Fla. Appeals Court Reinstates Workers' Unemployment Benefits

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A Florida appellate court has reinstated benefits for a woman who said she was treated for bronchitis and pneumonia numerous times while complaining of mold exposure at her workplace. Kloepper v. Unemployment Appeals Commission, No. 5D03-1194 (Fla. App., 5th Dist.).

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed the findings of Florida's Unemployment Appeals Commission, saying the commission improperly substituted its own review of Penelope Kloepper's claim for that of the unemployment appeals referee who granted her benefits.

Kloepper complained that she was diagnosed with bronchitis four times and pneumonia while working as a front-desk clerk at …