Opinion ID: 1929271
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bias, Prejudice, and Predisposition of the Board

Text: Gorham also contends that he was denied due process because of the Board's bias, prejudice, and predisposition against multi-unit dwellings. It is true that an applicant before an administrative board is entitled under the due process clause of the United States and Maine constitutions to a fair and unbiased hearing. See Mutton Hill Estates, Inc. v. Town of Oakland, 468 A.2d 989 (Me.1983). In Mutton Hill Estates we upheld, on due process grounds, the Superior Court's setting aside of a planning board denial of an application for approval of a subdivision. In that case, the board had invited admittedly biased opponents of the subdivision to participate in an ex parte session when the board made its findings of fact to support a denial of the application. Mutton Hill Estates, 468 A.2d at 992. In this case, to support his claim of a due process violation, Gorham relies on statements he alleges were made to him by the code enforcement officer, that the Board does not want two-family houses in Cape Elizabeth, and that you don't stand a prayer [on your application]. In addition, Gorham relies on statements made by various members of the Board at the public hearing on his application and during the Board's deliberations. [4] The statements of the code enforcement officer, who is not a member of the Board, do not demonstrate denial of due process to Gorham. The statements of the Board members themselves, contrary to Gorham's contention, do not reflect an unlawful bias or predisposition. Rather, the entire record indicates that Board members listened attentively, questioned witnesses, both for and against the petition, and discussed the evidence with a view toward making a sincere effort to fairly decide the issue before them. Prior to rendering its decision denying the application, the Board held three hearings (the matter was tabled at the first two), received and considered a number of documents submitted by both Gorham and opponents to his application, including reports from appraisers on the effect of the multi-family use of Gorham's residence on the property values of adjoining properties, and heard comments from a number of residents. At the close of the hearing, the Board openly deliberated before concluding that Gorham's application should be denied. The evidence is inadequate to support Gorham's contention that he was denied due process because of bias and predisposition. See Estate of Althenn v. Althenn, 609 A.2d 711, 714 (Me.1992) (to resist motion for summary judgment, party with burden of proof required to produce evidence sufficient to resist motion for directed verdict).