Opinion ID: 1957598
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: Our review of this case is enabled by Md.Code (1984, 2004 Repl. Vol.), § 10-222 of the State Government Article, which provides in relevant part as follows: (h) Decision.  In a proceeding under this section, the court may: (1) remand the case for further proceedings; (2) affirm the final decision; or (3) reverse or modify the decision if any substantial right of the petitioner may have been prejudiced because a finding, conclusion, or decision: (i) is unconstitutional; (ii) exceeds the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the final decision maker; (iii) results from an unlawful procedure; (iv) is affected by any other error of law; (v) is unsupported by competent, material, and substantial evidence in light of the entire record as submitted; or (vi) is arbitrary or capricious. In undertaking judicial review, the [c]ircuit [c]ourt is limited to determining whether there was substantial evidence on the record as a whole to support the agency's findings of fact and whether the agency's conclusions of law were correct. Motor Vehicle Admin. v. Atterbeary, 368 Md. 480, 490-91, 796 A.2d 75, 81 (2002) (alterations added); United Parcel Service, Inc. v. People's Counsel for Baltimore County, 336 Md. 569, 577, 650 A.2d 226, 230 (1994). [W]e reevaluate the decision of the agency under the same statutory standards as would the circuit court, and we do not employ those standards to reevaluate the decision of the circuit or intermediate appellate court. Charles County Dep't of Social Servs. v. Vann, 382 Md. 286, 294, 855 A.2d 313, 318 (2004). See Spencer v. Maryland State Bd. of Pharmacy, 380 Md. 515, 523-24, 846 A.2d 341, 346 (2004); Division of Labor v. Triangle General Contractors, Inc., 366 Md. 407, 416, 784 A.2d 534, 539 (2001); Dep't of Health v. Campbell, 364 Md. 108, 123, 771 A.2d 1051, 1060 (2001) (noting that it is the final decision at the administrative level, not the decision of the previously reviewing court, which is the focus of each level of judicial review). Our review is narrowly focused and we do not substitute our judgment for the expertise of those persons who constitute the administrative agency from which the appeal is taken. Bernstein v. Real Estate Comm'n. of Md., 221 Md. 221, 230, 156 A.2d 657, 662 (1959) (footnote omitted), appeal dismissed, 363 U.S. 419, 80 S.Ct. 1257, 4 L.Ed.2d 1515 (1960); Bulluck v. Pelham Wood Apartments, 283 Md. 505, 513, 390 A.2d 1119, 1124 (1978); United Parcel Service, Inc., 336 Md. at 576-77, 650 A.2d at 230. As we explained many years ago in Bernstein: Generally, when the entire record shows that the findings of fact and conclusions of law are supported by competent, material and substantial evidence taken before the agency and such de novo evidence, if any, as may be taken by the court, and such findings and conclusions are not against the weight of such evidence, it is the function of the court to affirm the order of the agency or remand the case for further proceedings if that be necessary. On the other hand, if the court should find that the substantial rights of a petitioner for review have been prejudiced, by one or more of the causes specified in § [10-222 of the State Government Article], because of an administrative finding, inference, conclusion or decision, then it is the function of the court to reverse or modify the order. 221 Md. at 230, 156 A.2d at 662 (alteration added).