State Ex Rel. Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision v. Migliaccio

1996 OK CIV APP 37, 917 P.2d 483, 67 O.B.A.J. 1698, 1996 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 23, 1996 WL 255918
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 9, 1996
Docket84777
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 1996 OK CIV APP 37 (State Ex Rel. Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision v. Migliaccio) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Ex Rel. Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision v. Migliaccio, 1996 OK CIV APP 37, 917 P.2d 483, 67 O.B.A.J. 1698, 1996 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 23, 1996 WL 255918 (Okla. Ct. App. 1996).

Opinion

OPINION

HANSEN, Presiding Judge:

On March 26, 1993, a complaint was filed with Appellee, Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision (Board), asking it to consid *485 er disciplinary action against Appellant, John Migliaccio, M.D. (Migliaccio), because of his conviction in federal court of conspiracy to defraud and mail fraud. The convictions involved obtaining money from the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) by filing fraudulent claims.

The complaint cited 59 O.S.1991 §§ 509(6) & (10) as authority for action against Migliae-cio. These subsections, respectively, define unprofessional physician conduct as, among other things, [6] conviction of a felony, or [10] commission of any act which is a violation of the criminal laws of Oklahoma when such act is connected with the practice of medicine. Under 59 O.S.1991 § 503, Board is authorized to suspend or revoke a physician’s license for unprofessional conduct.

On May 14, 1993, after Migliaccio stipulated to the facts in the complaint, Board voted to suspend his medical license for six months. On that same day, Migliaccio filed a motion asking Board to reconsider the suspension. He had proposed alternative community service as a physician in the criminal case, and had been informed by the federal court he would be incarcerated if he could not so serve. The next day, Board modified its order to provide for suspension of twenty four hours, with a five year “probationary period during which Migliaccio could practice medicine only in connection with unpaid community service.

Upon Migliaccio’s motion, and based on his difficulties in obtaining employment and resulting financial strain, Board again modified its order on October 7, 1993. The modification maintained Migliaccio on probation, but allowed him to practice medicine without restriction. He continued his unrestricted practice until September 7, 1994, when the Federal Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed all counts upon which Migliaccio had been convicted, except one, because of insufficiency of evidence. The one remaining count was reversed and remanded, but was dismissed on motion of the United States Attorney.

On September 8, 1994, Migliaccio filed his Emergency Application for Termination of Probation and Expungement of Record. In his application, Migliaccio related the reversal of his convictions, and argued that the actions in his criminal case should never have been a basis for imposition of disciplinary action by Board. He asked Board to terminate his probation and expunge all record of the disciplinary action. Board’s staff filed a similar motion, but asked only that the probation be vacated and the action on the original complaint dismissed.

After a hearing on what action Board should, and could, take as the result of the reversal of Migliaecio’s convictions, Board issued an order filed on December 15, 1994, dismissing the action against Migliaccio. Board also specifically ordered, [a] that the dismissal of the action shall relate back to the date disciplinary action was imposed, and [b], that the action shall not be considered by Board to be action by the Board for any reason otherwise allowed by law, “such as, for example, prior disciplinary action for extension of probation in any future action by the Board”. Migliaccio brings this appeal from Board’s order of December 15, 1994.

As his single appellate proposition, Migliaccio contends that because of the facts and circumstances “unique” to his case, Board erred in its failure to expunge or seal its records relating to the disciplinary action against him. As a preliminary matter, we find nothing in the record to support Migli-accio’s assertion that the facts and circumstances of his ease are unique, and therefore apparently deserving of singular consideration. Similarly, we do not agree the complaint against him was “frivolous and groundless”. At his initial hearing, Migliac-cio stipulated to the convictions which formed the basis for Board’s action against him for unprofessional conduct.

Migliaccio further defines his proposition where he states, “[t]he central and only issue presented in this matter is whether or not this record [order] is one of those records which the public is authorized access under the [Open Records] Act”. 1 He concedes *486 Board is a “public body” governed by the provisions of the Open Records Act, and that Board’s order of December 15, 1994, is a record which Board is required to maintain under that act.

Migliaccio argues it is the nature of the record and not the mere fact it exists that determines public access. He argues, by analogy, grifevances and complaints to the Bar Association, Council on Judicial Complaints and Board of Registered Dentists have been determined to be confidential. Board acknowledges an initial complaint from the public may be kept confidential pursuant to 51 O.S.1991 § 24A.14, which allows confidentiality of communications received by public officials from a person exercising constitutional rights. Board, however, contends, and we agree, that unless there is an express statutory exception, records created by a public body after receipt of a complaint must be open to public access and review. Even § 24A.14, which allows confidentiality for complaints, requires that an agency response to a complaint shall be public, except as necessary to protect the identity of the complainant.

We are unpersuaded by Migliac-eio’s argument that Board can make its own determination which records are confidential and which are public. Board is a statutory body “re-created” by 59 O.S.1991 § 481. Agencies created by statute may only exercise the powers granted by statute, and while an agency may exercise powers fairly implied from those expressly given, it may not expand those powers by its own authority. Marley v. Cannon, 618 P.2d 401 (Okla.1980). We find no authority, either express or implied, for Board to expunge records of disciplinary action taken. To the contrary, the Legislature had mandated such records be preserved and maintained.

In addition to the requirements o'f the Open Records Act, discussed above, Board’s secretary is directed to preserve a record of all proceedings in hearings pertaining to unprofessional conduct. 59 O.S.Supp.1994 § 505. Further, reports of disciplinary action imposed by Board are expressly required to be available to the public upon request. 59 O.S.Supp.1994 § 509.1D(2). All of Board’s meetings are to be conducted under the Open Meetings Act 2 . 59 O.S.Supp.1994 § 488. The Open Meetings Act requires written minutes, which shall be an official summary of the proceedings, including actions taken, and also requires those minutes to be open to public inspection. 25 O.S.Supp.1992 § 312.

Oklahoma’s public policy regarding access to records, and individual rights of confidentiality, is set forth in the Open Records Act:

... the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government. The Oklahoma Public Records Act shall not create, directly or indirectly, any rights of privacy or any remedies for violation of any rights of privacy; nor shall the Oklahoma Public Records Act, except as specifically set forth in the ...

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1996 OK CIV APP 37, 917 P.2d 483, 67 O.B.A.J. 1698, 1996 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 23, 1996 WL 255918, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-oklahoma-state-board-of-medical-licensure-supervision-v-oklacivapp-1996.