Opinion ID: 2809702
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reversal of the Deemed Denial

Text: The WSSC argues that the Circuit Court’s scope of review of the “deemed denial” of Lafarge’s refund claim was limited to determining whether there was substantial evidence in the record to support the denial. According to the WSSC, upon finding a lack of substantial evidence, the Circuit Court did not have then the authority to engage in its own factual inquiry whether Lafarge was entitled to a refund. The agency argues that the Circuit Court was authorized only to remand the case to the WSSC to engage in a factfinding hearing and issue an appropriate decision based on the evidence, i.e., the court should order a “do-over,” with the potential that the WSSC could deny the claim altogether. Although the WSSC states correctly the general standard of judicial review of agency decisions, it misunderstands (conveniently) the intent of the Legislature’s codification of PUA § 25-106 and how the courts may carry-out best that intent. The WSSC’s refund process, and the Circuit Court’s authority to review refund actions (or failures to act resulting in a final denial decision by operation of law) of the WSSC, derives from PUA § 25-106. Our primary goal when interpreting statutes is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the Legislature. Williams v. Peninsula Reg’l Med. Ctr., 440 Md. 573, 580, 103 A.3d 658, 663 (2014); Johnson v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore City, 387 Md. 1, 11, 874 A.2d 439, 445 (2005); Witte v. Azarian, 369 Md. 518, 525, 801 A.2d 160, 165 (2002). We look first to the text of the statute, and “[i]f the language of the statute is unambiguous and clearly consistent with the statute’s apparent purpose, our inquiry as to legislative intent ends ordinarily and we apply the statute as written, without resort to other rules of construction.” Lockshin v. Semsker, 412 Md. 257, 14 275, 987 A.2d 18, 28-29 (2010); accord Bost v. State, 406 Md. 341, 350, 958 A.2d 356, 361 (2008) (citing Ishola v. State, 404 Md. 155, 160, 945 A.2d 1273, 1276 (2008)); Moore v. State, 388 Md. 446, 453, 879 A.2d 1111, 1114 (2005). PUA § 25-106 makes clear that the Legislature intended for refund claims to be investigated and decided within 180 days from the filing of the claim. If the WSSC falls short of this benchmark, the resultant deemed denial of the claim by operation of law is subject to judicial review. The relevant portions of PUA § 25-106 provide: (b) Claims. — (1) A person may file a written claim with the Commission, in a form and containing the information and supporting documents required by the Commission, for a refund of the amount of a fee or charge the person paid to the Commission that exceeds the amount that is properly and legally payable.