Opinion ID: 1219081
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ex Parte Communications by Contestants

Text: MKPC contends that letters sent by Contestants' attorney to BLNR members after the contested case hearing was held precluded fair decision-making by the agency and denied them due process of law. [3] MKPC further argues that such action was not cured by reopening the hearing. Thus, MKPC urges reversal of the BLNR decision. In Waikiki Shore, the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) addressed the effect of ex parte letters sent by an applicant for a zoning variance to the Zoning Board of Appeals (Zoning Board) after the hearing on the variance was concluded. Appellant argued that the receipt of the subject letter was procedurally fatal despite the Board's disclaimer that the letter was not considered in its decision-making. The ICA stated: This is not a case of first impression. The decision of the Supreme Court of Hawai`i in Town v. Land Use Commission, 55 Haw. 538, 524 P.2d 84 (1974) is on all fours with this case. In that case, there was an appearance by a party before a meeting of the Commission after the public hearing had been closed, which the opposing party was given no opportunity to rebut.... Despite the agency's disclaimer that those matters had any influence upon it, the Supreme Court ... reversed and remanded to the agency. In this case, faced with nearly identical facts, we do likewise, as, indeed, we are bound to do by the doctrine of stare decisis. 2 Haw.App. at 44-45, 625 P.2d at 1046. In both Waikiki Shore and Town, the reviewing court reversed and remanded the agency determination due to ex parte communications where the opposing party was given no opportunity to rebut. Waikiki Shore, 2 Haw.App. at 45, 625 P.2d at 1046; Town v. Land Use Comm'n, 55 Haw. at 549, 524 P.2d at 91. In the present case, the record indicates that the BLNR reopened the hearing to expressly allow MKPC an opportunity to rebut the ex parte communications. MKPC contends, however, that although MKPC was provided copies of the subject ex parte communications prior to the reopened hearing, MKPC never knew that the same letters and hundreds of petition signatures were sent by Contestants' counsel to the other BLNR members, and it therefore was precluded from effectively responding. On review of the BLNR's ruling, the circuit court stated: Appellant complains that seven ... letters were made part of the record after [the] conclusion of the reopened hearing which show improper ex parte communications between the attorney for Contestants Lawrence and Johnson and an individual who was a witness for them at the hearing and members of the Board and its Chairman.... Via transmittal letters, Contestants Lawrence and Johnson's counsel ... sent a news article, news report and a community petition to Board Members and the Chairman. After an exhaustive review by this Court, it is clear and this Court finds that Appellant had the same or substantially the same information as is contained in such purported ex parte communications prior to the reopened hearing on October 26, 1989. By that time, Appellant had knowledge of the Look Lab [visit] as well. It is undisputed that MKPC was provided copies of the subject ex parte communications prior to the reopened hearing. [4] The fact that MKPC may have been unaware that the same letters and petition signatures were also sent to other BLNR members did not in any way preclude MKPC from effectively responding to the contents of the ex parte communications. Therefore, because the reopened hearing provided MKPC an opportunity to rebut the ex parte communications, we cannot conclude that MKPC was denied due process of law.