Charles v. Butler

The Department of Labor failed to prove that the unemployment benefits recipient committed fraud within the meaning of O.C.G.A. § 34-8-255 when he underreported his income from a part-time job.

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In this discretionary appeal, Carey R. Charles appeals from an order entered by the Superior Court of Fulton County affirming the final administrative decision of the Board of Review “Board” of the Department of Labor “Department”. The Board affirmed an administrative hearing officer’s decision that, among other things, found that Charles had underreported his income from a part-time job in 2009 while receiving unemployment benefits and, except with respect to one week, allowed the Department to continue to invoke fraud penalties against Charles upon remand to the benefit control unit. Charles argues on appeal that the superior court erred in affirming the Board’s decision because the Department failed to prove fraud at the hearing before the hearing officer and the hearing officer relied on inadmissible hearsay. He further argues that the trial court erred in failing to strike the supplemental record filed by the Department. We agree that the Department failed to prove fraud within the meaning of OCGA § 34 8 255, and we therefore reverse and remand.

Judicial review of an administrative decision requires the court to determine that the findings of fact are supported by ‘any evidence’ and to examine the soundness of the conclusions of law that are based upon the findings of fact. When this Court reviews a superior court’s order in an administrative proceeding, our duty is not to review whether the record supports the superior court’s decision but whether the record supports the final decision of the administrative agency.”

Charles v. Butler

The Department of Labor failed to prove that the unemployment benefits recipient committed fraud within the meaning of O.C.G.A. § 34-8-255 when he underreported his income from a part-time job.

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