Opinion ID: 2061276
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was the evidence presented at the hearings sufficient as matter of law to support the selectmen's decisions?

Text: 1. Who has the burden of proof at the hearings and upon judicial review? The selectmen, in discharging a quasi judicial function, can deny the construction of the lines unless such action would be arbitrary or unreasonable. As stated in Ansell v. Boston, 254 Mass. 208, 211, if the exception which permits the selectmen to refuse to grant crossings is part of the enacting clause, which by the above description it is, then the burden is on the proponent of the lines to demonstrate it is not within the excepting clause. In Almeida Bus Lines, Inc. v. Department of Pub. Util. 348 Mass. 331, 342, it was stated that the burden is on the appealing party to show that a decision of the Department is invalid. The situation obtaining on these petitions is similar to that of the Almeida case and the burden was on Edison to establish a record sufficient to indicate the error of the local authorities. As a general matter Edison had the burden of demonstrating that the lines would not incommode the public and demonstrating on review that it met that burden. 2. What is meant by evidence sufficient as matter of law? General Laws c. 249, § 4, allows the petitioner to contend that the evidence which formed the basis of the action complained of... was as matter of law insufficient.... Although the language is different from that used in G.L.c. 30A, § 14 (8) (e), where the standard is substantial evidence, the two would seem close enough that the law concerning the latter, which is more complete, could be applied by analogy. International Harvester Co. v. Industrial Commn. of Wisconsin, 157 Wis. 167, 175. Substantial evidence is defined in c. 30A, § 1, as such evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Newton v. Department of Pub. Util. 339 Mass. 535, 548. Consolidated Edison Co. v. National Labor Relations Bd. 305 U.S. 197, 229. The standard is stated more fully by Professor Jaffe: And so when a finding is attacked the judge must decide whether experience permits the reasoning mind to make the finding; he must decide whether the finding could have been made by reference to the logic of experience. He will conclude that the finding is unreasonable (either because it was badly reasoned or not the result of reasoning) when in his experience or in common experience as he knows it the evidence points to no felt or appreciable probability of the conclusion or points to an overwhelming probability of the contrary. Jaffe, Judicial Control of Administrative Action, 598. 3. Does experience permit the reasoning mind to make the findings made by the selectmen from the evidence presented? The transcripts of each of the three hearings and the examination of the exhibits reveal that most of the evidence and the controversy at the hearings were concerned with the subjects of economics and aesthetics. Edison's testimony was given largely through Leslie J. Weed, its engineer who testified at each hearing and submitted written reports. He described the proposed line and route, the specifications and desirability of the proposed system, and gave it as his opinion that the line would not incommode the public. Statements were also made at each hearing by counsel for Edison. Objections by those opposed to granting the petitions were voiced along various lines: (1) increased public use of one of the roads to be crossed; (2) aesthetic considerations; (3) psychological disturbances; (4) danger from falling or sagging wires; (5) danger from radiation; (6) prospective decline in market values of homes near by; (7) attractive nuisance for children; (8) possible danger to birds and animal life. Upon our reading of the legislative and case law history, as well as our understanding of the meaning of incommode, all of this evidence was pertinent. It is quite clear that all of the people present at the hearings, save for the proponents speaking for Edison, felt a high level of annoyance for various reasons. Reverting to our interpretation of incommode, there would appear to have been ample evidence to allow the reasoning mind to conclude that these lines would incommode the public. Furthermore, we cannot say that aesthetic factors are not determinative in the light of the statutory history and our case law. See Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference v. Federal Power Commn. 354 F.2d 608, 614-617 (2d Cir.). There is thus sufficient evidence to support the findings of the three boards of selectmen regardless of whether they are seen as employing general discretion or discretion within the interpretation of incommode which we have given. We conclude that the order in each case should be Petition dismissed.