MacGregor v. Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board

Opinion

REYNOSO, J.

When a worker leaves her employment to accompany her “nonmarital partner” to another state in order to maintain the familial relationship they have established with their child does she voluntarily leave work with good cause within the meaning of the statute governing eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits? We left open the possibility that a claimant might show good cause in such circumstances when we decided Norman v. Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd. (1983) 34 Cal.3d 1 [192 Cal.Rptr. 134, 663 P.2d 904] less than two years ago. We now hold that Patricia MacGregor has…