2012
WI 28
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Supreme Court of Wisconsin |
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Case No.: |
2011AP329-FT |
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Complete Title: |
Michael J. Waldvogel Trucking, LLC, Petitioner-Respondent-Petitioner, v. State of Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, Respondent-Appellant, Daniel M. Berceau, Respondent. |
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REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS Reported at: 336 Wis. 2d 477, 801 N.W. 2d 350 (Ct. App. 2011 – Unpublished) |
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Opinion Filed: |
March 21, 2012 |
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Submitted on Briefs: |
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Oral Argument: |
March 6, 2012 |
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Source of Appeal: |
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Court: |
Circuit |
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County: |
Langlade |
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Judge: |
Fred W. Kawalski |
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Justices: |
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Concurred: |
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Dissented: |
ROGGENSACK, J., dissents. |
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Not Participating: |
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Attorneys: |
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For the petitioner-respondent-petitioner there were briefs by John B. Rhode and Sommer, Olk, Schroeder & Payant LLP, Antigo, and oral argument by John B. Rhode.
For the respondent-appellant, Labor and Industry Review Commission, there was a brief and oral argument by William S. Sample.
notice
This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports.
REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Dismissed as improvidently granted.
¶1 PER CURIAM. On December 1, 2011, we granted Michael J. Waldvogel Trucking, LLC's (Waldvogel Trucking) petition for review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals, Michael J. Waldvogel Trucking, LLC v. LIRC, No. 2011AP329-FT, unpublished slip op. (Wis. Ct. App. June 28, 2011), that reversed an order by the Langlade County Circuit Court[1] reversing the Labor and Industry Review Commission's (LIRC) determination that Daniel Berceau (Berceau) is eligible for unemployment benefits.
¶2 After reviewing the record and the parties' briefs, and after hearing oral argument, we conclude that Waldvogel Trucking's petition for review was improvidently granted.
¶3 For purposes of explaining our decision, we briefly relate the following undisputed facts. Beginning in January 2008, Berceau was employed by Waldvogel Trucking as a dairy transport driver, a position that required Berceau to maintain a valid commercial driver's license. In May 2009, due to lack of work, Berceau was laid off indefinitely. Three months later, however, on August 12, 2009, Waldvogel Trucking recalled Berceau. Pursuant to both federal law and company policy, Berceau was required to submit to a pre-employment drug test. Berceau tested positive for marijuana metabolites. Consequently, on August 18, 2009, Waldvogel Trucking discharged Berceau.
¶4 Berceau filed for unemployment benefits. Rejecting Waldvogel Trucking's argument that Berceau was discharged for "misconduct connected with [his] work" under Wis. Stat. § 108.04(5) (2009-10),[2] LIRC concluded that Berceau was eligible for unemployment benefits.
¶5 The circuit court disagreed, and Berceau appealed. The court of appeals then reversed the order of the circuit court and remanded the cause for reinstatement of LIRC's decision.
¶6 Waldvogel Trucking petitioned this court for review, asking us to answer a single question: whether an employee, recalled from an indefinite lay-off, is eligible for unemployment benefits when he renders himself ineligible for his job by using illegal drugs. We granted Waldvogel Trucking's petition for review and heard oral argument on March 6, 2012.
¶7 Upon further reflection, however, we conclude that the petition
for review was improvidently granted.
Wisconsin Stat. § 108.04(8)(a)
provides, in relevant part, that an employee is ineligible for unemployment
benefits for a stated period if the employee "fails, without good cause,
to accept suitable work when offered . . . ." On June 26, 2011, the legislature created § 108.04(8)(b). 2011 Wis. Act 32, § 2403t.
Section 108.04(8)(b)1.b. clarifies that an employee's failure to accept
an offer of work under subsection (8)(a) includes "[t]he employer's
withdrawal of or failure to extend an offer of work due to a positive test
result" for illegal drugs. See
id. Section 108.04(8)(b) went
into effect on July 1, 2011. See id.,
§§ 9354(2q), 9400.
¶8 Given the legislature's enactment of Wis. Stat. § 108.04(8)(b), the issue presented by Waldvogel Trucking's petition for review is not likely to recur. See Wis. Stat. § (Rule) 809.62(1r)(c)3. Because a decision by this court in the instant case would not develop or clarify the law, see § 809.62(1r)(c), we conclude that Waldvogel Trucking's petition for review was improvidently granted.
¶9 By the Court.—The review of the decision of the court of appeals is dismissed as improvidently granted.
¶10 Justice PATIENCE DRAKE ROGGENSACK dissents.