Richanda L. Jones, Claimant/Appellant v. Guardian Employer East, L.L.C., and Division of Employment Security, Respondents

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court. Opinion Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Case Style: Richanda L. Jones, Claimant/Appellant v. Guardian Employer East, L.L.C., and Division of Employment Security, Respondents Case Number: ED81668 Handdown Date: 10/15/2002 Appeal From: Labor and Industrial Relations Commission Counsel for Appellant: Richanda Jones Counsel for Respondent: Alan J. Downs Opinion Summary: Richanda L. Jones appeals the labor and industrial relations commission's decision denying her application for review because it was untimely. DISMISSED. Division Five holds: Jones' application for review to the commission was untimely because it was not filed within 30 days of when the appeals tribunal mailed its decision. As a result, this court is without jurisdiction to review Jones' appeal. Citation: Opinion Author: Lawrence E. Mooney, Chief Judge Opinion Vote: DISMISSED. Crahan and R. Dowd, Jr., JJ., concur Opinion: Richanda Jones, the claimant, filed an appeal from the decision of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission denying her application for review as untimely. The respondent, the Division of Employment Security (DES), has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal contending this Court is without jurisdiction to consider the claimant's appeal. The claimant has filed no response to the motion.

On January 10, 2002, a deputy from DES made a determination that the claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits because she voluntarily quit her employment without good cause attributable to her work. The claimant filed a timely appeal with the Appeals Tribunal, which dismissed her appeal because she failed to appear for the hearing on her appeal. The Appeals Tribunal mailed its decision to the claimant on February 22, 2002. The claimant filed an application for review with the Commission on July 8, 2002. The Commission denied her application for review because it was untimely. The claimant appealed to this Court. Section 288.200, RSMo 2000, requires that an appeal to the Commission shall be postmarked or filed within thirty days of the mailing of the Appeals Tribunal's decision. The claimant's application for review to the Commission was not filed within thirty days of the mailing of the Appeals Tribunal's decision and thus, was untimely. Her failure to request review in a timely fashion divested both the Commission and this Court of jurisdiction. Phillips v. Clean-Tech, 34 S.W.3d 854, 855 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000). The procedures outlined for appeal by statute in unemployment security cases are mandatory. Burch Food Services, Inc. v. Missouri Div. of Employment Sec., 945 S.W.2d 478, 481 (Mo. App. W.D. 1997). Moreover, there is no mechanism under sections 288.200 or 288.210 to seek a special order to file a late notice of appeal. Phillips, 34 S.W.3d at 855. The respondent's motion to dismiss the appeal is granted and the appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Separate Opinion: None This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.