Ross v. Alabama Board of Chiropractic Examiners

724 So. 2d 540, 1998 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 768, 1998 WL 802765
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Alabama
DecidedNovember 20, 1998
Docket2971019
StatusPublished

This text of 724 So. 2d 540 (Ross v. Alabama Board of Chiropractic Examiners) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ross v. Alabama Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 724 So. 2d 540, 1998 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 768, 1998 WL 802765 (Ala. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinions

PER CURIAM.

Dr. Donald D. Ross and Dr. Donald D. Ross, Jr. (“the Rosses”), were charged by the Alabama Board of Chiropractic Examiners (“the Board”) with violations of Ala.Code 1975, § 34-24-166(b)(16), and Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(q)l. and Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(b) of the Rules and Regulations governing the practice of chiropractic in Alabama.

The alleged violations were based on conduct related to an advertisement published in the 1996 BellSouth telephone directory for the city of Huntsville. The first alleged violation concerned the use of the phrase “Consultation @ No Charge,” in the published advertisement, which failed to state that additional charges may be incurred for related services and failed to provide the possible range of those charges, as mandated by Rule 190-X-5.04(3)(q)l. The second alleged violation concerned information in the same advertisement, information the Board found to be misleading, in violation of Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(b). In the advertisement, the Rosses, who are chiropractors, were listed along with Dr. Chris Coffey, a medical doctor, as members of the American Chiropractic Association, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine. It is undisputed that the Rosses are chiropractors and are not eligible for membership in the American Medical Association; therefore, the Board found this advertisement to be misleading, in violation of Ala.Code 1975, § 34-24-166(b)(16) and Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(b).

An administrative hearing was conducted on July 12, 1997, pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, § 34-24-167. The Board adopted the recommendations of the hearing officer who presided at the hearing and found the Rosses guilty of both violations. The Rosses filed a notice of appeal with the circuit court of Montgomery County. Following a hearing, the circuit court affirmed the Board’s decision. The Rosses filed a Rule 59, Ala.R.Civ. P., motion to alter, amend, or vacate the judgment; that motion which was denied on May 5,1998. The Rosses appealed.

The Administrative Procedure Act provides that, in a judicial review of an agency decision, “ the agency order shall be taken as prima facie just and reasonable and the court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact, except where otherwise authorized by statute.” § 41-22-20(k), Ala.Code 1975. We review the trial court’s judgment with no presumption of correctness, because that court was in no better position to review the agency decision than we are. Alabama Renal Stone Institute, Inc. v. Alabama Statewide Health Coordinating Council, 628 So.2d 821, 823 (Ala.Civ.App.1993). Great weight is accorded an administrative decision, because of the special competence of the agency. State Dep’t of Revenue v. Acker, 636 So.2d 470 (Ala.Civ.App.1994). This court will affirm the decision of the agency unless it is arbitrary, capricious, or not in compliance with applicable law. Neither this court nor the circuit court may substitute its judgment for that of the administrative agency. Id.

Ala.Code 1975, § 34-24-166(b)(16), provides that the Board may fine any licensed chiropractor, or revoke or suspend the license of any chiropractor,'who is found guilty of “advertising in any manner which violates the rules and regulations established by the board.” Rule 190-X-5.04(3), an administrative regulation promulgated under this statute, provides in pertinent part:

“(3) Certain Advertising -Prohibited. Any chiropractor who disseminates or causes to be disseminated or allows to be disseminated any advertising which is in any way false, misleading, or which has the capacity or tendency to deceive, or mislead the recipient in any manner, shall be deemed to be in violation of Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-166(16). Any advertisement or advertising shall be deemed by the Board to be false, deceptive, or misleading and in violation of [§ 34-24-166(16) ], if the Board determines that the advertising displays any of the following characteristics:
[542]*542[[Image here]]
“(q) The advertising offers gratuitous services or discounts in connection with professional services provided, however, that advertising may offer gratuitous services or discounts if:
“1. such advertising clearly and conspicuously states whether or not additional charges may be incurred for related services which may be needed and/or appropriate in individual cases, and the possible range of such additional charges if such charges may be incurred;
“2. such advertising is not otherwise false, fraudulent, deceptive, misleading or confusing.”

(Emphasis added.)

The Rosses initially challenge the constitutionality of Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(q)l., arguing that the United States Supreme Court has held that the advertisement of an initial consultation is not misleading. Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350, 97 S.Ct. 2691, 53 L.Ed.2d 810 (1977). Upon review of the record, we note that this issue was not raised before the trial court. In order for this court to review a constitutional challenge, the challenge must have been raised in a lower court that had jurisdiction to adjudicate the issue. Continental Eagle Corp. v. Mokrzycki, 611 So.2d 313, 322 (Ala.1992) (citing Docena Fire District v. Rucker, 564 So.2d 422, 424 (Ala.1990) and Wallace v. State, 507 So.2d 466 (Ala.1987)). Because the Rosses failed to raise this issue before the trial court, it is not properly before this court and therefore may not be considered.

The Rosses further argue that the phrase “Consultation @ No Charge” contained in them advertisement did not violate Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(q) because, they argue, the term “consult” is defined in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (10th ed.1997) as “to ask the advice or opinion of.” The Rosses contend that their giving advice or an opinion did not constitute a professional service and, therefore, that Rule 190-X-5-.04(3)(q) does not apply. However, the elder Dr. Ross testified at the hearing before the Board that in order to give medical advice he would have to perform an examination and to take a history of the patient and there would be charges associated with those tasks. Following an administrative proceeding, the Board’s hearing officer concluded that the Rosses’ advertisement was “misleading” and violated subsection (q). The Board adopted the hearing officer’s recommendations and found the Rosses guilty of violating subsection (q) “in that the advertisement offers gratuitous services without a disclaimer that states whether or not additional charges may be incurred for needed or appropriate related services and the possible range of such additional charges if incurred.”

The circuit court affirmed the Board’s order. With respect to that portion of the Board’s order concerning the alleged violation of subsection (q), the trial court opined that “[b]ecause the advertisement offered gratuitous services without including the required language [indicating] that additional charges may be incurred for related services which may have been needed ... the advertisement itself provided substantial evidence to support the Board’s determination that the advertisement is misleading ” (emphasis added).

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Related

Bates v. State Bar of Arizona
433 U.S. 350 (Supreme Court, 1977)
In Re RMJ
455 U.S. 191 (Supreme Court, 1982)
Wallace v. State
507 So. 2d 466 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1987)
Alabama Renal Stone Inst v. A.S.H.C.C.
628 So. 2d 821 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1993)
Docena Fire Dist. v. Rucker
564 So. 2d 422 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1990)
State Dept. of Revenue v. Acker
636 So. 2d 470 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1994)
Lyon v. Alabama State Bar
451 So. 2d 1367 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1984)
Continental Eagle Corp. v. Mokrzycki
611 So. 2d 313 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1992)
Bates v. State Bar of Arizona
433 U.S. 350 (Supreme Court, 1977)
In re R. M. J.
455 U.S. 191 (Supreme Court, 1982)

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Bluebook (online)
724 So. 2d 540, 1998 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 768, 1998 WL 802765, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ross-v-alabama-board-of-chiropractic-examiners-alacivapp-1998.