Pacificab Co. v. Employment Department

PacifiCab Company (PacifiCab), a taxi service, fired Linda Benge (claimant), one of its drivers, who then applied for unemployment insurance benefits. PacifiCab opposed the claim on the grounds that claimant was an independent contractor and therefore not covered by the unemployment insurance laws, and in any event, even if she was an employee, she was fired for misconduct and therefore did not qualify for benefits. The Employment Department (department) issued an administrative decision allowing benefits; it concluded that claimant was an employee and that she was not discharged for…