Opinion ID: 1940326
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Existence of final agency action

Text: [¶ 10] Tomer contends that the Commission's administrative dismissal of his discrimination charge constitutes a final agency action, thus conferring subject matter jurisdiction on the Superior Court to review the Commission's decision pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 80C. [¶ 11] Section 11001 of the APA provides that any person who is aggrieved by final agency action shall be entitled to judicial review thereof in the Superior Court. 5 M.R.S. § 11001(1); [4] see also M.R. Civ. P. 80C(a). Final agency action is defined as a decision by an agency which affects the legal rights, duties or privileges of specific persons, which is dispositive of all issues, legal and factual, and for which no further recourse, appeal or review is provided within the agency. 5 M.R.S. § 8002(4). [¶ 12] Pursuant to the Maine Human Rights Act, when a complainant, such as Tomer, files a charge of discrimination with the Commission, the Commission's function is generally that of an investigator and conciliator. The Commission is required to conduct such preliminary investigation as it determines necessary to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that unlawful discrimination has occurred. 5 M.R.S. § 4612(1)(B). If the Commission finds no such reasonable grounds, or for certain other reasons, such as concluding it lacks jurisdiction, the Commission may dismiss the proceeding. Id. § 4612(2); 11 C.M.R. 94 348 002-3 § 2.02(H) (1999) (providing that the Commission's Executive Director may, in his or her discretion, administratively dismiss complaints of discrimination for lack of jurisdiction). If the Commission dismisses the complaint, the complainant is free to file a complaint of discrimination against the alleged wrongdoer in the Superior Court. 5 M.R.S. § 4621 (2007). The Superior Court considers the complaint de novo, id. § 4631 (2007), without any impediment from the adverse Commission action. When a complainant files a civil action in the Superior Court following the Commission's administrative dismissal of his charge, the complainant may also allege in that civil action that the Commission's dismissal was done in error. See id. § 4622(1)(D) (2007). [¶ 13] Alternatively, if the Commission finds reasonable grounds to believe unlawful discrimination has occurred, it may attempt to broker a conciliation. Id. § 4612(3). If conciliation fails, the Commission may file a complaint in the Superior Court for the benefit of the complainant, id. § 4612(4), although it usually does not, in which case the complainant may do so directly, id. § 4621. Whether the complainant brings an action in the Superior Court or the Commission does so for his benefit, the trial court hears the case de novo, and the complainant is entitled to the same due process rights as any litigant. See Chandler v. Roudebush, 425 U.S. 840, 844-45, 863, 96 S.Ct. 1949, 48 L.Ed.2d 416 (1976); EEOC v. Gen. Elec. Co., 532 F.2d 359, 370 (4th Cir.1976) (holding that the EEOC, which investigates administratively-filed complaints of employment discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, has no adjudicatory power, that adjudication is the exclusive function of courts under the EEOC, and that a subsequent court trial is de novo); Me. Human Rights Comm'n v. Me. Dept. of Defense & Veterans' Servs., 627 A.2d 1005, 1007 (Me.1993) (reiterating that Maine courts looks to federal case law interpreting Title VII for guidance in construing the Maine Human Rights Act); accord Percy v. Allen, 449 A.2d 337, 342 (Me.1982). [¶ 14] Because Tomer has the option to pursue his claim against the Penobscot Nation to the full extent allowable by law by filing a civil action in the Superior Court, his legal rights, duties, or privileges were not affected within the meaning of 5 M.R.S. § 8002(4) when the Commission administratively dismissed his claim of discrimination. Cf. Friedman v. Bd. of Envtl. Prot., 2008 ME 156, ¶¶ 11-12, 956 A.2d 97, 101. [5] Accordingly, there has been no final agency action, as that term is defined in section 8002(4), in this case. There being no final agency action, the Superior Court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to hear Tomer's appeal. Accord Gen. Elec. Co., 532 F.2d at 370 (holding that the proceedings of the EEOC, the Commission's federal counterpart, are not reviewable). The court was therefore obligated to dismiss Tomer's Rule 80C action. See M.R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (Whenever it appears... that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action.); State v. Dhuy, 2003 ME 75, ¶ 8, 825 A.2d 336, 341 (If the trial court lacks jurisdiction, the absence of jurisdiction is noticed, and the case proceeds no further.).