Opinion ID: 2627219
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: THE DISTRICT COURT LACKED JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER DUE SOUTH'S LIABILITY FOR VIOLATING SECTIONS 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) AND 32A-10-206

Text: ¶ 18 The district court inappropriately held Due South liable for violations of Utah Code sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) and 32A-10-206 during the SIP operation because the Commission acquitted Due South of violating these two statutes during the SIP operation and the DABC did not appeal that ruling. ¶ 19 The Commission's final order concluded that the DABC failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that any of the patrons observed during the SIP operation had been supplied with alcoholic beverages after becoming intoxicated. Accordingly, it found no violation of sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) or 32A-10-206 during the SIP operation, but did find Due South liable for violating section 32A-12-216. On appeal, the district court took evidence as to whether Due South violated sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) or 32A-10-206 during the SIP operation and concluded that it had. ¶ 20 The district court lacked jurisdiction to consider whether Due South violated sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) and 32A-10-206 during the SIP operation because the DABC did not appeal the Commission's conclusion regarding these violations. In fact, in the answer to Due South's petition for judicial review, the DABC expressly requested that the Commission's order be affirmed. Because the DABC did not appeal whether sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) or 32A-10-206 were violated during the SIP operation, the district court erred in taking evidence and considering whether these statutes were violated. ¶ 21 Moreover, we are troubled by the constitutional implications of what occurred. Violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act carry criminal penalties. [16] For this reason, provisions of the Utah Criminal Code relating to principles of construction, jurisdiction, venue, limitations of actions, multiple prosecutions, double jeopardy, burdens of proof, definitions, principles of criminal responsibility, punishments, and inchoate offenses apply to any criminal offense defined in this title, except as otherwise provided. [17] Section 76-1-403(2) clarifies that in the context of criminal liability, [t]here is an acquittal if the prosecution resulted in a finding of not guilty by the trier of facts or in a determination that there was insufficient evidence to warrant conviction. [18] In his final report, the hearing officer concluded that the DABC failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that any [patron] was supplied with alcoholic beverages after any of them became intoxicated. The Commission's conclusion that Due South did not violate sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) or 32A-10-206 during the SIP operation amounts to an acquittal, and the district court erred by placing Due South in jeopardy a second time for the alleged violation of these statutes. ¶ 22 Because the district court lacked jurisdiction to consider sections 32A-5-107(24)(h)(ii) or 32A-10-206 in connection with the SIP operation, we do not address either of these statutes in connection with any of the remaining issues raised by Due South.