Opinion ID: 1574558
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether it was reversible error to dismiss Green's complaint.

Text: ¶ 33. The Commission dismissed Green's complaint for two reasons: (1) The statutory procedure under Mississippi Code Section 77-3-21 (Rev.2001) is the exclusive method for canceling a CCN. It requires a finding that a utility is not providing reasonably adequate service, a contention Green did not allege. (2) Because of the permissive language in the supplemental CCN, the Commission was not required to cancel it when sewer construction did not commence within six months. The chancellor used the same analysis in affirming the Commission. ¶ 34. `Substantial evidence means more than a scintilla or suspicion.' Miss. State Dep't of Health v. Baptist Mem'l Hosp.-Desoto, Inc., 984 So.2d 967, 975 n. 13 (Miss.2008) (quoting Miss. State Dep't of Health v. Natchez Cmty. Hosp., 743 So.2d 973, 977 (Miss.1999)). This court has defined arbitrary and capricious as follows: Arbitrary means fixed or done capriciously or at pleasure. An act is arbitrary when it is done without adequate determining principle; not done according to reason or judgment, but depending upon the will alone,  absolute in power, tyrannical, despotic, nonrational,  implying either a lack of understanding of or a disregard for the fundamental nature of things. Capricious means freakish, fickle, or arbitrary. An act is capricious when it is done without reason, in a whimsical manner, implying either a lack of understanding of or a disregard for the surrounding facts and settled controlling principles. Hill Bros. Constr., 909 So.2d at 70 (quoting In re Hous. Auth. of Salisbury, 235 N.C. 463, 70 S.E.2d 500, 503 (1952)). ¶ 35. Mississippi Code Section 77-3-21 (Rev.2001) allows the Commission to make findings on whether a utility is providing reasonably adequate service. Id. The Commission may order a utility to correct specified problems, and if the utility fails to do so, the Commission may revoke a CCN if it finds that revocation would be in the best interest of the consuming public. ... Id. This Court has held that this statutory process is the exclusive method for cancellation of CCNs. Delta Elec. Power Ass'n. v. Miss. Power & Light Co., 250 Miss. 482, 506-07, 149 So.2d 504, 511 (1963) (The statutory expression of one method for cancellation of certificates is justly to be construed as an exclusion of other methods). ¶ 36. The order granting the supplemental CCN stated, Construction on the proposed sewer system shall be commenced within six (6) months from the effective date of this Order or this Certificate may be canceled. (Emphasis added.) Rule 7A(4) of the Commission's rules allows the use of mandatory language requiring commencement within 180 days, leading to automatic voiding of a CCN if the deadline is not met. See Code Miss. R. XX-XXX-XXX. The Commission submits that it uses this mandatory provision when timing is crucial. Here, timing was not crucial, and the permissive language merely allowed the Commission to begin revocation proceedings if necessary. Green's arguments on this issue are without merit. ¶ 37. The rest of Green's argument against the dismissal is based on claims of the following: (1) an inadequate and improper notice of the 2000 supplemental CCN proceedings, (2) a taking of his property, and (3) false statements and concealment of facts by Cleary and the Commission and its staff. All these issues have been dealt with elsewhere in this opinion. Based on the analysis above, we find that the Commission did not commit reversible error in dismissing Green's complaint.