Opinion ID: 2204600
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of appeals

Text: Hearing Officer Frank Glass issued his companion decisions for the two fisheries on December 10, 1997, finding that Doubleday failed to meet his burden of proof that he qualified for additional points in either fishery. He therefore denied Doubleday's applications for both. On July 6, 2006, the CFEC issued its final decisions. It confirmed that Doubleday was eligible for only 16 points in the Southern fishery and that his application would remain pending until the commission can determine mathematically whether applicants with 16 points can be issued a permanent entry permit. The commission also confirmed that Doubleday had proven no participation in the Northern fishery and was therefore ineligible to apply for a permit in that fishery. The commission affirmed these decisions on reconsideration in August 2006. In the superior court, Doubleday argued that the CFEC erred in setting the maximum number of permits for both fisheries and that the decision was not supported by substantial evidence. He also argued that the State violated his procedural due process rights by closing the record and that the court should apply the doctrine of spoliation of evidence and shift the burden of proof to the State because it had lost records seized from him relating to his fishing activities in the disputed years. Superior Court Judge Anna M. Moran held that Doubleday failed to meet his burden of proof and, even if the doctrine of spoliation of evidence could apply to this type of case, no evidence supported his claims that the government negligently or intentionally destroyed records or that any documents existed which could establish his participation in either fishery. Judge Moran declined to reach the issue of whether CFEC erred in setting the maximum number of permits, stating that [b]ecause the court has found in favor of CFEC on these issues, it is unnecessary for the court to rule [on the claim of error in setting the maximum number].