Opinion ID: 4440979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶5 This Court's review of a dismissal for failure to state a claim is conducted de novo . Lockhart v. Loosen, 1997 OK 103 , ¶ 4, 943 P.2d 1074 , 1077; Washington v. State ex rel. Dep't of Corr., 1996 OK 139 , ¶ 7, 915 P.2d 359 , 361. Questions of statutory interpretation are pure questions of law and are reviewed de novo . Ward Petroleum Corp. v. Stewart , 2003 OK 11, ¶4, 64 P.3d 1113, 1115. ¶6 The fundamental rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to legislative intent, and that intent is first sought in the language of the statute. YDF, Inc. v. Schlumar, Inc., 2006 OK 32, ¶6, 136 P.3d 656, 658. If there is an ambiguity, we apply the rules of statutory construction. Id . Ambiguity exists if there is more than one reasonable interpretation. Id . In construing ambiguous statutory language . . . we look to the various provisions of the relevant legislative scheme to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent and the public policy underlying that intent. Id .