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JAMES RIVER CORPORATION, Petitioner
vs.
EMPLOYMENT DIVISION and STEVEN G. GRIBBLE, Respondents
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Issues:
Alcohol, unemployment benefits.
Case Summary:
The James River Company appeals a state board' s decision that grants unemployment benefits to a former employee who was dismissed for reporting to work intoxicated. The employee, Steven Gribble, admitted reporting to work after spending the day drinking.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
The Oregon Employment Appeals Board awarded Gribble unemployment benefits. The board concluded that Gribble had no control over his drinking because he was an alcoholic. The company now appeals the ruling.
Outcome:
Gribble loses. The Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the review board and remanded the case for additional review. The court ruled that the review board had based its decision on assumptions and popular misunderstandings about alcoholism rather than on hard evidence.