Case Title: Ariz. State Bd. of Dental Examiners v. Hyder

Citation: 114 Ariz. 544, 562 P.2d 717

Docket Number: 

State: arizona

Court: Arizona Supreme Court

Date: 1977-03-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
114 Ariz. 544 (1977) 562 P.2d 717 The ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS, Petitioner, v. The Honorable Fred J. HYDER, Judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court, Division Two, Respondent, and James STEWART and George Jenkins, d/b/a Apache Denture Clinic, Real Parties in Interest. No. 13032. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. March 9, 1977. *545 Bruce E. Babbitt, Atty. Gen., Phoenix, by Charles E. Buri, Tucson, for petitioner. Schmal & Wollschlager by Gary G. Wollschlager, Phoenix, for real parties in interest. STRUCKMEYER, Vice Chief Justice. This is an original petition brought by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners pursuant to the Rules of Procedure for Special Actions, A.R.S. 17A, seeking to review a judgment of the Superior Court denying petitioner's application for an injunction for the unlawful practice of dentistry. We accepted jurisdiction pursuant to the Constitution of Arizona, Art. 6, § 5, subsec. 4. The judgment of the Superior Court of Maricopa County in Cause No. C-340509 is ordered set aside and it is further ordered that respondents, James Stewart and George Jenkins, be enjoined by the Superior Court from engaging in acts defined by law as constituting the practice of dentistry. On October 19, 1976, petitioner herein, the State Board of Dental Examiners, filed in the Maricopa County Superior Court a complaint seeking to enjoin respondent real parties in interest, James Stewart and George Jenkins, doing business as the Apache Denture Clinic, from the unauthorized practice of dentistry and for other relief consistent with the facts alleged in its complaint. In answer to the complaint, Stewart and Jenkins admitted that they were not licensed to practice dentistry in the State of Arizona but denied that the actions of which the Arizona State Board of Dental examiners complained constituted the practice of dentistry. On December 20, 1976, the Superior Court determined that the acts did not constitute the practice of dentistry and entered judgment directing that the plaintiff's complaint be dismissed and its application for injunctive relief be denied. Petitioner alleged that the court below acted arbitrarily, capriciously and in abuse of judicial discretion in entering a judgment favorable to respondents. Petitioner further alleged that the immediate abatement of the unlicensed practice of dentistry as set forth in its petition is essential in order to prevent irreparable harm to those portions of the public who are seeking the respondents' services. A.R.S. § 32-1202 provides that a person is deemed to be practicing dentistry who makes any examination of the teeth, gums, jaws, oral cavity or tissues adjacent thereto in a living person with the intent to: The word "impression" is defined by Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, as: At the time of the hearing in the lower court, numerous witnesses testified that respondents took impressions of their mouths to either construct new sets of dentures or to replace parts such as missing teeth. For example, Alice Sherman testified: The evidence is overwhelming and uncontradicted that respondents were practicing dentistry within the definition of the Legislature as set forth in A.R.S. § 32-1202. Respondents urge, however, that they are simply providing a product; that "the legislature has established a clear demarcation between services provided by Dentists and the providing of a product." It is argued that the taking of an impression for the sole purpose of fabricating or relining a denture is no more than creating a product. By whatever name respondents' acts are described, whether as a product or otherwise, the making of an examination with the intent to take an impression or make a corrective appliance constitutes the practice of dentistry. Respondents analogize their product with that of eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, artificial limbs and the like, arguing that such have no specific reference and application to the healing arts. But whatever views respondents may have in this regard, the Legislature differs with them, placing the practice of dentistry in a special category. The statute A.R.S. § 32-1269(B) provides: Respondents real parties in interest contend that the State Board of Dental Examiners should be required to factually prove injury or irreparable harm as a condition precedent to the granting of injunctive relief. The answer is that the Legislature has specified that a violation of Ch. 11, Title 32 is a nuisance per se. Where a state agency has been authorized to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and restrain specified violations of the law, irreparable injury need not be shown. Conway v. State Board of Health, 252 Miss. 315, 173 So. 2d 412 (1965); Hoffman v. Garden State Farms, Inc., 76 N.J. Super. 189, 184 A.2d 4 (1962); State (PUC) v. O.K. Transfer Co., 215 Or. 8, 330 P.2d 510 (1958). The showing of irreparable harm is not here a condition precedent to the granting of equitable relief. Harm is conclusively presumed from the legislative declaration. The regulation of a profession is the exercise of the police power for the health and general welfare of the people of the State. Funk Jewelry Co. v. State of Arizona ex rel. LaPrade, Attorney General, 46 Ariz. 348, 50 P.2d 945 (1935) (optometry). Where the Legislature has declared that the public interest is served by requiring the practice of a profession be licensed and that attempts to act without the required license may be enjoined, the granting or denying of an injunction is not within the discretion of the trial court. Nor is the granting of an injunction to be withheld when authorized by statute because the statute also provides for criminal penalties. The Legislature will not be presumed to have done a futile thing and therefore the statutory remedies will be construed as cumulative. It is ordered the judgment in Cause No. C-340509 be set aside and that the court below grant the plaintiff's application for a temporary injunction pending final determination of the action. CAMERON, C.J., and HAYS, HOLOHAN and GORDON, JJ., concur.