Court Opinion

ID: 9672074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:48:37.758682+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:14.183733
License: Public Domain

Russ Meeks, Special Justice, dissenting. The appellant Medical Board commenced this proceeding by issuing its Complaint and Notice of Hearing, the first sentence of which states that “The Arkansas State Medical Board has received information that you have been found guilty of acts which would justify the revocation or suspension of your license to practice medicine in the state of Arkansas.” The notice dated August 6, 1988, set forth a hearing date and advised appellee that the “Board will determine whether your license to practice medicine in the state of Arkansas should be revoked, suspended, or whether you should be subjected to any other disciplinary action.” These are the only available Board actions set forth in the Board’s own notice. The Board scheduled a hearing for September 22. Appellee filed a Complaint in the Chancery Court of Pulaski County on September 16. Appellant’s pleadings raised jurisdictional issues. On September 21, the Chancery Court entered an Order transferring the action to Circuit Court upon its own motion. The case was transferred to Circuit Court on September 21, 1988. On that same date, one day prior to the September 22 Medical Board hearing, the trial court entered an Order enjoining the appellant Medical Board “from holding any hearing regarding the Complaint and Notice of Hearing directed to Plaintiff or taking any further official action against the Plaintiff pursuant to the Complaint and Notice of Hearing previously issued by the Defendant Board, pending further order of this Court.” Appellant brings this appeal from the trial court’s Order. The trial court committed no error in holding that there was threat of injury to the appellee’s constitutionally protected rights. The majority correctly states the law as follows: The right of a physician to practice his profession and be afforded due process in situations involving the suspension or revocation of his professional license is well established as a protected interest. Missouri ex rel. Hurtwiz v. North, 271 U.S. 40 (1926). It is equally well established that in a suit brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a Court has not only the power but the duty to enjoin the threatened deprivation of rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. See, e.g., Goldie’s Bookstore, Inc. v. The Superior Court of the State of California, 739 F.2d 46, 47 (8th Cir. 1984) and Henry v. Greenville Airport Comm’n, 284 F.2d 631, 633 (4th Cir. 1960). Felder v. Casey, supra, grants to litigants their choice of bringing the § 1983 action in either Federal Court or State Court. Additionally, the trial court was correct in his Order providing for a limited remedy that would prohibit the Appellant Board from taking “any further official action against the Plaintiff pursuant to the Complaint and Notice of Hearing previously issued by the Defendant Board, pending further order of this Court.” The Order provides for the possibility of further court review, yet it does not preclude the Board from amending the Notice (previously issued) so as to cause it to be more specific; or, from issuing a new notice in a more specific form. For the above reasons, I would affirm. I am authorized to state that Justice Purtle joins in the dissent.