Napuche v. Liquor Control Commission

58 N.W.2d 118, 336 Mich. 398, 1953 Mich. LEXIS 489
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 13, 1953
DocketDocket 59, Calendar 45,544
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 58 N.W.2d 118 (Napuche v. Liquor Control Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Napuche v. Liquor Control Commission, 58 N.W.2d 118, 336 Mich. 398, 1953 Mich. LEXIS 489 (Mich. 1953).

Opinion

Adams, J.

In 1950 Christó P. Napuche, plaintiff and appellee, was the holder of a clas,s “C” license and a specially designated merchant’s license issued by the Michigan liquor control commission. Under those licenses he operated a place of business known as the Bronx Cafe in the city of Detroit.

On July 17,1950, 2 Detroit police officers on routine inspection entered his place of business and there observed 2 minors consuming beer. They checked the identification of the minors to determine their age and spoke to the bartender... In due course-their ob *401 servations were reported to the -Michigan liquor control commission and a formal complaint was made against Napuche charging a violation of the rules and' regulations of the commission. A'copy of the complaint was served on Napuche, hearing was noticed, witnesses subpoenaed, and a hearing held before a hearing examiner on September 6,1950, pursuant to the provisions of section 5a of the Michigan liquor control act, as added by PA 1945, No 133 (CL 1948, § 436.5a [Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp § 18.975 (1)]). .Neither Napuche nor the commission had legal counsel at the hearing, although a sergeant of the Detroit police department questioned the witnesses in behalf of the commission. Testimony was taken from witnesses subpoenaed by the commission and from those who appeared voluntarily in behalf of Napuche. Full opportunity was given to cross-examine and to make arguments to the examiner.

Following the hearing, the examiner dictated his findings which were then forwarded to the commission. On October 24,1950, the commission entered an order finding that Napuche had violated the rules and regulations of the commission in selling alcoholic beverages to minors and in permitting minors to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises. His licenses, were ordered suspended for 15 days and he was fined $150 with an additional suspension of 30 days if the fine was not paid. ■ ■

On November 20th, Napuche, through-an attorney* claimed an appeal to the full commission in accordance with the statute. The appeal-was heard by 2 commissioners on January 4, 1951, and at that hearing both the commission and Napuche were represented by legal counsel. During the course' of the hearing Napuche was sworn and testified at some' length in reference to problems peculiar to the operation of his establishment due to its location in a fac *402 tory area. Upon the conclusion of the hearing the commission’s decision of October 24th was affirmed.

' Napuche then petitioned the circuit court in Wayne county for a review of the commission’s decision in the nature of a writ of certiorari. After a review of the record, the circuit judge ruled that Napuche had been denied his guaranteed constitutional rights “in that the commission that made the findings did not hear the evidence” and reversed the commission’s decision. From that decision the Michigan liquor control commission takes this appeal.

• Statutory authority for the creation of a board of hearing examiners and the powers and duties of the members is found in section 5a of the Michigan liquor' control act, being PA 1933 (Ex Sess), No 8, as added by PA 1945, No 133 (CL 1948, § 436.5a [Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp § 18.975 (1) ]). This section was considered by the Court in Case v. Liquor Control Commission, 314 Mich 632. It was there claimed that the legislature in enacting the section had improperly delegated the powers of the commission as established by Constitution (1908), art 16, § 11, as amended in 1932. We held, however, that the board of hearing examiners was merely a fact-finding board which made its findings to the commission; that the commission had the right to accept or refuse such' findings and retained complete power to suspend and revoke liquor licenses. The Court concluded, therefore, that the provisions of section '5a were not in violation of the Constitution.

We are here presented, however, with a different problem; that is, whether or not in the administration of the provisions of section 5a Napuche, a licensee of the commission, was deprived of his right to a fair and full hearing on a complaint charging a violation of the rules and regulations of the commission. Specifically, it is the claim of the appellee, as *403 sustained by the trial court, that the liquor control commission, a constitutional body given exclusive power to suspend liquor licenses, did not consider and appraise all of the evidence in this cause before its decision was made. It is contended that as a result of such failure, appellee’s rights have' been taken without due process of the law.

“Due process of law requires notice and opportunity to be heard. It imports the right to a fair trial of the issues involved in the controversy and. a determination of disputed questions of fact on the basis of evidence.” Dation v. Ford Motor Co., 314 Mich 152, 167 (19 NCCA NS 158).
“ ‘But there must be a hearing in a substantial sense. And to give the substance of a hearing, which is for the purpose of making determinations upon evidence, the officer who makes the determinations must consider and appraise the evidence which justifies them.’ * * *
“The maintenance of proper standards on the part of administrative agencies in the performance of their quasi-judicial functions is of the highest importance and in no way cripples or embarrasses the exercise of their appropriate authority. On the contrary, it is in their manifest interest. For, as we said at the outset, if these multiplying agencies deemed to be necessary in our complex society are to serve the purposes for which they are created and endowed with vast powers, they must accredit themselves by acting in accordance with the cherished judicial tradition embodying the basic concepts of fair play.” Morgan v. United States, 304 US 1, 22 (58 SCt 773, 82 L ed 1129).
“Unless the right is waived, the person charged is at least entitled to:
“(1) Notice of a time and place of hearing.
“ (2) A hearing before a properly authorized body.
*404 “(3) A reasonably'definite statement of the charge or charges preferred against the accused, : -
• “(4) The right to cross-examine the witnesses who testify against him.
“(5) The right to produce witnesses in,his own behalf.
“(6) A full consideration and a fair determination according to the evidence of the controversy by the body before whom the hearing is had.” Hanson v. State Board of Registration in Medicine, 253 Mich 601, 607.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Campbell
894 N.W.2d 72 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2016)
Orion Charter Township v. Burnac Corp.
431 N.W.2d 225 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
Civil Service Commission v. Department of Labor
384 N.W.2d 728 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1986)
Choike v. City of Detroit
290 N.W.2d 58 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1980)
Atkins v. Department of Social Services
284 N.W.2d 794 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1979)
Ramos v. Local Liquor Control Commission
384 N.E.2d 912 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1978)
Casad v. City of Jackson
263 N.W.2d 19 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1977)
Gantz v. City of Detroit
252 N.W.2d 764 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1977)
Homefinders, Inc. v. City of Evanston
357 N.E.2d 785 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1976)
Meshriy v. Sun Oil Co.
242 N.W.2d 497 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1976)
Bundo v. City of Walled Lake
238 N.W.2d 154 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1976)
Bisco’s, Inc v. Liquor Control Commission
238 N.W.2d 166 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1976)
Gantz v. City of Detroit
237 N.W.2d 477 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1975)
Tally v. City of Detroit
227 N.W.2d 214 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1975)
Cooper Township v. State Tax Commission
222 N.W.2d 900 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1974)
Sponick v. Detroit Police Department
211 N.W.2d 674 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)
Grable v. City of Detroit
210 N.W.2d 379 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)
Cornell Development Co. v. City of Ypsilanti
210 N.W.2d 259 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)
Harlan Electric Co. v. Employment Security Commission
200 N.W.2d 101 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1972)
Geftos v. Lincoln Park
198 N.W.2d 169 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1972)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
58 N.W.2d 118, 336 Mich. 398, 1953 Mich. LEXIS 489, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/napuche-v-liquor-control-commission-mich-1953.