Opinion ID: 2165066
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review of commission's decisions

Text: The standard of this court's review of decisions of the commission is clear and well settled. Under § 39-5-1 this court reviews the legality and reasonableness of decisions or orders of the commission, Providence Gas Co. v. Malachowski, 600 A.2d 711, 714 (R.I. 1991), to determine whether the commission's findings are lawful and reasonable, fairly and substantially supported by legal evidence, and sufficiently specific to enable [this court] to ascertain if the evidence upon which the commission based its findings reasonably supports the results. Roberts v. New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., 487 A.2d 136, 138 (R.I. 1985); Interstate Navigation Co. v. Burke, 465 A.2d 750, 755 (R.I. 1983). Thus, the scope of review by this court is limited because the commission, not this court, functions as factfinder. Michelson v. New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., 121 R.I. 722, 728, 404 A.2d 799, 803 (1979). Moreover, the commission's findings of fact shall be held to be prima facie true. Section 39-5-3. Furthermore, this court can neither exercise its independent judgment nor weigh conflicting evidence. Id.; Malachowski, 600 A.2d at 714. In light of this standard, we review the commission's report and order.