McCrocklin v. Employment Development Department, et al.

An engineering writer quit his work due to being forced to work in a smoke-filled environment and sought unemployment compensation benefits.  The Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board ruled that he had left work voluntarily without good cause and denied benefits.  The Court of Appeals reversed and held that the employee reasonably and in good faith feared harm to his health from working in an unventilated room filled with tobacco smoke and was entitled to unemployment benefits.

156 Cal.App. 3d 1067, 205 Cal.Rptr. 156, (Cal. App., 2 Dist., Division 6, 1984).