Opinion ID: 1315909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: This proceeding involves an appeal by DMV of a circuit court order reversing a final revocation order of the administrative agency. The standard a circuit court is to apply when reviewing an administrative agency order was set forth in syllabus point two of Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Dept. v. State ex rel. State of West Virginia Human Rights Com'n, 172 W.Va. 627, 309 S.E.2d 342 (1983), as follows: Upon judicial review of a contested case under the West Virginia Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 29A, Article 5, Section 4(g), the circuit court may affirm the order or decision of the agency or remand the case for further proceedings. The circuit court shall reverse, vacate or modify the order or decision of the agency if the substantial rights of the petitioner or petitioners have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, decisions or order are: (1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; or (2) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; or (3) Made upon unlawful procedures; or (4) Affected by other error of law; or (5) Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole record; or (6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion. In the pending case, the lower court reversed the order of the administrative agency on the ground that the revocation was clearly wrong in view of the evidence. Our review of a circuit court's decision involving an administrative agency order proceeds under the standard announced in Muscatell v. Cline, 196 W.Va. 588, 474 S.E.2d 518 (1996). In syllabus point one of Muscatell we held that [o]n appeal of an administrative order from a circuit court, this Court is bound by the statutory standards contained in W.Va.Code § 29A-5-4(a) and reviews questions of law presented de novo; findings of fact by the administrative officer are accorded deference unless the reviewing court believes the findings to be clearly wrong. This deference extends to evidentiary findings made at administrative hearings. Syl. Pt. 1, Francis O. Day Co., Inc. v. Director, Div. Of Envtl. Protec., 191 W.Va. 134, 443 S.E.2d 602 (1994) (Evidentiary findings made at an administrative hearing should not be reversed unless they are clearly wrong.). We undertake our review with these parameters in mind.