Opinion ID: 3008414
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: L., 194 W.Va. 538, 459 S.E.2d 415 (1995).

Text: 4 Addressing the deference to be accorded to an administrative agency, this Court has explained that “[i]n the absence of an error of law, factual findings by an administrative agency should be given great deference, and should not be disturbed on appeal unless clearly wrong or ‘arbitrary and capricious.’” Healy v. W. Va. Bd. of Med., 203 W.Va. 52, 55, 506 S.E.2d 89, 92 (1998). Pursuant to the arbitrary and capricious standard, a circuit court reviewing the factual findings of an administrative agency must “not substitute its judgment for that of the hearing examiner.” Woo v. Putnam Cty. Bd. of Educ., 202 W.Va. 409, 411, 504 S.E.2d 644, 646 (1998). As this Court summarized in syllabus point two of Webb v. West Virginia Board of Medicine, 212 W.Va. 149, 569 S.E.2d 225 (2002): “‘The “clearly wrong” and the “arbitrary and capricious” standards of review are deferential ones which presume an agency’s actions are valid as long as the decision is supported by substantial evidence or by a rational basis.’ Syllabus Point 3, In re Queen, 196 W.Va. 442, 473 S.E.2d 483 (1996).” However, this Court has further recognized: “While this Court agrees with the proposition that the Board’s interpretation is entitled to deference, it is imperative that a reviewing court also consider the possibility . . . that the Board’s interpretation is erroneous.” West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board v. Wood, 233 W.Va. 222, 228, 757 S.E.2d 752, 758 (2014). With these standards as guidance, we proceed to evaluate the arguments of the parties.