on her position.

Cindy Lindsay v. White Earth -- 2003

She thought she saw her job among the classified ads. That stressed her out.

Allison Nordeen v. Spectators -- Sept. 2003

A pregnant bartender's doctor told her to stop working there.

Gregory Jennings v. Diamond Products -- Sept. 2003

Did not follow procedure when mixing chemicals.

Kathleen M. Haessly v. Diamond -- Sept. 2003

More of the same.

Jennifer Rootes v. WalMart -- Sept. 2003

Poor performance.

John Richter v. Dept. of Revenue -- Sept. 2003

Appealed too late.

Barbara Dalin v. Qualex -- 2003

Copied copyrighted pictures.

Trevor Zaun v. Koehner Standard -- Sept. 2003

Not happy with the way things were done there.

Katherine Thomas v. St. Paul Harley Davidson -- Sept 2003

Another worker in the bike shop asked her out several times.

Annette Richter v. Colon & Rectal -- August 2003

Quit because she felt the place was under-staffed.

Ioannis Niklas v. Tiger Oak -- August 2003

Said he would quit if he did not get more money. They called his bluff.

Fanny Livaditis v. Minnesota Credit Association -- August 2003

Personal phone calls

Reed Roloff v. Commissioner -- August 2003

Somone receiving Social Security disability cannot collect unemployment.

Charles Ngo v. Amtech Electric -- August 2003

Worked for a competitor while working for them.

Lenore Sadergaski v. Sew What -- August 2003

Did not return after maternity leave.

Christy Herreid v. Suburban Propane -- July 2003

A part time worker always takes summers off to be with her children.

Camon Simon v. On Board Corp. -- July 2003

Yelling and arguing

Strong Salvage v. Daniel Strong -- July 2003

Fired by his own brother. For all sorts of reasons.

Paul Zivalich v. Unique Concepts -- July 2003

Says he never got the notice from the Department.

Basel Judeh v. Lexmark -- July 2003

An impossibly cumbersome commission procedure leads to trouble.

Gloria Hayes v. Kmart -- July 2003

She did not get the raise she was promised so she quit.

Barbara Thompson v. Dolphin Clerical -- July 2003

A temp worker may refuse a low paying assignment.

Carlo Cocci v. City Slick -- July 2003

A business owner cannot collect unemployment when the business fails, even though he has paid unemployment taxes on his wages.

Jacob Pankey v. Rainbow Food -- July 2003

A security guard ate fodd from the deli before paying for it.

Aldon E. Christianson v. Transport Leasing Contract -- July 2003

Did not call in for new assignment.

Jeannette Buck v. OfficeTeam -- July 2003

Shouting and cussing at colleague.

Martha Thomas v. St. Paul Church Home July -- 2003

Cussed the boss, threatened the supervisor, wrangled with colleagues.

LeRoy Dittbenner v. Tilman Carton -- 2003

First, arguing. Finally, fighting.

Lori Kartman v. Minnesota Archaeology -- June 2003

Employer does not give a good reason for firing her.

Alicia Eaton v. Dolphin Clerical -- June 2003

Temp worker unavailable for assignment.

Gerald Nelson v. Leaf Industries -- June 2003

Quit when they changed his shift. Claims he quit because the foreman was using drugs.

Roger Christiansen v. JIT Power Coating -- June 2003

Poor performance.

Gregory Lackens v. Midwestern Interiors -- June 2003

Customer complained about his work.

Sharon Lyons v Professional Claims Admin. -- June 2003

Quit because of personal problems.

Thomas Scheiderich v. Finlay Jewelry -- May 2003

Newly promoted manager quits when he finds staffing problems insuperable.

Cynthia Sobczak v. Coca-Cola -- May 2003

Quit after demoted after poor performance review.

Raymond Manning v. Taylor Corp. -- May 2003

Often late or absent.

Cecilia Davis v. J Mont -- May 2003

Car detailer got mad and quit when suspended for leaving early.

Diana Christian v. Irresistible Ink -- 2003

Had a job hand-writing greeting cards. Did not write fast enough. Claimed to write more than she did.

John Hamilton v. City of St. Paul -- 2003

Terminated bigwig cannot collect because his was a "nontenured major policy making or advisory position".

Adrian Thompson v. Marigold Foods -- May 2003

Repeatedly refused to do as he was told.

Ingeborg Green v. Park Towers -- May 2003

Insulted the boss.

Myrtle David v. Quality Staffing -- May 2003

Temp employee cancelled her assignment. Temp agency says she quit.

Afolorunso Osisanya v. Hammer residence -- May 2003

Misconduct was not intentional.

Barbara Daniels v. Carlson Construction -- May 2003

Comptroller falsified her hours and charged twenty grand on the company card.

James Koski v. Interstate Energy -- May 2003

A service tech quit because they would not pay him when he was on call.

Mark McGraw v. Vince Park Pub -- May 2003

Chef argues with restaurant owners

Michael Smith v. Jennie-O -- May 2003

This turkey trucker kills the turkeys.

Anthony Powell v. school district -- May 2003

Given an ultimatum, he quit.

Lynn Sabin v. Federal reserve Bank -- May 2003

Evidence extremely thin and circumstantial.

Gregory Johnson v. Gauthier Industries -- May 2003

Tardy all the time. But says he should collect because he was getting less tardy.

Lara v Commonbond -- April 2003

They said she consistently missed paperwork deadlines.

Lueck v Hinckley -- April 2003

When a software vendor went out of business, the person training employees to use the software took the heat.

Hansen v Infratech -- April 2003

The manager moved in with the president. When the president was caught stealing, he remained president, but the manager got fired.

Miller v WalMart -- April 2003

They say he flirted with girls who worked there. They told him to stop. He didn't.

Pierce v Wright Utility -- April 2003

He was foreman of an installation crew. In Winter, they asked him to work inside for less money. He wouldn't. He says that means they fired him. They say that means he quit.

Johannesen v NRCC -- April 2003

A school custodian and the principal got into a fight over a backed up toilet.

Toftely v Qwest -- April 2003

She forwarded a confidential email to her husband, a lawyer, to ask his advice.

Quarve v Wackenhut -- April 2003

He asked for the day off. They said no. So he called in sick instead.

Atkinson v QWEST -- April 2003

Whenever she stepped away from her cubicle, the other workers put tacks on her chair and messed with her phone. She complained. Nothing was done. Finally, she got mad, cussed a guy, and slapped him. She was fired.

Washington v Allen -- April 2003

The hearing officer goofed up the hearing.

Hovey -- April 2003

He collected unemployment and workers comp at the same time. They call it fraud. The court disagrees.

Harris v Efunds -- April 2003

He appealed too late.

Renstrom v Keiger -- March 2003

Someone who was just hired made more money than he did.

Pribble v Edina Care -- March 2003

She complained of sexual harassment. They complained of her work.

Swartz v Securian -- March 2003

Their ethics code prohibited insider trading.

Lewis v Novartis -- March 2003

Bad attendace. He says he got a bum hearing.

Strickland v ML Manor -- March 2003

She did not want to change her shift.

Abyss v Ajax -- March 2003

He didn't get along with the owner's son; nor did he do what the owner told him.

Monson v BP -- March 2003

This truck driver was a bad driver.

Dawson v Minnegasco -- Feb 2003

She had to drive for work. She lost her license. Therefore, she lost her job.

Morse v Cleary -- Feb 2003

A salesman did not sell enough, so they cut his salary. He quit.

Pepin v DOA -- Feb 2003

He got into other people's emails

Howard v Merit Printing -- Feb. 2003

He says they fired him because he couldn't speak properly. They say they fired him because he didn't perform the work properly.

DeNio v Interchange Inc -- Feb 2003

The owner offered to sell them the company. But when the deal went sour, he cut her pay.

Kruger v New Era -- Feb 2003

She quit because they required her to illegally notarize documents. She does not collect because they corrected their procedure.

Morse v GMAC -- January 2003

He worked for competitors at the same time he worked for GMAC. They told him to stop. He didn't.

Tornio v Mulcahy Drywall -- January 2003

He did not report to the unemployment office.

Koschak v RCM -- January 2003

She worked with a single mother with a heart condition and two asthmatic children. This mother had naturally missed plenty of time because of these health problems. The company required the mother to sign a form saying she would not miss any more days for six months. The mother would not sign the agreement, because she knew she could not keep it. and quit. Koschak circulated a card urging donations so they could give their co-worker a cash gift on her way out the door. The company fired her for that. Hearts like tundra.

2002

Evjen v Flatwater Fleet -- Nov 2002

They don't want to pay him unemployment because, between him and his parents, they own 25% of the company. The court doesn't want to hear his case because his Dad signed the appeal, and not him.

Elzea v Sween -- September 2002

A couple of women could not get along. The company tried to solve the problem. One quit.

Watts v Wildfire -- Sept 2002

They laid him off. He collected unemployment. They offered him three little one-time jobs totaling six hours of work. He refused. Because of that, he is disqualified from unemployment.

Moench v RRBB -- Sept 2002

They said he accessed porn on his computer.

Payne -- Sept 2002

He wants a 401K distribution counted as wages, in order to qualify for an extended benefit year.

Akopi -- August 2002

He met a deadbeat in a bar. He let him stay at his apartment. The deadbeat saw him collect unemployment by phone. After he returned to work, the deadbeat called up, pretended to be him, collected checks, and cashed them. Now, the department wants him to pay back what the deadbeat stole. They say the signatures look like his.

Schwartz -- August 2002

He called the Job Service and asked them, if he quit, could he collect. They said no. So when he quit, he did not bother to apply. A month later, a friend urged him to apply. When he did, he qualified. Now he says they should pay him from the time he quit, because they gave him bad advice. They say they only have to pay him from the time he applied.

Langeslag v Dairy Queen August 2002

The company was losing money. The owner told her she was out of a job and asked her to write a letter saying she quit. She did. She collects.

Sexton v Hitchcock July 2002

Mike insulted Doug. Mike walked away. Doug followed Mike and threw the first punch. Now, Doug says he should collect, because the punch was self-defense.

Saxe v Ginelli's -- July 2002

A pizza delivery guy had a flat on the way to the shop. When he got there, the shop told him to go away because they were busy. He cussed on the way out.

Tatum v Kind Hearts July 2002

They say she forged twelve grand in company checks. She denies it, and says she should collect unemployment.

Renard v Bay Home -- July 2002

She had an accident in the company car. She did not tell the boss.

Abdi Jama v Advantek -- July 2002

He would not do what he was told.

Sipe v Ability -- July 2002

She took off for personal problems without calling in.

Madsen v Adam Corp. -- July 2002

Varicose veins meant she could no longer stand all day.

Houston v IDT -- June 2002

They have a tape of the phone call. It plainly shows that the customer was extremely rude to her, and not the other way around. And yet, they fired her for rudeness.

Gerundo v Asset Mktg. -- June 2002

A telemarketer thought the customer had said yes, so he charged his credit card. The customer says he didn't authorize the charge.

Ahsan v Radisson -- June 2002

A security guard couldn't get along with others.

Seaburg v Qwest -- May 2002

He did not show up on time and he falsified his time sheets.

Honey Ly v Super Valu -- May 2002

The supervisor yelled at her and made her cry. She went home.

Radu Rasidescu -- May 2002

An alien was brought to the country to do a specific job for a specific employer. When he lost his job, he lost his green card, and so he can't collect unemployment.

Schmidgall v Filmtec -- May 2002

She hurt her back leaving the place. She did not report her injury until the next day. So they fired her.

Dalman -- April 2002

He got severance pay for five weeks. They told him that made him ineligible for five weeks. After waiting five weeks, he called in to collect his check. They said they weren't going to pay him because he had not reported to the unemployment office during the five weeks he was ineligible to collect.

Schwerzler v Cortec -- March 2002

They told him they wanted the work done like so. He replied: "If that's the way it is, then I don't want to work here anymore," and left. Now he wants unemployment.

Swanson v Trinity -- March 2002

They did not protest in time, but they did appeal in time.

West v Copper Sales March 2002

He poked another worker in the throat.

Buresh v Albinson Reprographics March 2002

He cussed out someone he worked with.

Zangle v Ridgedale -- March 2002

A mechanic worked on his own car during work hours.

Schuttloffel v Carroll February 2002

She came in late too often.

Thrall v Lund Industries -- Feb 2002

The plant was to going to close, and everyone would be laid off. The company offered a bonus to anyone who would stay to the last minute. He stayed, and collected this bonus. After he was laid off, he collected unemployment. But now, the Department says this bonus was severance, disqualifying him from benefits, and tells him he has to pay back the money that he collected from them.

Bolstad v Computer Concepts -- Feb 2002

She refused to travel out of town overnight because she had to take care of her mentally ill daughter. So they fired her.

Pahl-Jones v ASI -- January 2002

A sign painter was getting sick breathing paint fumes. The company bought her new safety equipment. But then they would not let her use it! She quit. She collects.

Statham v Atlas -- January 2002

A temp accepted an assignment, went there one day, and did not return. They say he quit. But he says he did not know it was a three day assignment.

Farthing v ABM -- January 2002

A maintenance man slept on the job.

Westervelt v Paper Magic January 2002

She did not appeal in time.

Chin v Little Six -- Jan 2002

A casino cashier failed to renew her license.

2001

Bodenweiser v Quality Print Dec, 2001

A guy working at a print shop did a job for his buddy for free.

Langmade v Glen Oaks Nov, 2001

She refused to be evaluated.

Bruce v Price Oct, 2001

They cut back his hours and assigned him to work on days which he had already planned to be elsewhere. He quit. He does not collect.

Haywood v QWest Oct, 2001

He surfed the net while at work.

Matschi v Blue Cross Oct, 2001

A woman was stressed out by work. She went to a psychiatrist who told her to quit. So she did. She does not collect because she never told her employer about her problem.

Huston v Hicks Oct, 2001

A truck driver was supposed to be paid by the mile. But instead of paying him what the odometer showed, they paid him what a computer said the distance was. He quit. He does not collect.

Gavin v Outdoorsman Oct, 2001

When the restaurant changed payroll companies, checks came in late. The restaurant offered to lend employees cash until checks arrived, but this dishwasher got mad and refused to work until the checks showed up. When her check showed, she was told she was out of a job. The court says the employer tried its best. She does not collect.

DeMarais v Jordan Sept, 2001

A receptionist at a medical clinic asked a patient to fill a prescription and sell the drugs to her.

Mueller Sept, 2001

Her doctor said she should not work more than 3 hours a day. She does not collect.

Parker v School Dist Sept, 2001

A school bus driver does not collect during summer vacation.

Winans v Elm Waseca SLS Sept, 2001

The Dept. of Human Services told the state hospital they had to get rid of this guy because he had a criminal background. They did. He does not collect.

Elsner v. Belzer Sept, 2001

A car salesman also sold cars at home. He does not collect.

Adam v. First Contact Sept, 2001

A customer service rep dropped calls. He does not collect.

New-Mech v. Youness Sept, 2001

They did not drug test him when he was hired. He refused to take a test a month later. They fired him. He collects.

Parson v St. Louis Park Aug, 2001

In unemployment cases, women frequently complain that the stress of work made them quit; but this case takes stress to a new level. This woman complained of stress so strenuously that the employer thought she might be suicidal, and called the police, who picked her up and took her to the hospital, where she was kept until released by a psychiatrist. She was so mad at the company she never came back. She does not collect.

Anderson v. KMart Aug, 2001

On the 14th, they gave him grief about his business on the side. He got mad and said the 17th would be his last day. They called on the 16th and said he was fired. The court says this was a quit.

Burnett v. Intrepid Aug, 2001

A part-time home health aide quit when her hours were reduced by a client. She does not collect.

Steiner v. White Wolf Aug, 2001

She would not work 40 hours as agreed, so they fired her.

Krismer v. McGough Aug, 2001

He asked his foreman to lay him off. The foreman did. That's the same as if he quit.

Smith v. Applied Systems Aug, 2001

She had chronic attendance problems. She used up all her sick and vacation time. She was warned that she would get fired if she didn't straighten out. She didn't straighten out. She was fired. And yet, this court says she should collect unemployment.

Peak v. Handicabs Aug, 2001

State regs prohibit hiring people who have committed violent crimes as handicap bus drivers. When the company found he had been charged with assault, they suspended him. He won't talk about it.

Brezinski vs. Brezinski Jul., 2001

Family squabbles over the business after Dad dies.

Neng Xiong July, 2001

No call + no show = no job.

Alfred Storm July, 2001

While he was on vacation, they found magazines with dirty pictures in a filing cabinet and blamed it on him. He collects.

Ray Taylor July, 2001

Even after repeated warnings, he would not show up reliably, or would take off and disappear.

Jerome Franssen July, 2001

He did not want to drive 27 miles to work.

John Kutt July, 2001

He never would show up on time. When they tried to give him a warning, he walked out.

Dennis Herstein July., 2001

This is a total tangle. He sold his business. He applied for unemployment. They paid him 4 months, then decided they wanted their money back, then decided they didn't, then decided they paid him too high a rate, then decided..... etc.

David Selvig June, 2001

He would not get to work on time.

Patrice Montpetit June, 2001

The employer said she would not keep a regular schedule.

Mary Carruthers Jun., 2001

A city inspector walked into a daycare, barricaded herself in the bathroom, smeared soap all over the walls, and was escorted to the door mumbling incoherently and smelling of alcohol. When she returned to her office, they drug tested her, but it appears that she watered down the sample. They fired her.

Timothy P. McCarthy Jun., 2001

A guard at juvenile hall was caught having a homosexual affair with an under-age inmate. And he thinks he should collect unemployment!

David Buhl May., 2001

This claim went through seven different reviews and court hearings, all based on a technical omission which the department has no evidence of. Jiminy Cricket!

Scott Knack vs. Bohemian Cue May., 2001

They fired him for flirting with the girls.

Daniel Barrett May., 2001

He would not do the paperwork.

Suzanne Payne May., 2001

She started having seizures. The medication made her late in the morning. She did not call in. So they fired her.

John Knodel May., 2001

He had a heart attack. While in the hospital, the boss told his wife to tell him not to bother to come back. They would not even return his phone calls. And yet, they pretend that he quit.

Judy Git May., 2001

The first person she talked to at the department told her there was an official appeal form which she had to fill out. There was not. But she took so long trying to track one down that her appeal came too late.

Lori Christensen May., 2001

She didn't like the way a warning was worded, so she walked out.

Debra Pearson May., 2001

They were going to fire her for her bad attitude, but she quit before they could.

Paul Schidman May., 2001

An airline employee got 16 free tickets a year for his own use. He gave one to a friend to use, then pinched it before it got back to the counting room, so they wouldn't find out what he'd done.

Shirley Herness May., 2001

She falsified time cards to collect an extra grand. Her excuse is that she was so depressed that she didn't know what she was doing.

Mary Fukar May., 2001

There are loads of unemployment cases in Minnesota where there was an altercation on the job. These altercations frequently end with "I quit!". After which, the claimant says he or she was fired.

Joe Oakley May., 2001

They cut his sales territory to a third its size and required him to split his commissions with someone else. He did not see how he could live on that. So he quit. He does not collect.

Teryl Marple May., 2001

A waitress kept coming up short. They gave her warnings and suspensions and reinstatements and so forth. Then one day she came up a hundred bucks light in the till. And then she left.

Alan Pearson Apr., 2001

They didn't like his performance. They sent him home. He called. They didn't return the call. Why doesn't he collect?

Robert VanDoren Apr., 2001

He was caught between conflicting directives. The bottling plant told him under no circumstances ever run out of water. But they told him don't turn on the water in the new room yet. When he ran out of water, he turned on the new supply. So they fired him. He does not collect.

Delerine Schaeppi Apr., 2001

She was fired twice for attendance, reinstated each time by the union's intervention, failed a drug test, sent to treatment, kicked out of the program --- yet she thinks she should collect unemployment.

Wayne Gross Apr., 2001

The department does not shine in this case. They have an appeal letter stamped as received in January, initialed as received in October, by someone they cannot identify, and the person who sent it has never testified when he sent it.

Alton Edwards Apr., 2001

He left for 20 minutes without punching out and lied about where he had gone. They fired him. He does not collect.

Stephen Berens Mar., 2001

He did not do the paperwork.

Eric King Feb., 2001

They say he quit. He says he was terminated.

Jason VanWert Mar., 2001

According to him, he wound up in jail, not because he was drunk, again, but because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jennifer Labey Feb., 2001

They downgraded her office, skipped her raise, and required her to come in an hour earlier, so she quit.

Central Specialties Aug., 2001

The state agency wrongly collected too much tax from this employer. The employer paid under protest. After lengthy litigation, the court determined the state had to hand back the money. Now, the employer wants interest on the money wrongly held by the state. The court says no.

Jennifer Myers Feb., 2001

A home health worker did not like her schedule.

City of Gilbert Feb., 2001

They fired him when they found he had spoken to another city about a job. He collects.

Brennan Feb., 2001

A man missed a lot of time when had trouble with his artificial leg. But he did not furnish the employer medical documentation. He does not collect.

Lindsey Asmus Jan., 2001

Her story kept changing. First she had a bad back, then she didn't. Then she had a sleeping disorder, but maybe not. She does not collect.

Decebal Soican Jan., 2001

A machinist threw a tantrum over a pair of calipers.

Haugan Jan., 2001

He kept bothering a girl in another office. They told him stay away. He wouldn't. They put it in writing. He ignored it. They even got a restraining order against him, but he still did not get the message.

Toliffson v Subway -- Jan 2001

A sandwich shop manager was just too nasty to the employees.

Louricas Jan., 2001

A temp agency offered her jobs which were too far away.

Coe Jan., 2001

A machinist did not check the parts against the print.

Sheri J. Veenhuis Jan., 2001

She left work early.

Benson Jan., 2001

A liquor store owner sold his business, then collected unemployment. He must pay it back.

2000

Yon Groebner Dec., 2000

A homeless woman did not get the appeal notice sent by mail to, obviously, the wrong address, so she missed the appeal deadline.

Steven Carlson Dec., 2000

A psychiatrist lost his license, so the employer suspended him. He thought they would fire him, so he quit. He does not collect.

Joseph Wenderski Dec., 2000

He did not document his treatment program.

Raymond Duffy Oct., 2000

He had long planned an approved vacation. But then he took a month's medical leave. When he came back, they told him no vacation. He insisted. They fired him. He collects.

Ubaldo Ramos Oct., 2000

He was frequently AWOL and took long lunch breaks. He does not collect.

Jensen vs. DES Oct., 2000

This business must pay unemployment taxes on the earnings of the business partners.

James Kelly Sept., 2000

They paid him unemployment for four months, then decided on appeal that he was disqualified. Now he has to pay the money back.

Kathleen Skluzacek Aug., 2000

The department's telephone claim system did not work.

Swanson vs. Trinity Universal Aug., 2000

A worker wants to collect unemployment despite misconduct on the grounds that the employer appealed late.

Paquin vs. Commissioner Aug., 2000

He called up the office of the adjudicator of his appeal and explained his circumstances to someone there who told him not to worry, that he would straighten everything out. Now, he is denied benefits on the grounds that he should not have trusted the person he talked to in the adjudicator's office.

Phuong vs. Marynak Aug., 2000

A dentist and her assistant squabbled over a lot of little things. Their account of each item differs. He collects.

Richard Reiss vs. Commissioner July, 2000

He didn't pay his taxes, so they raised his rate.

Gary Rubbelke vs. BTD July, 2000

A comedy of errors: A lodge owner called the manager to say that one employee had seen another with a baggie containing what looked like pot. The manager drove to the lodge, where the employee said he had found the baggie when cleaning out a room and threw it in the dumpster. The manager dug the baggie out of the dumpster to confirm the story, then stuck it in his pocket, and headed home. On the way home, he picked up his wife at the store. They stopped for gas. As he was pumping, she emptied the car trash can, including the baggie. The lodge owner accused the manager of dealing drugs to the other employee, and fired him. He does not collect.

Everett Henry vs. Computer Products July, 2000

When business slowed down, they reduced his hours. He quit and went on unemployment. Business picked up, they offered him a full-time job, but he did not take it. He does not collect.

Kris Johnson vs. Dolphin Staffing July, 2000

The agency says she is disqualified from Unemployment because she refused a job assignment some time before she was laid off from the job which resulted in her unemployment.

Perovich vs. Bituminous July, 2000

A seasonal employee, a bookkeeper, was somehow held personally liable for the company's unpaid unemployment taxes. They sent him notice at the employer's address during a season when he was not working there. Because he never got it in time, he never appealed it in time. Therefore, the Department says his chance to appeal ran out.

Lyon Conley July, 2000

First, he said he quit to move to Illinois. Then he said he quit because he got hurt on the job two weeks after he quit. Now, he says he quit, for "personal reasons". But he thinks he should collect unemployment.

Nathan Dressel July, 2000

A delivery driver got mad when his truck broke down.

Peppi vs. Wheatley Center July, 2000

A woman day care worker got all creeped out when another woman started flirting with her. She complained to management. Management did nothing. She quit. She collects.

Kathleen Altmann vs. United Healthcare June, 2000

She says the "main reason" she quit was because smokers in the office gave her asthma. The issue is undecided.

Joe Amborn vs. ANR June, 2000

These teamsters get to collect unemployment while on strike.

Dennis Milbrant vs. Century Community June, 2000

He took an unpaid leave even after they told him not to.

Tim Edward vs. Sentinel Mgmt. June, 2000

As part of his worker's comp claim settlement, he quit his job. He does not collect unemployment in addition.

Myron Simonson vs. Lincoln Baking June, 2000

A comptroller does not produce reports, so he is fired.

Paul Kokesch vs. Postal Service June, 2000

Workers had trouble getting along at the post office. There were threats, squabbles, and altercations. So he quit. He does not collect.

Donna Harms vs. Rosepoint Senior June, 2000

When her manager came into the kitchen to complain about her cooking, she stomped out, saying "You hate me!".

Arthur Haywood May., 2000

He filed his appeal a day too late.

Susan Goldenson vs. Firstsite Staffing May, 2000

A temp refused assignments, so she does not collect.

LeVonne Ericson vs Decathlon Hotel May, 2000

A waitress served her daughter free food.

Lisa Hein vs. Precision Assoc. May, 2000

She had a poor attendance record, so they reassigned her. She didn't like that and quit. She does not collect.

Marian Schmidt vs. Tennant Co. May, 2000

She missed the email which told her she could not leave early that day.

Lance Milliman vs. Gannon Elevator May, 2000

The boss yelled at a truck driver. The truck driver walked away. Next day, he did not show. He does not collect.

James Bill vs. Coloplast May, 2000

He refused to package drugs before they were inspected, so they fired him. He collects.

Don Lassila vs. TRM May, 2000

He got into a wreck with his truck. It was his fault. They fired him. He collects.

Kathleen Plamann vs. Mail Handling May, 2000

Even after they warned her about attendance, she was late 9 times in 15 days.

Barbara Westlund vs. Sprint / United M