Kansas Real Estate Commission v. Pottratz

626 P.2d 1243, 6 Kan. App. 2d 115, 1981 Kan. App. LEXIS 273
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedApril 24, 1981
DocketNo. 52,124
StatusPublished

This text of 626 P.2d 1243 (Kansas Real Estate Commission v. Pottratz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kansas Real Estate Commission v. Pottratz, 626 P.2d 1243, 6 Kan. App. 2d 115, 1981 Kan. App. LEXIS 273 (kanctapp 1981).

Opinion

Fromme, J.:

This is a review of an administrative order suspending the broker’s license of Marvin M. Pottratz for a period of six months. The Kansas Real Estate Commission originally revoked the license permanently. Review by the district court was under K.S.A. 58-3017. The court held that some of the charges were not supported by substantial evidence. The case was remanded to the Commission for reconsideration of the penalty to be imposed. The penalty was reduced to a six month suspension. This change was approved by the district court. Appeal to this court followed.

[116]*116SCOPE OF REVIEW

We find no Kansas cases in which the scope of review in the district court of an order of the Kansas Real Estate Commission has been determined. What is the scope of review authorized by K.S.A. 58-3017 of an order revoking or suspending a real estate broker’s license? This statute reads:

“Such ruling or order of the Kansas real estate commission shall be final when in favor of the respondent. If against the respondent, or in any way to the respondent’s injury or prejudice, he or she may, at any time prior to the date fixed by the commission in its notice as the date the ruling or order shall become effective, appeal from such ruling or order. Any such appeal shall be made to the district court of the county in which the respondent resides, or to the district court of Shawnee county, by serving upon the director of the Kansas real estate commission written notice of such appeal, together with reasons for such appeal, and by filing a good and sufficient bond in the office of the commission to secure the costs of the appeal, unless by reason of poverty the respondent is unable to give security for costs, which facts shall be shown by affidavit filed in the office of the commission. Thereupon the appeal shall be deemed perfected.
“Within thirty days after service of said notice of appeal, the commission shall file with the clerk of the designated court a copy of the complaint, if any, and a copy of the findings of fact and rulings or order of the commission appealed from, duly certified under the seal of the commission. Notice of the filing of the said documents shall be forthwith given by the director of the commission to the respondent and to the party, or parties, if any, upon whose complaint the proceedings before the commission were instituted. The issues shall be tried in the district court de novo. In all proceedings upon such appeal the attorney general, or his or her deputy, or other attorney chosen by the commission shall appear for and represent the commission.” Emphasis supplied.

It is noted that under this statute the Commission is directed to file with the clerk of the court (1) a copy of the complaint, and (2) a copy of the findings of fact and rulings or order of the commission. No provision in this law, as it appeared when these proceedings took place, required a transcript of evidence to be filed in the district court. K.S.A. 58-3016(b) relating to procedure states:

“The case against the applicant or licensee shall be presented by the attorney for the commission. The applicant or licensee shall be entitled to examine either in person or by counsel any and all persons complaining against the applicant, and all other witnesses whose testimony is relied upon to substantiate the charge made. The applicant shall also be entitled to present such evidence, oral and written, as he or she may see fit and as may be pertinent to the inquiry. At such hearing all witnesses shall be duly sworn by the director of the Kansas real estate commission, or by any member of the commission.”

Appellant Pottratz contends that on appeal the district court is [117]*117directed by 58-3017 to try the issues in the district court de novo, the issues being the proof of charges filed against the appellant. The commission on the other hand argues the scope of review is that of any administrative agency, which is traditionally limited to whether (1) the tribunal acted fraudulently, arbitrarily or capriciously, (2) the administrative order is substantially supported by evidence, and (3) the tribunal’s action was within the scope of its legal authority.

In Kansas State Board of Healing Arts v. Foote, 200 Kan. 447, 450, 436 P.2d 828, 28 A.L.R.3d 472 (1968), the appeal was from revocation of a medical license. The governing statute on scope of review was K.S.A. 65-2848 (Corrick) which provided that a transcript of pleadings before the board should be filed with the district court. The statute further provided that trial upon appeal “shall be had upon the issues joined as presented upon the evidence and exhibits introduced before the board.” The Supreme Court held the review was limited nevertheless to the traditional scope of review for administrative orders. In Foote, the court states the business of licensing is regarded as an administrative function. 200 Kan. at 449.

In Kansas State Board of Healing Arts v. Acker, 228 Kan. 145, 612 P.2d 610 (1980), the appeal to the district court was also under K.S.A. 65-2848 and the scope of review limited the hearing to the traditional scope of review for administrative orders. See also Copeland v. Kansas State Board of Examiners of Optometry, 213 Kan. 741, 518 P.2d 377 (1974), where it was held that Copeland was not entitled to a trial de novo. In Kansas State Board of Nursing v. Burkman, 216 Kan. 187, Syl. ¶ 1, 531 P.2d 122 (1975), this same scope of review was applied by the district court, and the district court’s order was upheld in a finding that the order of the board of nursing was arbitrary and unreasonable. In the latter case review of the administrative order was authorized by K.S.A. 65-1121(b).

In Foote, Acker, Copeland and Burkman, suspension and revocation of licenses by regulating agencies were considered and held to be administrative functions, and judicial review of such cases is generally limited to determining whether the administrative order was unlawful, arbitrary or unreasonable. We are of the opinion that a limited scope of review applies in the present case. Therefore, under the provisions of K.S.A. 58-3017, relating to appeals to the district court from orders of the Kansas Real [118]

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Related

Copeland v. Kansas State Board of Examiners in Optometry
518 P.2d 377 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1974)
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts v. Foote
436 P.2d 828 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1968)
Kansas State Board of Nursing v. Burkman
531 P.2d 122 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1975)
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts v. Acker
612 P.2d 610 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1980)
Cities Service Gas Co. v. State Corporation Commission
440 P.2d 660 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
626 P.2d 1243, 6 Kan. App. 2d 115, 1981 Kan. App. LEXIS 273, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kansas-real-estate-commission-v-pottratz-kanctapp-1981.