Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Co. v. Employment Division

Employer appeals an order of the Employment Appeals Board which affirmed a referee’s allowance of unemployment benefits to claimant. See ORS 657.282, 183.480 et seq. The primary issue is whether the Board erred as a matter of law in ruling that claimant was not discharged for misconduct connected with her work and so was not subject to the disqualification of ORS 657.176(2)(a).

On August 30, 1977, claimant suffered an on-the-job back injury. Two days later, while off the job, she sustained a knee injury, which she claimed was caused by the back injury. When the employer denied responsibility…