Opinion ID: 1265879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: uac's standing

Text: The Commission challenges UAC's standing to petition for review. It argues that (1) UAC failed to properly intervene in the hearing before the Commission, and (2) it lacks the traditional standing criterion that it will suffer a distinct and palpable injury, affording it a stake in the outcome. See Terracor v. Utah Bd. of State Lands & Forestry, 716 P.2d 796, 799 (Utah 1986). Unfortunately, it is unclear whether UAC properly intervened in the hearing. [1] Although the counties submitted a formal motion to intervene at the request of the Commission, it was not acted upon. UAC did not join in that motion, but its counsel, who was also representing the counties, actively participated throughout the entire hearing, including regular examination of witnesses with the permission of the Commission. At no time did the Commission or AT & T-C object to UAC's participation. We therefore find that the Commission has waived its right to challenge UAC's participation in this review. UAC adequately intervened in the hearing below on a de facto basis. See Schulz, Davis & Warren v. Marinkovich, 203 Mont. 12, 661 P.2d 5, 8 (1983). We next examine UAC's standing before this court. The right of a party to intervene in an administrative hearing is different from standing to obtain judicial review. See RAM Broadcasting of Colorado, Inc. v. Public Utils. Comm'n, 702 P.2d 746, 749 (Colo.1985); Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce v. Public Utils. Comm'n, 452 A.2d 931, 934 (R.I.1982). Associations have standing when (i) the individual members of the association have standing to sue, and (ii) `the nature of the claim and of the relief sought does not make the individual participation of each injured party indispensable to proper resolution of the cause.' Society of Prof. Journalists v. Bullock, 743 P.2d 1166, 1175 (Utah 1987) (quoting Utah Restaurant Ass'n v. Davis County Bd. of Health, 709 P.2d 1159, 1163 (Utah 1985)). As to the first prong, there is no question that UAC's members, the individual counties, have standing inasmuch as the Commission's findings directly affect the amount of tax revenue the counties receive. There is no problem as to the second prong: the counties moved to intervene and were represented in their own capacity at the Commission hearing, although their appearance may not have been necessary. See Millard County v. Utah State Tax Comm'n, 823 P.2d 459, 463 (Utah 1991) (allowing Commission to have one agency intervene and represent multiple political subdivisions to avoid undue burden). It is also clear that UAC is aggrieved by the Commission's ruling adverse to it. We therefore conclude that UAC has standing to petition for review and is an appropriate party to this case. Hereinafter, we shall refer to the counties and UAC collectively as UAC.