Hengel, Berg & Associates v. State ( 1976 )

MUNDT, Circuit Judge.

This appeal arises out of the action taken by defendant State Auditor (hereinafter referred to as “Auditor”) in refusing to issue a warrant on a voucher filed and submitted by plaintiff Hengel, Berg and Associates for services rendered in the preparation of plans and specifications for a Physical Research Building for the State Department of Highways.

In March 1968, a contract was executed between plaintiff and the State of South Dakota, State Building Committee. Later a decision was made not to construct the building. An addendum to the contract was executed in July 1971, which in substance provided for a pro rata payment to plaintiff for its work product, and which was to be submitted thirty days after the execution of the addendum. The work product was not produced within the time specified and thereupon the contract was cancelled.

In September 1973, plaintiff submitted a voucher to the Auditor for payment of $43,418.98 for services rendered. This voucher was submitted directly to the Auditor without the approval of either defendant State Engineer or defendant Highway Commission. Upon receipt of the voucher, the Auditor advised plaintiff that payment of the claim was being denied as being neither a just nor valid claim.

In October 1973, plaintiff took an appeal to the circuit court of Hughes County by filing and serving upon all defendants a “Notice of Appeal” from the decision of the Auditor denying and rejecting its claim. This appeal was taken under the provisions of SDCL 4-9-7, SDCL 21-33 and SDCL 1-26.

Upon appeal to the circuit court, that court limited the issues to whether the issuance of a warrant for payment of plaintiffs claim was illegal, unauthorized or improper. The trial court determined it was not a just and valid claim and affirmed the Auditor’s action. Plaintiff’s request for findings of fact and conclusions of law was denied.

Plaintiff contends it has never had an opportunity to present its case at a judicial trial or at an administrative hearing. Its voucher, it says, was summarily denied by the Auditor without any opportunity for it to submit evidence or argument as provided for in SDCL 1-26-18. Since it was deprived of an opportunity to present its claim at the administrative level, it claims it is entitled to a trial de novo in circuit court. It says further review on the administrative level would not provide an adequate remedy. Plaintiff argues that the legislature in enacting the Administrative Procedure Act has, in fact, prescribed by law the powers and duties of the Auditor. Even if the legislature has failed to prescribe a procedure for officers to follow, a person cannot be denied his constitutional rights, namely, taking property without due process of law. A constitutional protection requires no legislation for its enforcement and confers the right to obtain compensation, regardless of whether or not there is a statutory provision therefor.

It is defendants’ contention that the matter being appealed is an administrative decision of the Auditor as a constitutional officer, and that it does not involve the merits of the claim; that the Auditor’s duties are defined by the legislature, and nowhere in the statutes is the Auditor given authority to hear contested cases. It was not until the 1975 legislature enacted Chapter 10, Session Laws of 1975, that the Auditor was given authority to promulgate rules regarding the issuance of warrants.

Defendant Auditor further contends that the approval of a voucher and the issuance of a warrant are ministerial acts where payment is for a public building. The provisions of SDCL 5-14-2, the Auditor says, govern her powers in approving vouchers and issuing warrants. Since the voucher presented to the Auditor by plaintiff was never approved by the State Engineer, she had no authority to issue a warrant. Until such approval was obtained it was her duty under the statutes to deny plaintiff’s claim. We find merit in the Auditor’s contention.

SDCL 4-9-7 provides in part that: “The state auditor may refuse to issue a warrant if he determines that such issue and payment is or would be illegal, unauthorized, or improper.” SDCL 5-14-2 provides that funds appropriated for the payment of “[t]he construction of all capital improvenients projects (including the cost of architectural services) * * * shall be paid on warrants drawn by the state auditor on vouchers duly approved by the bureau of administration and the authorized representative of the agency, board, commission or institution to which the project appropriation is made.” (At the time the voucher in question was submitted, SDCL 5-14-2 provided for approval by the state engineer.)

There is no question but that the voucher in question was never approved by the State Engineer or by any authorized representative of the State Highway Commission. In her deposition, the Auditor repeatedly referred to this fact as the basis of her denial of payment of the voucher. This deposition, together with copies of the contract and of the letters between plaintiff’s counsel and the Auditor, was submitted to the trial court and was made a part of the settled record.

Plaintiff complains that it was not given notice of the Auditor’s intention to disallow its claim nor an opportunity to present evidence with respect to the merits of the claim. However, in her letter of September 18, 1973, the Auditor informed plaintiff’s counsel that the voucher had not been signed and approved by the proper officer of the State Highway Department. Plaintiff’s counsel requested the approval or disapproval of the voucher by the State Engineer and the State Highway Department by letter dated September 20, 1973. Plaintiff does not contend that such approval was ever granted. Rather, it argues in its reply brief that the State Engineer and the State Highway Department did not provide it with an opportunity for a hearing. This may very well have been the case, but we think it is not an issue in the instant appeal.

To summarize, plaintiff was notified in the first instance by the Auditor that its claim was being rejected because it had not been properly approved. Plaintiff was apparently unsuccessful in securing the approval of the State Engineer and the State Highway Department. It was for this reason that the Auditor ultimately denied the claim. How could a due process hearing before the Auditor have possibly altered these facts? If plaintiff has 'any legitimate grievance, it is based upon the refusal of the State Engineer and the State Highway Department to approve its voucher. In the absence of such approval, the Auditor had no choice but to deny the claim. This is the record that was presented to the circuit court, and we, therefore, hold that the record supports the circuit court’s judgment affirming the decision of the Auditor.

Affirmed.

DUNN, C. J., and WINANS and WOLLMAN, JJ., concur. COLER, J., concurs specially. MUNDT, Circuit Judge, sitting for DOYLE, J., disqualified.