Opinion ID: 1996268
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: Gerald Zarrella

Text: We also hold that the trial justice was not clearly wrong in her finding that Zarrella was biased. The trial justice found that Zarrella displayed a personal bias against the Town and in favor of Champlin's. First, she based this finding on Zarrella's communications with town officials in which Zarrella said that Champlin's was entitled to this expansion and the islanders were naive. Second, the trial justice relied on Zarrella's negative comments about the town's witnesses and its alternate plan following a hearing. Third, she focused on Zarrella's favorable comments about Champlin's. Like Tikoian, Zarrella demonstrated difficulty in acting as an impartial trier of fact. Rather, he took it upon himself to further the cause of one party over another in his unabashed affinity for Champlin's position and disdain for that of the town's. In tandem, his statements to town officials concerning Champlin's entitlement to expansion and his criticisms of the town and its residents for what he perceived as their naivete in resisting development effectively rebutted his presumed status as an honest adjudicator. Davis, 444 A.2d at 192. In the hearing process, the town enjoys the same due process guarantees as Champlin's; it should be assured that it has a fair chance to make its argument before the subcommittee and full council without facing the additional hurdle of convincing an agency adjudicator who has entrenched himself in a contrary position. Barbara Realty Co., 85 R.I. at 156, 128 A.2d at 344. Therefore, Zarrella's activities during the workshop and the CRMC hearing has constitutional implications as a result of his `preconceived and settled opinion' concerning Champlin's and his personal feelings toward the parties involved. Ryan, 941 A.2d at 185. When viewed in light of the trial justice's extensive credibility findings during the evidentiary hearing and through the prism of the deference owed to the trial justice's factual findings, we will not disturb on appeal the trial justice's findings that due process demands Zarrella's disqualification because of demonstrated bias. [13]