10-4920 ROBERT K. BRYANT, v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION and THE MERCER LAW OFFICE, a professional association

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State: Florida

Court: Florida First District Court

Docket No: 10-4920

Case Date: 04/21/2011

Preview:IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA ROBERT K. BRYANT, Appellant, v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION and THE MERCER LAW OFFICE, a Professional Association, Appellee. _____________________________/ Opinion filed April 21, 2011. An appeal from the Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission. Thomas D. Epsky, Member. Robert K. Bryant, pro se, Appellant. A. Robert Whaley, General Counsel, Louis A. Gutierrez, Senior Attorney, Unemployment Appeals Commission, Tallahassee, for Appellee. NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED CASE NO. 1D10-4920

THOMAS, J. In this unemployment compensation appeal, we must decide whether an attorney who becomes unemployed loses eligibility by working full time as a sole practitioner when his law firm earned a nominal amount of income during the

relevant time period. We hold the Commission erred as a matter of law in its interpretation of the statutory definition of "totally unemployed" in section 443.036, Florida Statute, because that statute requires that a person work and receive remuneration. We interpret the statute to create two criteria that must be met before a person can be found ineligible under the statute's definition of "totally unemployed." We thus reverse and remand for further proceedings. Appellant worked with a law firm, then left the firm and began his own firm in 2009. From his firm's inception, he received no profits and drew no salary or other remuneration for the remainder of 2009 until March 5, 2010. Appellant's 2009 tax return showed a loss of ordinary business income. Appellant prepared an income statement which was identified as his firm's profit and loss standard for the period of August 1, 2009 through March 5, 2010, which reflects $190 in net ordinary income, and no expense for salary. Appellant received none of this amount, and he denied that the $190 was a "profit." He testified that during this period, his firm had revenues of just under $12,000. During this time, he received one payment from his former employer, which was his only personal income. He lived on savings and unemployment benefits. The former employer argued that Appellant was only entitled to unemployment benefits until his new law firm showed positive net income. Appellant argued that he had not earned any personal income, and even if the $190 2

was considered as such, the amount could not disqualify him receiving unemployment compensation. The Commission ultimately determined that Appellant was not entitled to unemployment compensation because he was not "totally unemployed" during the relevant period of August 1, 2009, through March 5, 2010. The Commission interpreted the following statutory language to disqualify Appellant: "An

individual is `totally unemployed' in any week during which he or she does not perform any services and for which earned income is not payable to him or her."

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