Kelly Elizabeth Nolan, Relator v. Great River Federal Credit Union, Department of Employment and Economic Development

**What Happened** Kelly Nolan was fired from Great River Federal Credit Union and applied for unemployment benefits. The credit union argued she shouldn't receive benefits because she was terminated for misconduct - specifically, violating company policies related to handling family member accounts. Nolan disputed this claim and appealed when her unemployment benefits were denied. **What the Court Decided** The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the decision to deny Nolan unemployment benefits. The court found that Nolan's own testimony during the hearing essentially admitted she had violated the credit union's policies regarding family member accounts. Because this constituted employment misconduct, she was not eligible for unemployment compensation. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows how important it is to understand and follow your employer's policies, especially in financial institutions where rules are strictly enforced. When applying for unemployment benefits after being fired, be very careful about what you say during hearings - your own statements can be used to prove misconduct occurred. Workers should also know that violating company policies, even if unintentional, can disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits if it's considered misconduct.