Opinion ID: 1814557
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: presumption of validity of department opinion

Text: Appellants next assert that the district court erred in giving the Department's opinion a presumption of validity and therefore failed to apply the appropriate standard of review. This argument is without merit. Pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 84-917(5) (Reissue 1994), the district court's review of the decision of the Department is de novo on the record. Appellants cite Slack Nsg. Home v. Department of Soc. Servs., 247 Neb. 452, 528 N.W.2d 285 (1995), for the proposition that an administrative determination of a question of law is not entitled to a presumption of correctness or validity. In Dillard Dept. Stores v. Polinsky, 247 Neb. 821, 530 N.W.2d 637 (1995), however, we recognized that the de novo standard of review which must be applied by the district court when reviewing administrative agency decisions is not inconsistent with the proposition that a rebuttable presumption of validity attaches to the actions of administrative agencies. Therefore, the district court did not err in according a presumption of validity to the Department's determination.