Finkel v. Az State Brd of Nursing ( 2021 )

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.
IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE
BRIAN L. FINKEL, Plaintiff/Appellant,
v.
ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF NURSING, et al., Defendants/Appellees.
No. 1 CA-CV 20-0481
FILED 5-20-2021
Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
No. LC2020-000129-001
The Honorable Timothy J. Thomason, Judge
AFFIRMED
APPEARANCES
Brian L. Finkel, Florence
Plaintiff/Appellant
Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Elizabeth A. Campbell
Counsel for Defendants/Appellees
FINKEL v. AZ STATE BRD OF NURSING, et al.
Decision of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Judge Michael J. Brown delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge David B. Gass and Judge David D. Weinzweig joined.
B R O W N, Judge:
¶1 Brian Finkel appeals the superior court’s dismissal of his
“motion” for special action. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm.
BACKGROUND
¶2 Finkel is an inmate at the Arizona State Prison. In 2016, he
fractured his leg and received medical care in the prison infirmary. He then
filed complaints with the Arizona State Board of Nursing (“ASBN”) against
two nurse practitioners involved in his medical care at the prison: the first
against Paul Denehy in early 2017 and the second against Deborah
McGarry in September 2019. Several weeks later, ASBN declined to
investigate the complaint against McGarry.
¶3 Finkel filed his motion for special action in the superior court
in April 2020. He mainly requested that the court order ASBN, by
mandamus, to “complete” the investigations of his two complaints. Finkel
also sought procedural orders regarding ASBN’s investigation. ASBN
completed its investigation of Denehy and offered him a consent agreement
for a decree of censure in May, which he signed several weeks later. In its
subsequent motion to dismiss, ASBN asserted it had discretion to decide
whether to investigate a complaint, and if initiated, to determine when an
investigation is complete. ASBN also argued Finkel did not have standing
to challenge the outcome of its investigations.
¶4 The superior court found that mandamus was not suitable for
either of Finkel’s complaints against the nurse practitioners. Relating to
McGarry, the court explained that ASBN could not be compelled to
investigate the complaint against her. And as to Denehy, the court noted
that ASBN had already considered the complaint and closed the matter
under the consent agreement. The court added it would not “second guess”
ASBN’s resolution of the Denehy complaint. Concluding that Finkel had
presented no factual basis for any form of special action relief, the court
2
FINKEL v. AZ STATE BRD OF NURSING, et al.
Decision of the Court
declined to accept special action jurisdiction and dismissed his motion.
Finkel then appealed.
DISCUSSION
¶5 When the superior court has declined to accept special action
jurisdiction, appellate review is limited to whether the lower court abused
its discretion. Bilagody v. Thorneycroft, 125 Ariz. 88, 92 (App. 1979). Even if
the court does not specify the reasons it declined to accept jurisdiction, we
will uphold the lower court decision “for any valid reason disclosed by the
record.” Armstrong v. City Ct. of Scottsdale, 118 Ariz. 593, 593–94 (App. 1978).
¶6 Arizona law gives ASBN discretion to decide whether to
investigate a complaint and discipline its licensees. See A.R.S. § 32-1606(C)
(stating that ASBN (1) “may conduct an investigation on receipt of
information that indicates that a person or regulated party may have
violated [the nursing statutes or rules],” and (2) “may take disciplinary
action” upon finding a violation) (emphasis added).
¶7 Special actions are requests for extraordinary relief, or what
formerly were called writs of mandamus, prohibition, or certiorari. Gockley
v. Ariz. Dep’t of Corr., 151 Ariz. 74, 75 (1986). A party may raise only the
following questions in a special action:
(a) Whether the defendant has failed to exercise discretion
which he has a duty to exercise; or to perform a duty required
by law as to which he has no discretion; or
(b) Whether the defendant has proceeded or is threatening to
proceed without or in excess of jurisdiction or legal authority;
or
(c) Whether a determination was arbitrary and capricious or
an abuse of discretion.
Ariz. R.P. Spec. Act. 3. Finkel’s motion requested relief under the first
question as a request for a writ of mandamus. Although Finkel also made
statements claiming that ASBN acted in “excess of jurisdiction” and
“abuse[d its] discretion,” the superior court correctly noted he lacked
standing to bring those claims, both of which fall under the other two
provisions of Rule 3. Mandamus was the only relief possibly appropriate
for his claims:
3
FINKEL v. AZ STATE BRD OF NURSING, et al.
Decision of the Court
Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy issued by a court to
compel a public officer to perform an act which the law
specifically imposes as a duty. It proceeds upon the
assumption that the applicant has an immediate and
complete legal right to the performance of an act which the
law specifically enjoins as a duty arising out of an office. It
does not lie if the public officer is not specifically required by
law to perform the act.
Bd. of Educ. of Scottsdale High Sch. Dist. No. 212 v. Scottsdale Educ. Ass’n, 109
Ariz. 342, 344 (1973) (citations omitted). Furthermore,
[t]he general rule is that if the action of a public officer is
discretionary that discretion may not be controlled by
mandamus. This rule, however, is qualified by the provision
that if it clearly appears that the officer has acted arbitrarily
and unjustly and in the abuse of discretion, the action may
still be brought.
Collins v. Krucker, 56 Ariz. 6, 13 (1940); see also Sears v. Hull, 192 Ariz. 65, 68,
¶ 11 (1998). Thus, ASBN’s investigatory discretion cannot be abused or
used arbitrarily. If that happens, a special mandamus action may be
appropriate.
¶8 Here, nothing in the record supports Finkel’s claim that the
superior court abused its discretion in denying his request for special action
relief. On the only claim he had standing to raise, Finkel received the relief
he requested: ASBN completed its review and investigation of his
complaints. In addition, he failed to make any showing that ASBN acted
arbitrarily or unjustly. Thus, the court properly concluded there was no
basis for accepting special action jurisdiction.
4
FINKEL v. AZ STATE BRD OF NURSING, et al.
Decision of the Court
CONCLUSION
¶9 We affirm the superior court’s order dismissing Finkel’s
motion for special action.
AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
FILED: AA
5