Opinion ID: 1825723
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The question calls for interpretation of the following provisions from the administrative procedure act:

Text: Any party may file an application for rehearing, stating the specific grounds therefor and the relief sought, within twenty days after the issuance of any final decision by the agency in a contested case. A copy of such application shall be timely mailed by the applicant to all parties of record not joining therein. Such an application for rehearing shall be deemed to have been denied unless the agency grants the application within twenty days after its filing. § 17A.16(2) (emphasis added). If a party files an application under section 17A.16, subsection 2, for rehearing with the agency, the petition for judicial review must be filed within thirty days after that application has been denied or deemed denied. § 17A.19(3) (emphasis added). Ford's difficulty stems from the fact that its application for rehearing was deemed denied under section 17A.16(2) before the agency's written denial was filed. But Ford ignored the deemed denied provision of the statute and paced its subsequent filing timetable from the date the written denial was filed. The dates were as follows: Ford's application for rehearing (under section 17A.16(2)) was filed March 22, 1978. By operation of the statute this application was deemed denied April 11, 1978, when it had not been ruled upon by the agency. Nevertheless, the agency filed a written denial of the application April 14, 1978. Under section 17A.19(3) Ford had 30 days in which to petition for judicial review. The statute states that the 30-day period begins to run when the application before the agency has been denied or deemed denied. Because the application before the agency was deemed denied April 11, the application for judicial review was due May 11, 1978. The trial court dismissed the proceeding because it was not filed until May 12, 1978.