Wasson v. Ky. State Police

542 S.W.3d 300
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedFebruary 9, 2018
DocketNO. 2015-CA-000815-MR
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 542 S.W.3d 300 (Wasson v. Ky. State Police) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wasson v. Ky. State Police, 542 S.W.3d 300 (Ky. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

NICKELL, JUDGE:

*302Brent Wasson appeals from a Warren Circuit Court order upholding Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commissioner Rodney Brewer's decision to transfer Wasson from injured status to limited duty pursuant to KRS 1 16.165(2). Wasson asserts the decision was arbitrary, unsupported by substantial evidence, and made without affording him procedural due process. Following a careful review, we affirm.

In 1999, Wasson, a KSP Trooper, was shot multiple times in the line of duty and thereafter placed on injured status. KSP requires officers on injured status to submit annual reports from their physician(s) updating the Commissioner on the status of their physical condition. In accordance with this requirement, work status/treatment update forms were completed by Wasson's physician, Dr. Joseph E. Kutz, and submitted to the Commissioner. Forms completed and submitted by Dr. Kutz in 2010 and 2011 indicated Wasson may return to alternative duty with restrictions. In March 2012, the Commissioner informed Wasson of his decision to return Wasson to limited duty effective April 15, 2012. The Commissioner's letter included Dr. Kutz's restrictions and information on how to appeal the decision.

Pursuant to KRS 16.165(2), Wasson appealed the Commissioner's decision to the Warren Circuit Court. Wasson asserted the Commissioner's decision was arbitrary, unsupported by substantial evidence, and made without affording him procedural due process in the form of a hearing.

After a three-day bench trial, post-trial briefs were filed. In his post-trial brief, Wasson urged the trial court to conduct de novo review of the Commissioner's decision due to the absence of any findings of fact. The trial court affirmed the Commissioner's decision. This appeal followed. Wasson raises the same issues on appeal.

The standard of review, when addressing an appeal from an administrative decision, "is limited to determining whether the decision was erroneous as a matter of law." McNutt Construction v. Scott , 40 S.W.3d 854, 861 (Ky. 2001). Kentucky Courts have long held that "judicial review of administrative action is concerned with the question of arbitrariness .... Unless action taken by an administrative agency is supported by substantial evidence it is arbitrary." American Beauty Homes Corp. v. Louisville and Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission , 379 S.W.2d 450, 456 (Ky. 1964) (emphasis in original).

Bd. of Comm'rs of City of Danville v. Davis , 238 S.W.3d 132, 135 (Ky. App. 2007). Arbitrariness arises when an agency: (1) exceeds granted powers, (2) fails to afford procedural due process, or, (3) makes a determination unsupported by substantial evidence. Hilltop Basic Resources, Inc. v. County of Boone , 180 S.W.3d 464, 467 (Ky. 2005) (citing American Beauty Homes , 379 S.W.2d at 456 ).

A reviewing court may not substitute its own judgment on a factual issue "unless the agency's decision is arbitrary and capricious." McManus v. Kentucky Retirement Systems , 124 S.W.3d 454, 458 (Ky. App. 2003). Once a reviewing court has determined an agency's decision is supported by substantial evidence, the court must then determine if the agency applied the correct rule of law to the factual findings in making its determination. If so, the agency's final order is upheld.

*303Bowling v. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet , 891 S.W.2d 406, 410 (Ky. App. 1994). However, matters of statutory construction and interpretation are matters of law subject to de novo review. Halls Hardwood Floor Co. v. Stapleton , 16 S.W.3d 327, 330 (Ky. App. 2000).

KRS 16.165 states, in relevant part:

Any Department of Kentucky State Police officer, as defined in KRS 16.010, who becomes disabled after July 1, 1977, as a direct result of an injury or disease arising out of the performance of a hazardous duty in the course of employment with the department may elect to be retained on the regular payroll of the department subject to the following:
....
(2) The officer shall be assigned by the commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police to a position in the department for which the officer is qualified, if the commissioner determines, based upon medical reports and recommendations submitted for that purpose, that the officer is able to perform limited duties. If it is determined that the officer is able to perform limited duties and refuses to accept an assignment from the commissioner, the officer shall not be eligible for the payment of compensation authorized by this section. If the commissioner determines that the officer is unable to perform limited duties, the officer shall be eligible for the payment of compensation authorized by this section without the performance of limited duties. Any officer adversely affected or aggrieved by a final determination of the commissioner pursuant to this section may appeal within thirty (30) days to the local Circuit Court[.]

Pursuant to this statute, the Commissioner is expressly authorized to assign an injured officer to limited duty based on "medical reports." From the record, it appears this is precisely what happened. Therefore, we find KSP did not exceed its granted powers.

Wasson argues the procedural due process requirements mentioned in Chapter 13B should have been followed.

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542 S.W.3d 300, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wasson-v-ky-state-police-kyctapp-2018.