Campbell v. Chatwin

421 P.2d 937, 4 Ariz. App. 504, 1966 Ariz. App. LEXIS 527
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedDecember 29, 1966
DocketNos. 1 CA-CIV 485, 1 CA-CIV 486, 1 CA-CIV 488
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 421 P.2d 937 (Campbell v. Chatwin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campbell v. Chatwin, 421 P.2d 937, 4 Ariz. App. 504, 1966 Ariz. App. LEXIS 527 (Ark. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

STEVENS, Chief Judge.

The questions before us relate to the jurisdiction of the Superior Court to entertain the judicial review of orders entered by the Arizona Highway Department. The orders suspended drivers’ licenses and motor vehicle registrations following accident and suspending a drivers’ license by reason of frequency of conviction of serious traffic offenses. The plaintiffs in the Superior Court who are the real parties in interest in this Court sought judicial review without first requesting a hearing before the Administrative Agency. It is our judgment that the three separate petitions pending before us should be resolved in a single opinion. The matters will be identified by reference to the names of the real parties in interest as they appear in the caption of this opinion.

Mr. and Mrs. Raíble owned an automobile which was licensed in Arizona. Both held Arizona driver’s licenses. On 4 December 1965, Mrs. Raíble was involved in an accident while driving the Raíble car which was not insured. Based v,pon reports received in the Financial Responsibility Branch of the Arizona Highway Department, the Director of the Branch estimated that the damages were $900. On 19 January 1966, the Director prepared and sent a separate official notice to each Mr. and Mrs. Raíble. Both notices required the posting of security in the sum of $900 on or before 31 January 1966. The notice to Mr. Raíble provided that, failing to post such security, the registration of the motor vehicle would be suspended. The notice to Mrs. Raíble stated that, failing to post the security, the registration of the vehicle would be suspended as would her driver’s license. The file does not reflect the date that either Mr. or Mrs. Raible received their respective notices. The notices did not expressly advise that the addressee had a right to demand an Administrative hearing. Neither party requested an Administrative hearing. On 1 February 1966, they filed suit in the Superior Court for Maricopa County and secured a trial court order, without notice, staying the suspensions until further order of the court.

Gaumer was involved in an accident on 14 December 1965. His car was not insured. The Director determined the damages to be $154. Under date of 8 Febru[506]*506ary 1966, the Director gave notice to Gaumer that if he failed to post security, his vehicular registration and driver’s license would be suspended on 21 February 1966. The record does not reflect the date that Gaumer received this notice. The notice did not advise Gaumer of his right to ask for an Administrative hearing. Gaumer did not ask for a hearing, and on 23 February 1966, he filed suit in the Superior Court for Maricopa County. He, likewise, secured a stay without notice.

On IS June 1966, the Drivers’ License Bureau, Motor Vehicle Division, State Highway Department, without prior notice, issued its order suspending Ryan’s privileges,

“ * * * to operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this State and any and all operators’ and chauffeurs’ licenses issued evidencing such privilege * * * effective DATE OF RECEIPT.
“The suspension will remain in effect for a minimum period of ONE (1) YEAR beginning from the date of surrender of licenses as herein demanded.”

The order further advised Ryan:

“As early as practical, within not to exceed twenty (20) days after receipt of a request from you for a hearing such hearing will be held in Maricopa County to determine whether this suspension shall be rescinded, modified, or affirmed.”

The order contained a further recitation as to the reason for its issuance:

“IT APPEARING From the records of this Division that the herein named person has been convicted with such frequency of serious offenses against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway.”

Ryan received the order on 21 June 1966. He did not request an Administrative hearing and in lieu thereof he filed an action in the Superior Court for Maricopa County on 28 June 1966. By order of the Superior Court, issued without notice, his license was restored to him pending the decision of the court. The trial court orders of stay and restoration were issued by judges other than those named as the respondent herein. In each of the Superior Court complaints there was a request for a trial de novo.

The petitioner herein appeared in each of the Superior Court actions. In the Gaumer and Ryan cases, a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust the administrative remedies was filed. In Raible, no such motion was filed, but the lack of jurisdiction by reason of failure to exhaust the Administrative remedies was urged at the trial. The motions which were filed were denied, the court proceeded to the trial in the Raible matter and it thereby appears that the Superior Court assumed jurisdiction to hear each of the cases on their merits on a trial de novo. The Ryan case was set for trial, but the trial date was postponed pending the decision of this Court.

The Raible and Gaumer matters were tried in successive short court trials. The evidence disclosed that the respective parties, while not being insured at the time of the accident, were insured at the time of trial and further disclosed the circumstances surrounding each accident as well as estimates as to the damages sustained. The record reveals that, upon the advice of counsel, the parties did not request an Administrative hearing. In both the Raible and Gaumer cases, the trial judge entered the following order:

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this cause is referred back to the Highway Department for hearing pursuant to the Administrative Remedies.”

The petitioner herein seeks to prohibit the trial of the Ryan case and seeks to prohibit the enforcement of the above order in the Raible and Gaumer matters.

In Roer v. Superior Court, 4 Ariz.App. 46, 417 P.2d 559 (1966), we stated:

“The law is well established in Arizona that judicial review of administrative decisions does not lie as a matter of right, [507]*507'save and except in those situations wherein the review is authorized by law.”

We also quoted the case of Mendelsohn v. Superior Court, 76 Ariz. 163, 261 P.2d 983 (1953):

“It is settled law that the right of appeal exists only by force of positive enactment of law, * * * and that prohibition will lie to prevent an inferior tribunal from entertaining an appeal over which it has no jurisdiction.”

Hereinafter unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, all reference to titles, chapters and sections will relate to the Arizona Revised Statutes. The registration of motor vehicles and the use of ■drivers’ licenses are the subject of Legislation in Arizona. Title 28 is entitled, “Motor Vehicles”. Chapter 4 thereof is entitled, “Uniform Motor Vehicle Operators’ and Chauffeurs’ License Act” and includes Sections 28-401 through Section 28-491. This portion of the Code will hereafter be referred to as the License Act. Article 3 of this Chapter is entitled, “Cancellation, Suspension or Revocation of Licenses” and embraces Sections 28-441 through 28-452.

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617 P.2d 534 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1980)

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Bluebook (online)
421 P.2d 937, 4 Ariz. App. 504, 1966 Ariz. App. LEXIS 527, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campbell-v-chatwin-arizctapp-1966.