The New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division has upheld a decision requiring an individual to repay unemployment benefits after it was determined he left his job voluntarily without good cause. On November 26, 2025, the court affirmed the Board of Review’s decision against Joseph J. Tronlone, who had appealed the ruling that he was not entitled to $6,237 in unemployment benefits received after leaving his position at ShopRite.
Joseph J. Tronlone filed the complaint on October 15, 2025, in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Board of Review and Berat Corporation. The case revolves around Tronlone’s employment as a cashier at ShopRite from April 20, 2020, to July 16, 2020. During this period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tronlone ceased working and relocated to Indiana when his lease expired. He subsequently applied for and received unemployment benefits from July 25, 2020, through January 23, 2021.
However, on June 20, 2022, the Director of the Department of Labor determined that Tronlone was not qualified for these benefits because he voluntarily left his job without good cause attributable to his work environment. Consequently, a demand for repayment of $6,237 was issued. Tronlone contested this determination before the Appeal Tribunal on September 6, 2022.
During the hearing, testimony revealed that ShopRite had implemented various safety measures during the pandemic such as providing personal protective equipment (PPE), installing protective barriers at cash registers, and enforcing social distancing protocols within its store premises. Despite these precautions and testing negative for COVID-19 shortly after feeling ill in July 2020, Tronlone chose not to return to work due to fear of contracting the virus.
Tronlone argued that ShopRite failed to adhere strictly to COVID-19 safety protocols creating an unsafe work environment which justified his resignation. However, he admitted never voicing these concerns with his employer nor seeking Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the CARES Act.
The Tribunal concluded that Tronlone’s reasons for leaving were personal rather than attributable directly to workplace conditions since adequate safety measures were in place by ShopRite. It also noted that relocating due to lease expiration did not qualify him for unemployment benefits under New Jersey law or federal CARES Act provisions aimed at those unable or unavailable for work directly due to COVID-19 impacts.
On appeal from this decision by both Tribunal and subsequently Board’s final agency review dated November 30th ,2023 – all findings remained consistent affirming requirement refunding previously paid out funds totaling $6237 back into state’s Unemployment Compensation Fund per statutory obligations outlined within N.J.S.A., despite any perceived good faith applications initially made upon filing claims initially processed earlier during pandemic period itself .
Representing himself throughout proceedings; while respondents included representation via Attorney General Matthew J Platkin alongside Assistant Attorney General Donna Arons & Deputy Elizabeth A Davies respectively supporting Board stance upheld ultimately through judicial affirmation rendered hereinabove detailed . Case ID: A-1336-23 overseen judicially presided over Honorable Judges Gilson & Perez Friscia collectively .
Source: A133623_Tronlone_v_Board_of_Review_Opinion_New_Jersey_Superior_Court_of_Appeals.pdf
