Applied for unemployment insurance but former employer is appealing, what are my rights?

You will have an opportunity to submit a written response to the employers appeal as well as give testimony at the hearing.  You can bring an attorney to the hearing, bring witnesses and documentary evidence.  You will have to convince the judge that it was not insubordination.   Many times the employee wins.  The employer does not want you to get unemployment because it can cause their insurance rates to go up.  The Judge knows that is there reason for appealing.  If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.  deborah.barron@lawbarron.com        -http://www.lawbarron.com

You're going to be getting a notice, very shortly I'd expect, for a hearing on your unemployment insurance, on the employer's appeal.  The employer will be able to say why you should be considered fired for cause (so you don't get the money), and you'll get an opportunity to answer them.

Many times, the employers file these appeals in writing, and hope the employee doesn't show up for the hearing.  If so, the company wins, even when they don't show up in person themselves.  So, it's not at all unusual for the employee who does show up for the hearing to end up being able to tell his story, without anyone from the company there to argue it, and in that situation the employee can have a good chance of winning.  Check the notice, or ask the unemployment office, because you may be able to bring someone along to help you, and for this kind of hearing, sometimes that someone doesn't have to be a lawyer.