Court Opinion

ID: 2796505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-24 21:10:04.383751+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:10.162408
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                 January 2015 Term
                                                                        FILED
                                  _______________                    April 24, 2015
                                                                    released at 3:00 p.m.
                                                                  RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                   No. 14-0214                  SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                     OF WEST VIRGINIA
                                 _______________

                       PATRICIA S. REED, Commissioner

                 of the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles,

                          Respondent Below, Petitioner

                                        v.

                            JASON L. THOMPSON,

                          Petitioner Below, Respondent

      ____________________________________________________________

                 Appeal from the Circuit Court of Wayne County

                      The Honorable Darrell Pratt, Judge

                           Civil Action No. 13-P-038

                               AFFIRMED

       ___________________________________________________________

                             Submitted: April 8, 2015

                               Filed: April 24, 2015

Elaine L. Skorich, Esq.                      Jason L. Thompson
Office of the Attorney General               Pro Se
Charleston, West Virginia                    Kenova, West Virginia
Counsel for the Petitioner

JUSTICE KETCHUM delivered the Opinion of the Court.

JUSTICE LOUGHRY dissents and reserves the right to file a dissenting opinion.
                            SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

             “Administrative agencies and their executive officers are creatures of

statute and delegates of the Legislature. Their power is dependent upon statutes, so that

they must find within the statute warrant for the exercise of any authority which they

claim. They have no general or common-law powers but only such as have been

conferred upon them by law expressly or by implication.” Syl. Pt. 2, Mountaineer

Disposal Serv., Inc. v. Dyer, 156 W.Va. 766, 197 S.E.2d 111 (1973).

                                            i
Justice Ketchum:

               The Petitioner, Patricia S. Reed, Commissioner of the West Virginia

Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Wayne

County.1 The circuit court reviewed two final orders by the Office of Administrative

Hearings (“OAH”): (1) an original final order reversing the DMV’s revocation of Jason

L. Thompson’s (“Mr. Thompson’s”), driver’s license; and (2) a revised final order

reversing the original final order, and affirming the DMV’s revocation of Mr.

Thompson’s driver’s license.

               The circuit court found that the OAH had no authority to revoke its original

final order.       It also found that there was insufficient evidence showing that Mr.

Thompson was served with notice regarding the DMV’s motion requesting that the OAH

reconsider its original final order. Accordingly, the circuit court reversed the OAH’s

revised final order and reinstated the OAH’s original final order.

               Upon review, we affirm the circuit court’s order. We find that the OAH

had no authority under statute or its administrative rules to reconsider, revoke, or amend

its original final order.

               1
                Steven O. Dale was the Commissioner of the West Virginia DMV when
the facts giving rise to this appeal occurred. Pursuant to Rule 41(c) of the West Virginia
Rules of Appellate Procedure, the current Commissioner, Patricia S. Reed, has been
automatically substituted as the named petitioner herein.
                                             1

                                   I.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

              This dispute arises out of the DMV’s revocation of Mr. Thompson’s

driver’s license on June 8, 2012, because he was arrested and charged with DUI.2 Mr.

Thompson requested a hearing before the OAH to contest the DMV’s revocation of his

license. The OAH held two hearings as to whether he was guilty of DUI: one in October

2012 and another in February 2013. Both Mr. Thompson and the arresting officer

testified before the OAH.

              On May 16, 2013, the Chief Hearing Examiner of the OAH issued a final

order – what we call the “original final order” – reversing the DMV’s revocation of Mr.

Thompson’s driver’s license. In doing so, the OAH considered testimony from Mr.

Thompson and the arresting officer. The original final order noted that Mr. Thompson’s

story conflicted with that of the arresting officer. The OAH believed Mr. Thompson and

found that “[he] did not commit an offense involving [DUI]” because he was not driving

on the night in question. Pursuant to its obligation to resolve conflicts of testimony by a

“reasoned and articulate decision,” the OAH provided an explanation for why it found

Mr. Thompson’s testimony more credible.3 Mr. Thompson received a copy of the OAH’s

original final order (which effectively reinstated his driver’s license) on June 1, 2013.

              2
                 Mr. Thompson’s undisputed testimony was that the criminal charges
arising out of his arrest were dismissed.
              3
               See Syl. Pt. 6, in part, Muscatell v. Cline, 196 W.Va. 588, 474 S.E.2d 518
(1996) (“[An] agency may not elect one version of the evidence over the conflicting
version unless the conflict is resolved by a reasoned and articulate decision[.]”).
                                              2

              However, nine days after the original final order was issued, the DMV filed

a motion for reconsideration with the OAH requesting that it revoke the original final

order. According to the DMV, its motion for reconsideration was merely “a reiteration

of the argument provided in the [DMV’s] Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

Law” tendered after the revocation hearing. (Emphasis added). This motion did not state

any new facts or allege any newly discovered evidence or fraud in the OAH’s

proceedings. Mr. Thompson claims to have never received notice of the DMV’s motion

for reconsideration.

              On June 28, 2013, the OAH granted the DMV’s motion for reconsideration,

but it did not conduct a hearing on the matter. Likewise, the OAH issued a revised final

order, revoking its original final order (“revised final order”).       It stated, without

explanation, that the original final order was “legally deficient and erroneous.” The

revised final order did not allude to any newly discovered evidence or fraud in the entry

of its original final order. Rather, it concluded that “as a matter of law . . . [Mr.

Thompson] drove a motor vehicle . . . while under the influence of alcohol[,]” on the

ground that he failed to advise the arresting officer he was not driving on the night of his

arrest. The OAH’s revised final order effectively reinstated the DMV’s revocation of Mr.

Thompson’s driver’s license.

              Mr. Thompson appealed the OAH’s revised final order to the Circuit Court

of Wayne County.       The circuit court refrained from second-guessing the factual

determinations made by the OAH. Rather, the circuit court based its decision solely “on

the procedures following the [entry of the original] Final Order[.]” The circuit court

                                             3

found that the OAH had no statutory or regulatory authority to revoke its original final

order. The circuit court also found that there was nothing in the record and no evidence

showing that notice was sent to Mr. Thompson regarding the DMV’s motion for

reconsideration. Accordingly, the circuit court reversed the OAH’s revised final order

and reinstated the OAH’s original final order. In doing so, the circuit court effectively

reinstated Mr. Thompson’s license. The DMV appealed the circuit court’s order to this

Court.

                                      II.

                              STANDARD OF REVIEW

             In reviewing a final order of an administrative agency, we have held:

             Upon judicial review of a contested case under the West
             Virginia Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 29A, Article
             5, Section 4(g), the circuit court may affirm the order or
             decision of the agency or remand the case for further
             proceedings. The circuit court shall reverse, vacate or modify
             the order or decision of the agency if the substantial rights of
             the petitioner or petitioners have been prejudiced because the
             administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, decisions or
             order are: “(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory
             provisions; or (2) In excess of the statutory authority or
             jurisdiction of the agency; or (3) Made upon unlawful
             procedures; or (4) Affected by other error of law; or (5)
             Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative and
             substantial evidence on the whole record; or (6) Arbitrary or
             capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly
             unwarranted exercise of discretion.

Syl. Pt 2, Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Dep’t v. State ex rel. W.Va. Human Rights

Comm’n, 172 W.Va. 627, 309 S.E.2d 342 (1983).           Furthermore, “[o]n appeal of an

administrative order from a circuit court, this Court . . . reviews questions of law

                                            4

presented de novo; findings of fact by the administrative officer are accorded deference

unless the reviewing court believes the findings to be clearly wrong.”          Syl. Pt. 1,

Muscatell v. Cline, 196 W.Va. 588, 474 S.E.2d 518 (1996).

                                          III.

                                       ANALYSIS

              In 2010, the Legislature created the OAH and gave it power to hear appeals

of certain orders and decisions by the DMV. W.VA. CODE § 17C-5C-1 [2010]. The OAH

is authorized to conduct hearings over these matters consistent with the statutory

provisions in chapters 29A (“State Administrative Procedure Act”), 17B, and 17C of the

West Virginia Code.4 W.VA. CODE § 17C-5C-4 [2010]. At the time of the entry of the

revised final order, the OAH had not adopted any administrative rules as it was

authorized to do by West Virginia Code § 17C-5C-4a [2012]. See W.VA. C.S.R. § 105-1­

1 [2013] (setting July 1, 2013, as effective date of OAH’s administrative rules).

              The circuit court found that there was no statutory provision or

administrative rule granting the OAH the authority to reconsider, revoke, or amend its

original final order.5 Therefore, the OAH’s revised final order exceeded its statutory

authority. The DMV contends that the OAH may reconsider, revoke, or amend its

original final order, and therefore, the OAH’s revised final order was valid.

              4
               Chapter 17B governs driver’s licenses, and chapter 17C pertains to traffic
regulations and laws of the road.
              5
                The circuit court correctly refrained from applying the OAH’s
administrative rules, Title 105 of the West Virginia Code of State Rules, because the
OAH issued its revised order before its rules became effective.

                                             5

              This Court has held that an administrative agency may not exercise

authority which is not given to it expressly or impliedly in statute.

              Administrative agencies and their executive officers are
              creatures of statute and delegates of the Legislature. Their
              power is dependent upon statutes, so that they must find
              within the statute warrant for the exercise of any authority
              which they claim. They have no general or common-law
              powers but only such as have been conferred upon them by
              law expressly or by implication.

Syl. Pt. 2, Mountaineer Disposal Serv., Inc. v. Dyer, 156 W.Va. 766, 197 S.E.2d 111

(1973) (emphasis added). See also State ex rel. Hoover v. Berger, 199 W.Va. 12, 19, 483
S.E.2d 12, 19 (1996) (“An administrative agency . . . has no greater authority than

conferred under the governing statutes.”).

              An administrative agency’s reconsideration of its own final order before

judicial review is not valid unless the agency was given the authority under a statute or

administrative rule to do so. See Mustard v. City of Bluefield, 130 W.Va. 763, 766, 45
S.E.2d 326, 328 (1947) (holding that, in absence of specific authority in zoning ordinance

or in statute upon which ordinance was based, a board of adjustment had no power to

rehear and reconsider its final order).

              Whether an administrative agency has authority under a statute or

administrative rule to reconsider, revoke, or amend its final order entails a two-part

inquiry. See Atl. Greyhound Corp. v. Pub. Serv. Comm’n, 132 W.Va. 650, 659-61, 54
S.E.2d 169, 174-75 (1949).        The first question is whether an agency’s power to

reconsider its own final order is expressly or impliedly granted by statute. Id. at 659-660,

54 S.E.2d at 175. If not, the second inquiry is whether the following two conditions are

                                              6

met: (a) the Legislature granted the agency authority to adopt administrative rules of

procedure; and (b) the agency adopted an administrative rule allowing it to reconsider its

own final orders. Id. at 661, 54 S.E.2d 175. If an agency has authority to reconsider its

own final order under an administrative rule (as opposed to a statute), the scope of the

agency’s authority is strictly limited to what is contained in the rule. We have held:

              [An administrative agency], by rule based upon a statute
              which empowers it to prescribe rules of practice and
              procedure and the method and the manner of holding
              hearings, has the authority to grant, within the time and in the
              manner provided by such rule, a rehearing of a final order
              entered by the commission in a proceeding of which it has
              jurisdiction.

Syl. Pt. 1, Id., 132 W.Va. 650, 54 S.E.2d 169 (emphasis added).

              It is clear that the OAH had not been granted express statutory authority to

reconsider, revoke, or amend its original final order. While the Legislature has provided

that parties to an order by the OAH may appeal to the circuit court, no provision in the

West Virginia Code authorizes the OAH to reconsider, revoke, or amend its own orders.

See W.VA. CODE § 17C-5A-2(s) [2012].

              Furthermore, the OAH had no implied authority to reconsider, revoke, or

amend its original final order. In making this determination, an agency has only as much

authority as is necessary to execute its duties. Furthermore, this Court must presume that

the Legislature did not intend to confer upon the agency any greater authority than what

is clearly indicated in statutory language. We have held:

              Although an express grant of powers will be determined to
              include such other powers as are necessarily or reasonably
              incident to the powers granted, the powers should not be

                                             7
             extended by implication beyond what may be necessary for
             their just and reasonable execution. When a court is asked to
             find implied powers in a grant of legislative or executive
             authority it must assume that the lawmakers intended to place
             no greater restraint on the liberties of a citizen than was
             clearly and unmistakenly indicated by the language they used.

McDaniel v. W.Va. Div. of Labor, 214 W.Va. 719, 727, 591 S.E.2d 277, 285 (2003)

(quoting Walter v. Richie, 156 W.Va. 98, 108, 191 S.E.2d. 275, 281 (1972)) (citation and

quotations omitted) (emphasis added).

             We have recognized limited circumstances in which an agency’s implied

authority allows it to reconsider, revoke, or amend its own final order.        See Atl.

Greyhound Corp., 132 W.Va. at 660, 54 S.E.2d at 175 (an agency has authority to

reconsider its final order when it has continuing jurisdiction over the matter). See also

Lane v. U.S. of Am. ex rel. Mickadiet, 241 U.S. 201, 209 (1916) (agency had an implied

right to reconsider its final order in cases of newly discovered evidence, fraud, or when

agency controls matter to which the order relates).6 This appeal does not involve any of

these narrow circumstances.

             Lastly, an administrative agency may have authority to reconsider, revoke,

or amend its own final order when authorized to do so by its administrative rules. There

were no administrative rules which applied to the OAH when it reconsidered its original

final order in June 2013. Starting July 1, 2013, Rule 105-1-18.1 of the West Virginia

Code of State Rules provides that the OAH may reconsider its own final order when there

             6
              An example of an agency controlling the matter to which the order relates
is Native American land in the hands of the Department of the Interior. See generally
Lane, 241 U.S. 201.

                                           8

is a “clerical or administrative error.” The rule contains several examples of “clerical or

administrative error[s],” including typos, failure to consider relevant evidence, or a

failure to rule on a pending motion. W.VA. C.S.R. § 105-1-18.1 [2013].

              The OAH reconsidered its original final order before its administrative

rules became effective, and therefore, the OAH did not derive authority from its

administrative rules to do so.7 Accordingly, the OAH had no expressed or implied

authority under statute or its administrative rules to reconsider, revoke, or amend its

original final order. Being a creature of statute, the OAH’s reconsideration of its original

final order is invalid if not supported by some grant of statutory or regulatory authority.

              Our holding does not mean that an aggrieved party to an order by the OAH

is without recourse. West Virginia Code § 17C-5A-2 provides that both the driver and

the Commissioner are entitled to judicial review and may appeal to the circuit court as

provided in the West Virginia Administrative Procedure Act. See W.VA. CODE § 29A-5-4

(1998). Accordingly, the DMV should have appealed to the circuit court rather than

requesting the OAH to exceed its statutory authority by revoking its original final order.

                                         IV.

                                     CONCLUSION

              For the reasons set forth herein, the circuit court was correct in finding that

the OAH was without authority under statute or its administrative rules to reconsider,

              7
               We do not consider in this appeal whether the OAH’s administrative rules
would have given it authority to reconsider its original final order had it done so after its
administrative rules became effective.
                                              9

revoke, or amend its original final order.8 Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court’s

order reinstating the OAH’s original final order, and in turn, Mr. Thompson’s driver’s

license.

                                                                                Affirmed.

             8
                Because we find that the OAH did not have the authority to revoke,
reconsider, or amend its original final order, we do not need to address whether there was
sufficient evidence to show that the DMV provided Mr. Thompson with notice regarding
its motion for reconsideration.
                                           10