Opinion ID: 1677397
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Toll Charges

Text: As noted earlier, in determining that the son receives inadequate service, the PSC relied in part on the son's testimony that members of his community of interest do not call him because of the toll charges they would incur. Diller Telephone urges that the evidence on this issue was purely speculative and, as such, does not support the PSC's findings. One difficulty with Diller Telephone's contention is that it did not object to the son's testimony in this regard. Whatever may be the PSC's relaxed rules of evidence, In re Application of Overland Armored Exp., 229 Neb. 524, 530, 428 N.W.2d 166, 170 (1988), if, when inadmissible evidence is offered, the party against whom such evidence is offered consents to its introduction, or fails to object or to insist upon a ruling on the objection to introduction of such evidence, and otherwise fails to raise the question as to its admissibility, that party is considered to have waived whatever objection he or she may have had thereto, and the evidence is in the record for consideration the same as other evidence, In re Interest of L.H. et al., 241 Neb. 232, 487 N.W.2d 279 (1992), and Griffith v. Griffith, 230 Neb. 314, 431 N.W.2d 609 (1988). Thus, the question is merely one of credibility of the witnesses and the weight it should be given. The credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony were for the PSC as the trier of fact. See, Douglas Cty. Health Dept. Emp. Assn. v. Douglas Cty., 229 Neb. 301, 427 N.W.2d 28 (1988); City of Omaha v. Omaha Police Union Local 101, 222 Neb. 197, 382 N.W.2d 613 (1986). It must be kept in mind that determinations by the PSC are a matter peculiarly within its expertise and involve a breadth of judgment and policy determination that will not be disturbed by an appellate court in the absence of a showing that the action of the PSC was arbitrary or unreasonable. In re Application of Northwestern Bell Tel. Co., 218 Neb. 563, 357 N.W.2d 443 (1984); In re Application of ATS Mobile Telephone, 213 Neb. 403, 330 N.W.2d 123 (1983). The striking of the balance between the competing interests of legitimate competition and the protection of the public interest is a matter of legislative and administrative determination peculiarly resting in the judgment of the PSC. Id. Where the question is one of the competency of evidence, see part II above, the issue on appeal is whether the PSC's decision was arbitrary and capricious. Arbitrary action has been defined by this court, with reference to administrative agencies, as action taken in disregard of the facts or circumstances of the case, without some basis which would lead a reasonable and honest person to the same conclusion. Wagner v. City of Omaha, 236 Neb. 843, 464 N.W.2d 175 (1991). See, In re Application A-16642, 236 Neb. 671, 463 N.W.2d 591 (1990); Percival v. Department of Correctional Servs., 233 Neb. 508, 446 N.W.2d 211 (1989). The record on its face must reflect an adequate basis from which the PSC can base its decision. See In re Application of Northwestern Bell Tel. Co., supra. A capricious decision is one guided by fancy rather than by judgment or settled purpose; such a decision is apt to change suddenly; it is freakish, whimsical, humorsome. In re Application A-16642, supra. An agency's judgment must be based on a factual foundation and must give due consideration to all the essential elements involved. Godden v. Department of Public Welfare, 193 Neb. 269, 226 N.W.2d 627 (1975). If there is evidence to sustain the findings of the PSC, an appellate court cannot substitute its judgment for that of the commission. In re Application of Northwestern Bell Tel. Co., supra; In re Application of ATS Mobile Telephone, supra . The evidence, as detailed in part III above, is overwhelming that the son's community of interest is in Plymouth. Despite the conditional wording of the PSC's finding that [i]f [members of an applicant's community of interest] do not call because of the toll charges, then the service received by the applicant is not adequate, the fair import of the finding is that calls to the son are hampered because of the toll charges.