State ex rel. Department of Natural Resources v. Lehman

378 N.E.2d 31, 177 Ind. App. 112, 1978 Ind. App. LEXIS 969
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 17, 1978
DocketNo. 1-278A27
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 378 N.E.2d 31 (State ex rel. Department of Natural Resources v. Lehman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Department of Natural Resources v. Lehman, 378 N.E.2d 31, 177 Ind. App. 112, 1978 Ind. App. LEXIS 969 (Ind. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

Robertson, J.

Defendant-appellant the State of Indiana, ex rel. Department of Natural Resources appeals a judgment of Greene Circuit Court reversing the Natural Resources Commission’s affirming disciplinary action taken against plaintiff-appellee Captain Billy R. Lehman of the Department’s Law Enforcement Division (Division). We affirm.

In 1975, Lehman was arraigned before the superintendent of the Division on charges arising from a Commission investigation into allegations made against certain members of the Division. The charges against Lehman included: using a state-owned vehicle for personal use; taking a state-owned boat and motor to Florida after being ordered not to do so; using officers of the Division to deliver personal items to the superintendent’s home; and, not providing effective leadership and failing to exercise good judgment in making decisions. Following the arraignment, the superintendent issued an order demoting Lehman and directing that in the event of an appeal of the demotion order Lehman would be suspended without pay pending results of the appeal. Lehman’s subsequent appeal before the Natural Resources Commission resulted in the Commission’s affirming the superintendent’s action. A petition for judicial reveiw followed, and upon consideration of the matter, the trial court set aside the Commission’s decision and remanded for further proceedings.

The State’s appeal from the trial court’s overruling of State’s motion to correct errors raises these issues:

[114]*1141. Whether the trial court erred in finding that no evidence was presented at the arraignment to support the charges filed.
2. Whether the trial court erred in its specific finding that Lehman’s demotion was made without a finding of any cause as required by ÍC. 1971, 14-3-4-7 (Burns Code Ed.).
3. Whether the trial court erred in finding the demotion, reassignment, and suspension contained in the superintendent’s special order were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and unsupported by substantial evidence.
4. Whether the trial court erred in finding that the actions of the Commission in its conduct of the investigation and determination were in violation of IC 4-22-1-20.
5. Whether the trial court erred in finding the record of the appeal before the Commission did not contain substantial evidence of guilt as to the charges.

1.

As to the first issue, the State argues that the departmental regulations pertaining to arraignments only provide for an opportunity for the charged person to answer the charges with his own evidence and that “[t]he decision is then left up to the Superintendent, after hearing all pertinent information, as to what action will be taken.” The State’s tenuous assertion that certain Lehman testimony constituted “admission” of the charges levied apparently leads the State to conclude that the trial court erred in its finding that there was no evidence at the arraignment to support the charges.

Lehman, contrarily, directs us to the superintendent’s Special Order 713 which reads, in part:

Captain Lehman was arraigned on the above charges on October 24,1975 in accordance with Division regulations. A plea of Not Guilty was entered by Captain Lehman and witnesses were presented who testified as to Captain Lehman’s ability and efficiency as a Regional Commander.
The testimony on which the Commission based their findings and recommendations was not made available to Superintendent Charles A. Murphy at this arraignment. No testimony was heard which , could be used to find Captain Lehman guilty except the [115]*115charges based on the Commission’s findings. In order to be granted an appeal to the Commission, Captain Lehman must be notified he is ordered demoted.

This unambiguous statement, which remained uncontroverted, and the superintendent’s consistent testimony at the departmental hearing clearly show that the trial court correctly found that no evidence had been proffered. This issue reveals no error.

2.

With respect to the second issue, the State in its brief makes no attempt to apply those facts upon which it would rely to the pertinent law, aside from this cursory statement: “After hearing all of the evidence presented at the arraignment, even based on the defendant’s own testimony, Superintent Murphy had evidence greater than the mere fact of the charges upon which to base the demotion and reassignment of Plaintiff [Lehman].” The State has failed to present such cogent argument as is contemplated by our appellate rules, Ind. Rules of Procedure, Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7), and, therefore, the State has demonstrated no error.

3.

Next, the State contends that the superintendent’s actions were not arbitrary or capricious. We disagree.

In Hatcher v. Smith (1972), 152 Ind. App. 299, 283 N.E.2d 582, a case cited by both parties to this appeal, the Court of Appeals quoted from State Board of Tax Commissioners v. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific R. R. Co. (1951), 121 Ind.App. 302, 308-309, 96 N.E.2d 279, 282.

‘Arbitrary or capricious action on the part of an administrative board means willful and unreasonable action, without consideration and in disregard of the facts or circumstances of the case; action taken without some basis which would lead a reasonable and honest man to such action.’

152 Ind.App. at 310, 283 N.E.2d at 589.

We think that for the superintendent to take disciplinary measures [116]*116after he had specifically found that no evidence was presented to support the charges levied constituted arbitrary and capricious action and an abuse of discretion. We do recognize the importance of granting discretion to administrative bodies for the effective dispatch of their duties. However, notions of fairness and reasonableness dictate the result reached in this case by the trial court.

4.

The next issue relates to IC 4-22-1-20, which, in part, states:

Whenever a hearing is conducted by an agent or representative of an agency such agent or representative who presides at such hearing shall not consult any person or party on any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. No agent or representative conducting a hearing shall perform any of the investigative or prosecuting functions of said agency in the case heard or to be heard by him or in a factually related case.

The State urges error in the reviewing court’s finding that the Commission’s actions in conducting the investigation and subsequently adjudicating the charges were violative of 4-22-1-20. We agree that the finding was in error. However, it does not present reversible error.

The State correctly points to the relevant portion of the record which indicates that those members of the Commission who participated in the investigation and who signed the investigation report disqualified themselves from the appeal proceedings.

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STATE EX REL. DEPT. OF NAT. R. v. Lehman
378 N.E.2d 31 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
378 N.E.2d 31, 177 Ind. App. 112, 1978 Ind. App. LEXIS 969, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-department-of-natural-resources-v-lehman-indctapp-1978.