Opinion ID: 2789707
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: Summary judgment may be granted only when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and we therefore review grants of summary judgment de novo.10 In a review of agency action we substitute our judgment for that of the agency when interpreting the Alaska Constitution and deciding issues of law.11 But “[w]hen the interpretation of a statute or other question of law implicates ‘agency expertise as to complex matters or as to the formulation of fundamental policy,’ we defer to the agency’s interpretation so long as it has a ‘reasonable basis’ in the law.”12 If “a case may be fairly decided on statutory grounds or on an alternative basis, we will not address the constitutional issues.”13 When 10 Gilbert v. State, Dep’t of Fish & Game, Bd. of Fisheries, 803 P.2d 391, 394 (Alaska 1990) (citing Southeast Alaska Constr. Co. v. State, Dep’t of Transp., 791 P.2d 339, 342 (Alaska 1990); Grand v. Municipality of Anchorage, 753 P.2d 141, 143 n.3 (Alaska 1988)). 11 Alaska Fish & Wildlife Conservation Fund v. State, Dep’t of Fish & Game, Bd. of Fisheries, 289 P.3d 903, 907 (Alaska 2012) (citing Koyukuk River Basin Moose Co-Mgmt. Team v. Bd. of Game, 76 P.3d 383, 386 (Alaska 2003)). 12 Wilber v. State, Commercial Fisheries Entry Comm’n, 187 P.3d 460, 465 (Alaska 2008) (quoting Rose v. Commercial Fisheries Entry Comm’n, 647 P.2d 154, 161 (Alaska 1982)). 13 Id. (citing State, Dep’t of Health & Soc. Servs. v. Valley Hosp. Ass’n, 116 P.3d 580, 584 (Alaska 2005)). -5- 6992 a regulation is adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and the legislature intended to give the agency discretion, our review is limited to ascertaining whether the regulation is consistent with its authorizing statutory provisions and whether it is reasonable and not arbitrary.14