In re the Appeal of Gates

46 P.3d 1206, 273 Kan. 1025, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 329
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedJune 7, 2002
DocketNo. 87,713
StatusPublished

This text of 46 P.3d 1206 (In re the Appeal of Gates) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Appeal of Gates, 46 P.3d 1206, 273 Kan. 1025, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 329 (kan 2002).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Allegrucci, J.:

The Kansas Real Estate Commission (Commission) denied the application of Timothy S. Gates for issuance of a real estate license as a salesperson. Gates appealed the Commission’s denial to the district court, which affirmed. Gates appealed to the Court of Appeals. The court transferred the case. K.S.A. 20-3018(c).

[1026]*1026Gates argues on appeal that the Commission’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence; is contrary to undisputed evidence; and is unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious.

The Commission’s final order denying Gates’ application for licensure is dated January 10, 2001. The final order states:

“1. Applicant was first licensed as a salesperson by the Commission in July 1994. This license was placed in the inactive status in March 1996, and .expired on June 30,1997.
“2. On March 28, 1996, Applicant pleaded guilty to a felony in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The crime for which Applicant was convicted was possession, with intent to distribute, approximately 560 pounds of marihuana, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B). As a result of the plea of guilty, six other counts were dismissed on the motion of the government.
“3. Applicant was fined $10,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 37 months. He was incarcerated for 20 months, and is now on supervised release for a period of five years beginning October 9, 1998.
“4. Applicant has previously sought reinstatement of his license. By Final Orders of the Commission dated August 18,1998 and April 12,1999, reinstatement has been denied.
“5. The Commission concludes that the privilege of a real estate license, either as a broker or as a salesperson, requires the public trust. Applicant has lost that public trust through his conduct that resulted in the felony conviction. The Commission must consider this conviction in determining whether to grant Applicant’s license. See K.S.A. 58-3043. The burden is upon Applicant to show that he is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust.
“6. In Vakas v. Kansas Bd. of Healing Arts, 248 Kan. 589 (1991), the Court approved several factors to consider in determining whether a person convicted of a felony is rehabilitated. Those factors should apply equally well to reinstate■ment of a real estate license, and in that regard include (1) the present moral fitness of the applicant; (2) the demonstrated consciousness of the wrongfulness of the conduct; (3) the extent of rehabilitation; (4) the nature and seriousness of the misconduct; (5) conduct subsequent to the misconduct; (6) the amount of time that has elapsed since the misconduct; (7) the applicant’s character and maturity at the time of the misconduct; and (8) the applicant’s current professional competence. In Vakas, the Court acknowledged that some conduct might be so serious in and of itself that reinstatement is precluded.
“7. In the present case, the Commission is mindful that Applicant’s misconduct was extremely serious. The misconduct was not the result of sudden passion, nor was it simply a youthful prank gone awry. Applicant was part of a deliberate plan spanning several months to distribute illegal drugs. This plan was carried out without regard to the damage inflicted upon the public. Applicant does state that [1027]*1027he recognizes his actions were wrong, but his subsequent conduct does not demonstrate an earnest desire to return anything to society other than his participation in the real estate business.
“8. Given the seriousness of Applicant’s misconduct and his subsequent conduct, the Commission finds that Applicant is not sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust.”

Gates filed a petition for judicial review in district court. In a memorandum decision and order, the district court upheld the decision of the Commission. The district court stated:

“Petitioner contends the Commission erroneously interpreted and applied the law in this matter. Pursuant to K.S.A. § 58-3043, when determining whether to grant a real estate salesperson’s license, the Commission is required to take into account the applicant’s felony convictions. However, the statute grants the Commission broad discretion when considering such felony convictions. See K.S.A. § 58-3043(a)(1994).
“In the instant case, the Commission, in its Final Order, considered several factors, which are outlined in Vakas v. Kansas Bd. of Healing Arts, 248 Kan. 589 (1991), in determining whether Petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated from his felony drug conviction to warrant the issuance of a real estate salesperson’s license. Applying these factors, the Commission ultimately found Petitioner is not sufficiently rehabilitated to be issued a license. The Commission correctly interpreted the law and applied it within the bounds of its discretion. The Final Order is supported by substantial competent evidence, although contrary evidence is likewise contained in the record.”

The scope of appellate review of the Kansas Real Estate Commission’s action is governed by the Act for Judicial Review and Civil Enforcement of Agency Actions, K.S.A. 77-601 etseq. Under the Kansas act, the court may grant relief if it determines, among other things, that the agency “has erroneously interpreted or applied the law”; or the agency action is “based on a determination of fact, made or implied by the agency, that is not supported by evidence that is substantial when viewed in light of the record as a whole”; or the agency action is “otherwise unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious.” K.S.A. 77-621(c). The arbitrary and capricious test may relate to the question whether the Commission’s decision was without foundation in fact, as well as the reasonableness of its exercise of discretion. See Kansas Racing Management, Inc. v. Kansas Racing Comm’n, 244 Kan. 343, 365, 770 P.2d 423 (1989). In Vakas v. Kansas Bd. of Healing Arts, 248 Kan. 589, 808 P.2d 1355 [1028]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
46 P.3d 1206, 273 Kan. 1025, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-appeal-of-gates-kan-2002.