Court Opinion

ID: 9657697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 20:34:54.121739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:47.707430
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Chief Justice
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I respectfully dissent on Issue III reversing the determination by the Board that exigent circumstances existed.
As the majority holds, the Board’s definition of the term “exigent circumstances” was in harmony with legislative intent and within the realm of its authority. The majority goes on to specifically hold that the Board’s factual findings supporting its conclusion that exigent circumstances existed are not clearly erroneous BUT then holds that because “mixed law-fact” questions exist, we review de novo. I disagree!
I do not see a “mixed law-fact” question. The facts support the Board’s conclusions that “the cumulative impact of the Fryers’ ages, the psychological stress of the breakdown of the relationship with Mr. Johnson, the economic stress of Mr. Johnson’s lawsuit against the Fryers, and the congestive heart failure of Mr. Fryer constitutes exigent circumstances under SDCL 46-5-26.” The trial court and majority have so stated. Where is the mixed question? Rios v. S.D. Dept. of Social Services, 420 N.W.2d 757, 759 (S.D.1988); Permann v. Dept. of Labor, Unemp. Ins. D., 411 N.W.2d 113, 118-19 (S.D.1987); United States v. McConney, 728 F.2d 1195 (9th Cir.), cert. denied 469 U.S. 824, 105 S.Ct. 101, 83 L.Ed.2d 46 (1984); 2 S. Childress & M. Davis Standards of Review § 17.2, at 335-36 (1986).
The majority holds: “their circumstances did not encumber their ability to apply for an extension within the five year construction period”; “the exigent circumstances identified by the Board did not prevent the Fryers from promptly attending to their business affairs”; “these circumstances in no manner prevented or inhibited the Fryers from applying for a construction extension prior to July 29, 1986”; and “the circumstances of the Fryers simply do not justify their failure to file for an extension within the original five year construction period.”
I respectfully suggest that the foregoing quotations upon which the majority bases its reversal of the Board and trial court, *916are factual, not legal, determinations. If the factual findings of the Board are not clearly erroneous (and majority concedes they are not!) we should not make our own factual determinations in an attempt to overrule a result we do not like or agree with. Matter of State & City Sales Tax Liability, 437 N.W.2d 209 (S.D.1989); Sharp v. Sharp, 422 N.W.2d 443 (S.D.1988); Strackbein v. Fall River Cty. Hwy. Dept., 416 N.W.2d 270 (S.D.1987); Barkdull v. Homestake Min. Co., 411 N.W.2d 408 (S.D.1987).