Court Opinion

ID: 9592644
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:15:58.745891+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:17.073720
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Surrogate Judge,
dissenting.
The majority opinion, here, is loaded with discussions of, and answers to, many legal questions which I would enthusiastically use in any appropriate circumstance. Unfortunately, in this case I think that they are entirely hypothetical and, for the good of the judicial system, we should try to avoid pitfalls that abound when we evaluate principles that have only, at best, incidental relativity to controlling issues before the court.
The jugular vein in this dispute was made obvious to me when, during oral argument, counsel responded to my question as to whether a hearing officer can decline to recommend the grant of a certificate of need when the applicant has failed to supply “essential facts” to support the issuance of a certificate of need. I heard no objection, from any counsel, to my question nor to the answer given. Why would an opponent to the grant of the certificate ever urge the applicant to supply those “essentials” and thus become qualified?
Ordinarily, when an applicant for a driver’s license refuses to demonstrate that he or she can drive, the examiner’s role is clearly to deny the license — not to arm-wrestle the applicant. If it were true in this case, as it is claimed, that the certificate of need could not have been granted without the subpoenaed “essential” documents, a summary rejection of the application would have ended the matter. Complicity in the behind-the-scenes disputes in the Minot hospital wars should be avoided by the State Health Council, by the independent hearing officer and by this court.
I would dismiss all appeals.