Court Opinion

ID: 9773776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:58:01.232521+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:57.249457
License: Public Domain

CONCURRING OPINION BY
Judge SIMPSON.
Although I agree with the result reached by the majority, I write separately to offer a refined analysis of the procedural due process issue resulting from the failure of the Bureau to provide immediate notification of the age compliance check, as required by regulation.
The majority writer states: “Where specifically provided for and expressly mandated without exception, due process protections are not optional.” Majority Op. at 668. While this statement is true, it is not the end of the analysis. To support a remedy, the petitioner must also demonstrate prejudice. State Dental Council & Examining Bd. v. Pollock, 457 Pa. 264, 818 A.2d 910 (1974) (demonstrable prejudice is a key factor in assessing whether procedural due process was denied).
When confronted with a claim of procedural due process deprivation, this Court undertakes a Mathews analysis, following the guidance of the United States Supreme Court in Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976). This approach was recently applied in In re McGlynn, 974 A.2d 525 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2009), Pennsylvania Bankers Association v. Department of Banking, 981 A.2d 975 (Pa.Cmwlth.2009), and Messina v. East Penn Township, 995 A.2d 517 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2010) {en banc). Essential to the analysis is whether the process afforded was such as to create a risk of erroneous deprivation of a protected interest.
Undertaking a Mathews analysis here, I conclude that the lack of- immediate notice created a risk of erroneous deprivation of Licensee’s interest in keeping its liquor license. In particular, the lack of immediate notice interfered with Licensee’s ability to preserve evidence relating to the age violation. The risk of erroneous deprivation of a protected interest outweighs any burden on the Bureau associated with giving immediate notice. In short, after a Mathews.analysis, I concur with the result.