Title: Green v. Carder
Citation: 282 Ark. 239, 667 S.W.2d 660
Docket Number: 84-54
State: Arkansas
Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court
Date: April 16, 1984

667 S.W.2d 660 (1984) 282 Ark. 239 Everlyn R. GREEN et al., Appellants, v. Mac CARDER et al., Appellee. No. 84-54. Supreme Court of Arkansas. April 16, 1984. Jack T. Lassiter, Little Rock, for appellants. Donald R. Bennett, Little Rock, for ABC Div. Friday, Eldredge &amp; Clark by Joe D. Bell, Little Rock, for Edward Allen. HOLLINGSWORTH, Justice. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board granted the application of Dr. Edward Stewert Allen for retail liquor and off premise beer permits. On appeal, the circuit court upheld the board's decision. We are being asked to reverse the circuit court and the board and find that there was not substantial *661 evidence to support the granting of the permit. We affirm. Dr. Allen's application was denied by the director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. On appeal, the Beverage Control Board unanimously approved the application after conducting a hearing which was attended by fourteen people in opposition. In their decision, the Board cited the following factors: The trial court upheld the Board's action, finding that the decision was supported by substantial evidence. The record made before the ABC Board contains the arguments presented by Allen in favor of granting the permit and by the fourteen people in opposition who attended the hearing. Since these are the facts upon which a finding of substantial evidence must be based, we will set them out in pertinent part. The appellee, Dr. Allen, appeared, representing himself and testified as follows: Sandra Cherry, spokesperson for the opposition, testified as follows: Other members of the opposition reiterated the same complaints as those articulated by Ms. Cherry. At the original hearing before the Director of the ABC Division when the application was rejected, 103 letters were submitted and 229 signatures on petitions were presented. In the hearing before the ABC Board, where the application was approved, eighty-eight signed copies of a short form protest letter; four signed copies of a long form protest letter; forty-four signatures on a long form petition; and 264 signatures on a short form petition were submitted along with the testimony partially presented supra. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is empowered to determine whether public convenience and advantage will be promoted by issuing liquor permits. Ark. Stat.Ann. § 48-301 (Supp.1983). Ark.Stat. Ann. § 5-713 (Supp.1979) provides that courts may reverse or modify a decision of an administrative board if the decision is not supported by substantial evidence. Copeland v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, 4 Ark.App. 143, 628 S.W.2d 588 (1982). We do not, however, substitute our judgment for that of an administrative agency, absent an abuse of discretion by that agency. Copeland, supra. When reviewing administrative decisions, we review the entire record to determine whether there is any substantial evidence to support the agency's decision, or was there arbitrary and capricious action, or was it characterized by abuse of discretion. Ark. *663 ABC Bd. v. King, 275 Ark. 308, 629 S.W.2d 288 (1982). In Gordon v. Cummings et al., 262 Ark. 737, 561 S.W.2d 285 (1978) we held: In examining similar cases, we have held that "[t]he number or official position of persons who object or support the issuance of retail liquor permits is of no significance under the statute. The reasons those persons oppose or support specific permit applications may be very significant." Snyder v. ABC Bd., 1 Ark.App. 92, 613 S.W.2d 126 (1981). In ABC Board v. Blevins, 5 Ark.App. 107, 633 S.W.2d 380 (1982), the Court of Appeals upheld the board's granting of a permit, stating: The burden was upon the appellant to demonstrate that the proof before the administrative tribunal was so nearly undisputed that fair-minded men could not reach its conclusion. Williams v. Scott, Director, 278 Ark. 453, 647 S.W.2d 115 (1983). The question is not whether the testimony would have supported a contrary finding but whether it supports the finding that was made. Id. Whenever the record contains affirmative proof supporting the view of each side, we must defer to the Board's expertise and experience. Fayetteville School Dist. No. 1 v. ABC Bd., 279 Ark. 89, 648 S.W.2d 804 (1983). Here, the primary concerns of the parties opposed to the permit were lack of necessity for another liquor store; traffic congestion; general opposition to liquor stores; safety considerations from increased crime and increased traffic; and parking problems. The area where the proposed store would be located is already heavily congested with parking problems and a liquor store already exists a block away. Therefore, it is difficult to see how the addition of this liquor store will suddenly introduce a dangerous element into the neighborhood. We hold that there was substantial evidence to support the Board's action. Affirmed. HAYS, J., not participating.