Opinion ID: 2632272
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Violation of Due Process Rights

Text: Winston also alleges his due process rights were violated. Relief for this allegation is provided pursuant to K.S.A. 77-621(c)(1). Winston first alleges that SRS's failure to follow its own internal procedures deprived him of his right to due process. We need not address this argument because we have determined that SRS followed its prescribed procedures. Secondly, Winston contends his due process rights were violated when he did not receive notice that civil proceedings had been instituted against him and was not given an opportunity to be heard prior to SRS rendering its findings of substantiation and validation for the alleged abuse of D.W. This court has set forth the standard for evaluating a procedural due process claim on numerous occasions: The basic elements of procedural due process are notice and an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. Kennedy v. Board of Shawnee County Comm'rs, 264 Kan. 776, 797-98, 958 P.2d 637 (1998). In reviewing a procedural due process claim the court must first determine whether a protected liberty or property interest is involved and, if it is, the court must then determine the nature and extent of the process which is due. [ Murphy, 260 Kan. at 598.] A due process violation can be established only if the claimant is able to establish that he or she was denied a specific procedural protection to which he or she is entitled. The question of the procedural protection that must accompany a deprivation of a particular property right or liberty interest is resolved by a balancing test, weighing (1) the individual interest at stake, (2) the risk of erroneous deprivation of the interest through the procedures used and the probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards, and (3) the State's interest in the procedures used, including the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional or substitute procedures would entail. Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 335, 47 L. Ed.2d 18, 96 S. Ct. 893 (1976); Murphy, 260 Kan. at 598-99. The question of what process is due in a given case is a question of law. 260 Kan. 589, Syl. ¶ 2. State v. Wilkinson, 269 Kan. 603, 608-09, 9 P.3d 1 (2000). SRS contends Winston did not have a protected property interest, i.e., Winston's medical practice as a cardiothoracic surgeon would not be affected by a validation, although it recognized he may have had a protected liberty interest. SRS asserts, however, that after balancing the interests involved, Winston received the level of due process to which he was entitled. In order to determine whether the substantiation and validation by SRS deprived Winston of a particular property right or liberty interest, a definition of the terms involved is necessary. An incident of abuse or neglect is substantiated if there is enough evidence that a reasonable person could conclude that an alleged incident of child abuse or neglect occurred, using the more likely than not standard. See K.A.R. 30-46-10(d). A person is substantiated as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect if a report of abuse or neglect is substantiated and there is enough evidence, using the more likely than not standard, that a reasonable person could conclude who was responsible. See K.A.R. 30-46-10(e). (f) `Validated' means a determination by the department of social and rehabilitation services that a substantiated perpetrator poses a danger to children and should not be permitted to operate, reside in, be employed by, or volunteer in a home or facility for the care of children licensed under provisions of article 5 of chapter 65 of the Kansas statutes annotated. K.A.R. 30-46-10(f). SRS has established criteria for validating perpetrators. A person who meets these criteria is validated and his or her name is entered into the Kansas Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry. PPM Section 2324. The definitions of these terms accompany the notice sent to confirmed perpetrators. Winston alleges he was deprived of a protected liberty interest. He appears to contend that his protected liberty interest is his ability to freely maintain or work in a child care facility and to avoid the stigma which would accompany his name erroneously being placed on the statewide registry. This court has recognized that a liberty interest may be deprived without due process if the person's standing in the community is damaged, if his or her reputation, honor, or integrity are called into question, or if a stigma or other disability attaches that infringes upon his freedom to obtain employment. Kansas Racing Management, Inc. v. Kansas Racing Comm'n, 244 Kan. 343, 356, 770 P.2d 423 (1989); Sinclair v. Schroeder, 225 Kan. 3, 9, 586 P.2d 683 (1978). Because validation involves listing an individual on the Kansas Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry and prohibits him or her from being employed, operating, residing, or volunteering in a child care facility, a protected liberty interest is involved. Thus, this court must determine whether the process afforded Winston was sufficient to comply with due process of law. K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 75-3306 provides any interested party a method of appealing decisions and final actions of SRS agents and employees. SRS has further set forth the procedures for appeal in K.A.R. 30-7-64 et seq. SRS regulations do not specifically provide that an alleged perpetrator must be given notice prior to substantiation or validation. The regulations only require that an alleged perpetrator be provided an opportunity to be interviewed before being validated. See K.A.R. 30-46-13. Notice is only required when SRS renders a decision to validate a perpetrator. K.A.R. 30-46-15. The notice must be in writing, include the reasons for the finding, and inform the confirmed perpetrator of his or her right to appeal the decision. K.A.R. 30-46-15. Thus, under SRS regulations, notice is not specifically mandated prior to validation. The district court held that Winston received due process under the procedures employed. The district judge reasoned that the action which could cause damage to Winston's reputation, being listed in the registry, would not occur until Winston exhausted his appeals or failed to exercise his right to take part in the appeals process. See K.A.R. 30-46-16. He noted that Winston had full disclosure of the SRS investigative file, had subpoena power, conducted discovery, and had a full evidentiary hearing. This reasoning is logical. This is not, as Winston seems to contend, a case in which the later proceedings are being evaluated to determine whether Winston received due process overall. Instead, this is a case in which the deprivation of the liberty interest did not occur until Winston exhausted his appeals or failed to appeal SRS's finding. Until there is interference with a liberty interest, there is no guarantee of due process. See Murphy, 260 Kan. at 598. As long as Winston was provided notice and an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner before his liberty interest was abridged, due process requirements have been met. Winston was given ample notice of his right to appeal SRS's decision and ample opportunity to tell his side of the events and to put forth witnesses in his favor. Placement on the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry would not occur until Winston had been provided notice and an opportunity to be heard. K.A.R. 30-46-16. Compare Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 42 L. Ed.2d 725, 95 S. Ct. 729 (1975) (10 day suspension of students without a hearing violated due process). In terms of the balancing test, the individual interest at stake prior to being listed in the Kansas Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry is arguably little. The validation and substantiation of Winston does not infringe upon his liberty interest until he has exhausted his appeals. If he had not appealed, his liberty interest would not have been infringed until he failed to exercise his right to appeal. The risk of erroneous deprivation of the interest is also minimal because SRS is required to use the more likely than not standard in determining whether an individual should be substantiated, and there is little interest at stake regarding a substantiation. The State's interest, however, is great in terms of its need to address the issue quickly and efficiently. Therefore, Winston's due process rights have not been violated.