L.M. Zeller, Individually, and D/B/A Zeller Elevator Company, LEO Mark Zeller, Louis M. Zeller III, Andrew M. Boeglin, and Matthew Boeglin v. Indiana Fire Prevention (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 09 2016, 6:07 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Douglas K. Briody Gregory F. Zoeller
Law Office of Doug Briody Attorney General of Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Kyle Hunter
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
L.M. Zeller, Individually, and November 9, 2016
D/B/A Zeller Elevator Court of Appeals Case No.
Company, LEO Mark Zeller, 65A05-1512-CP-2331
Louis M. Zeller III, Andrew M. Appeal from the Posey Circuit
Boeglin, and Matthew Boeglin, Court
Appellants-Petitioners, The Honorable James M.
Redwine, Judge
v. Trial Court Cause No.
65C01-0811-CP-303
Indiana Fire Prevention and
Building Safety Commission,
Appellee-Respondent.
Robb, Judge.
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Case Summary and Issues
[1] L.M. Zeller, individually (“Zeller”) and doing business as Zeller Elevator
Company (“ZECO”), and ZECO employees Leo Mark Zeller, Louis M. Zeller
III, Andrew M. Boeglin, and Matthew Boeglin (collectively, the “Applicants”)
appeal a trial court’s order denying their petition for judicial review and
affirming the action of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety
Commission (“Commission”) declining to renew their elevator contractor
and/or elevator mechanic licenses for failure to satisfy the continuing education
(“CE”) requirement. The Applicants raise several issues for our review which
we consolidate and restate as two: 1) whether the Commission’s decision not to
renew the licenses was arbitrary or capricious, and 2) whether the ALJ
conducted a proper review of the agency action. Concluding the Commission’s
action was not invalid for any reason and the ALJ’s review was proper, we
affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Zeller, an elevator contractor and mechanic, has owned and operated ZECO
since 1967. Leo Mark Zeller, Louis M. Zeller III, Andrew M. Boeglin, and
Matthew Boeglin are elevator mechanics employed by ZECO.
[3] In 2002, the Indiana legislature enacted a statutory scheme that for the first time
required both elevator contractors and elevator mechanics to be licensed as of
May 1, 2003. See Ind. Code §§ 22-15-5-6 through -16. The Indiana Department
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of Homeland Security (“Department”), through its Division of Fire and
Building Safety (“Division”), has the duty to administer the licensing program.
Ind. Code § 10-19-7-2(6). The Commission is the ultimate authority over the
Division. The licensing statute had a grandfathering provision which allowed
contractors and mechanics with sufficient work experience to obtain an initial
license without examination if the applicants applied for the license on or before
May 1, 2003. Ind. Code § 22-15-5-7(c) (as to contractors), § 22-15-5-12(b)(4) (as
to mechanics). The initial license expires on December 31 of the second year
after issue; renewal licenses are valid for two years. Ind. Code § 22-15-5-9(b),
(c); Ind. Code § 22-15-5-12(e), (f). In order to renew a license, applicants must
submit proof of completion of the CE required by the statute, among other
things. Ind. Code § 22-15-5-8(b)(2); Ind. Code § 22-15-5-12(d)(2). The CE
requirement is “at least eight (8) hours of instruction that must be attended and
completed within one (1) year before a license renewal.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-
15(c). For a course to satisfy this CE requirement, “the continuing education
provider, instructor and the curriculum must have been approved by the
[D]epartment.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-15(d).
[4] The Applicants received their initial licenses in 2003 pursuant to the
grandfathering provisions of the licensing statute (good from the date of issue
until December 31, 2005). In 2005, the Applicants attended a course at Ivy
Tech that had been approved by the Department for CE credit. The Division
approved the renewal of their licenses without incident for a two-year period
ending December 31, 2007. In late 2007, ZECO reached out to the Division,
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seeking information about whether Ivy Tech would be providing CE again.
ZECO subsequently learned that Ivy Tech was not offering a course that year,
and, receiving no further information about available courses, the Applicants
submitted their renewal applications and ZECO remitted a check for the
renewal fee for all Applicants. Item 2 on the renewal application, titled “Proof
of Completion of Continuing Education,” required the Applicants to
[s]ubmit documentation proving completion of at least 8 hours of
continuing education. This continuing education must have been
attended and completed within one (1) year before a license
renewal. At a minimum this documentation shall include: (1)
the date(s) the continuing education was taken; (2) the name of
the provider of each course; (3) the name of the instructor for
each course; the name of the course(s); and proof that you
attended this course. For this continuing education to be
accepted, the Department must have approved the continuing
education provider(s), the instructor(s) and the curriculum(s).
Appellants’ Appendix at 161. On each application, some combination of
“Elevator World,” “Zeller Elevator Co.” and/or “EECO” had been hand-
written in the space immediately following the above statement. See id. at 161,
166, 169, 172, and 175.1 No further information was submitted.
1
All applications were submitted after December 31, 2007. The Department did not comment on the date
the applications were submitted, and in fact, the Department’s representative indicated the Department does
not have a particular deadline for applications. Id. at 80 (“[I]f they submit everything properly and they have
everything in order, we usually give them their renewals”).
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[5] By order dated March 3, 2008, the Department denied the renewal applications
because proof of completion of the required CE was not submitted with the
application as required by Item 2. See id. at 159, 164, 167, 170, 173 (each
applicant received an identical order). The Applicants were advised that once
the documentation was received, renewal of their licenses would be expedited.
The Applicants were also advised that if they desired administrative review of
the order, they must file a written petition for review with the Commission
within eighteen days.
[6] On March 21, 2008, Zeller sent a letter to the Division advising that “[o]n an
annual bases [sic] our employees . . . attend the Association of Reciprocal
Safety Councils, Inc. . . ., this is an approximate 4 hour accredited class. . . .
We [also] hold weekly one to two hours of training.” Id. at 162. In addition,
the Applicants sought administrative review of the denial of their applications
and an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) was appointed to hold a hearing.
During a prehearing conference, Zeller learned the Department had approved
in-house training by other elevator companies for CE hours. At Zeller’s
request, the Department provided to him “examples of training curricula,
instructor credentials, training topics and number of training hours”
documentation that had been submitted by other elevator companies and
approved for CE by the Department. Id. at 176-222. Zeller then provided
additional documentation to the Department regarding his in-house training
program, but the documentation did not change the Department’s position
regarding the license renewals.
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[7] Zeller represented all Applicants at the hearing. Debra Jackson, the
Department representative, testified,
if somebody wants to provide continuing education, they send
me a copy of their program, the classes, the hours, their
references, who’s teaching them, the credentials of each
instructor, an overview of the continuing education. And then I
do a review on it, see it [sic] if it meets the qualification of the
eight hours that needs to be attended. And then I usually send
out . . . a letter of approval.
Id. at 76. She also testified it is the Department’s position that the statute
requires CE to be approved before the training is provided. Zeller testified that
every Monday morning, ZECO has a one- to two-hour session for its employees
where he covers various technical and safety issues. Jackson indicated that if
Zeller sent information about a topic to be discussed to the Department in
advance, including the credentials of the instructor and the reference materials
to be used, such weekly training sessions could be approved to satisfy the CE
requirement; however, she noted ZECO submitted no information about
proposed in-house training in 2007. Zeller agreed that nothing had been
submitted in advance of the weekly training sessions, but maintained he did not
know in 2007 that he could do so.
[8] On August 19, 2008, the ALJ issued the following relevant findings of fact:
10. The issue in this particular case involves proof of continuing
education required by IC 22-15-5-15.
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11. In short, this statute section . . . requires at least 8 hours of
continuing education (“CE”) where the provider, instructor and
curriculum have been approved by the [Department].
***
14. The [2007] applications for renewal from the [Applicants]
did not have any reference to CE approved by the [Department];
they only referred to in-house education with no curriculum or
proof of attendance.
15. Zeller submitted both in May, 2008, and at the hearing
information about his in-house training plus occasional training
from manufacturers he and his employees received.
16. It is possible that some of Zeller’s in-house training could
meet the requirements for CE, however unless it was properly
submitted to the [Department] as a course in advance, it cannot
count.
***
21. Because the renewal applications of the [Applicants] did not
comply with the Indiana statute on CE, the decision of the
[Department] to deny the renewals should be affirmed.
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Id. at 36-37 (footnote omitted). Zeller filed an exception to the ALJ’s report,
and the Commission issued a final order on October 10, 2008, affirming,
without modification, the ALJ’s report.2
[9] The Applicants then filed a petition for judicial review in the Posey Circuit
Court. The trial court held a hearing in July 2015 and thereafter issued an order
denying the Applicants’ petition for judicial review and affirming the
Commission’s action:
31. An administrative decision is only arbitrary and capricious,
and contrary to law and procedure, when it is willful and
unreasonable, without consideration or in disregard of facts and
circumstances of the case, or without some basis which could
lead a reasonable person to the same conclusion. In the instant
case, it is clear from a review of the transcript of the
administrative hearing and the ALJ’s order that the ALJ
considered the facts and circumstances of the case, and
conducted a hearing, with [Zeller] in attendance. Mr. Zeller
provided testimony and argument. After the hearing and
consideration of the case, the ALJ prepared findings of fact and
issued a decision, which was upheld by the Commission.
32. Indiana law requires individual elevator contractors and
elevator mechanics to complete eight hours of CE during the
final year of the two-year license period, in order to have their
respective licenses renewed. Ind. Code § 22-15-5-15. For
training to qualify for CE credit, the “continuing education
provider, instructor, and the curriculum must have been
2
The Commission’s minutes for the meeting at which it considered the Applicants’ objection to the ALJ’s
findings notes the objection had not been timely filed, but the Commission nonetheless discussed and voted
on the objections, voting to affirm the ALJ’s decision. Id. at 59.
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approved by the department.” A plain reading of the statue [sic]
through the use of the past tense phrase “have been,” clearly
requires that the approval for the training should come before it
can be qualified for CE. A Statute need not encompass any or
every potential or unlikely occurrence or interpretation by a
potential licensee; such an expectation is unrealistic and not
supported by law. The interpretation of the statute by the
administrative agency need only have some basis which could
lead a reasonable person to the same conclusion.
33. [Applicants] presented no evidence they were treated less
fairly or differently than other elevator contractors/mechanics.
[Applicants] received exactly the same treatment specified under
the relevant statutes and AOPA. The only difference between
the [Applicants] and the other licensed contractors or mechanics
is the [Applicants] failed to comply with the statutory
requirements to renew their licenses. The [Applicants] had the
same statutory language and notice as other elevator contractors,
who appropriately and successfully submitted their applications
for continuing education and recertification.
34. [Applicants] have raised new arguments in their Pre-Hearing
Brief to assert the administrative hearing was not in accordance
with the law and procedure. The reason behind exhaustion of
administrative remedies – judicial economy – is also relevant to
the requirement that a party raise an issue to an administrative
agency before seeking judicial review. . . . [Applicants’] failure to
raise issues at the administrative level constitutes a valid waiver
under Indiana law.
35. A review of the Agency record confirms the ALJ’s findings:
the [Applicants] failed to provide proof of attendance at a
Department-approved CE course. The record is clear on the
issue, and [Applicants’] arguments are without merit. As a
result, the March 3, 2008 denial and the [Commission’s] final
order upholding the agency’s denial are supported by substantial
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evidence, are deserving of deference, and are not arbitrary or
capricious. [The Commission’s] actions were in conformity with
the law.
36. [Applicants] fail to meet their heavy burden to show they
were prejudiced by an agency decision that was arbitrary,
capricious or otherwise contrary to law. This Court does not find
that the provisions of Indiana Code § 22-15-5-15 are ambiguous
nor are they, by extension, unconstitutional. Thus, the agency
action must be affirmed.
Id. at 14-16 (some citations omitted). The Applicants now appeal.
Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
[10] When we review an administrative agency’s decision, we stand in the trial
court’s shoes. Ind. State Ethics Comm’n v. Sanchez, 18 N.E.3d 988, 991 (Ind.
2014). We may set aside an agency decision only if the party seeking judicial
relief has been prejudiced by an agency action that is:
(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not
in accordance with law; (2) contrary to constitutional right,
power, privilege, or immunity; (3) in excess of statutory
jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right;
(4) without observance of procedure required by law; or (5)
unsupported by substantial evidence.
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Ind. Code § 4-21.5-5-14(d). As in the trial court, “[t]he burden of
demonstrating the invalidity of agency action is on the party to the judicial
review proceeding asserting invalidity.” Ind. Code § 4-21.5-5-14(a).
[11] In conducting our review, we do not reweigh the evidence; rather, we consider
the record in the light most favorable to the agency decision. Regester v. Ind.
State Bd. of Nursing, 703 N.E.2d 147, 151 (Ind. 1998). We defer to an
administrative agency’s findings of fact if they are supported by substantial
evidence, but review an agency’s conclusions of law de novo. Jay Classroom
Teachers Ass’n v. Jay School Corp., 55 N.E.3d 813, 816 (Ind. 2016). “Although an
agency’s interpretation of a statute presents a question of law entitled to de
novo review, the agency’s interpretation is given great weight.” Id. (citation
and internal quotation marks omitted). In construing a statute, the court
presumes that the legislature intended its language to be applied in a logical
manner consistent with the statute’s underlying policy and goals. Ind. State Bd.
of Registration for Prof’l Eng’rs and Land Surveyors v. Nord, 600 N.E.2d 124, 128
(Ind. Ct. App. 1992). Words must be given their plain, ordinary and usual
meaning, unless a contrary purpose is clearly shown by the statute. Id. If the
agency’s interpretation of a statute is reasonable, we need not consider any
other proposed interpretation even if the opposing party has presented an
equally reasonable interpretation. Id.
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II. Continuing Education Requirement
[12] One of the requirements to renew an existing elevator contractor or elevator
mechanic license is to “satisfy the continuing education requirement and submit
a proof of completion of training to the [D]epartment.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-
15(b). The CE requirement is “at least eight (8) hours of instruction that must
be attended and completed within one (1) year before a license renewal.” Ind.
Code § 22-15-5-15(c). For attendance at a CE course to satisfy a licensee’s CE
requirement, “the continuing education provider, instructor and the curriculum
must have been approved by the [D]epartment.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-15(d).
[13] The Applicants allege the Commission’s decision not to renew their licenses
was invalid under Indiana Code section 4-21.5-5-14(d) because the licensing
statute is not clear that in-house training can meet the CE requirement and the
Department did not give ZECO that information; because the Department
treated ZECO in a discriminatory fashion with respect to providing information
about and approving in-house training; and because the Department’s
interpretation of the CE statute to require pre-approval of courses for CE credit
is incorrect. Essentially, the Applicants contend the Department did not act
consistently and fairly in assessing their applications.
[14] The Applicants’ arguments conflate two separate issues: whether ZECO could
qualify as a CE provider and Zeller as a CE instructor for purposes of holding
courses satisfying the CE requirement is a separate consideration from whether
the Applicants submitted applications showing they met the requirements for
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renewal of their licenses. The agency action being reviewed is the denial of the
applications, yet the bulk of the Applicants’ argument is directed to the
Department’s failure to retroactively approve ZECO’s in-house training as
courses eligible for CE credit.
[15] By appropriate legislation, the State of Indiana has provided for the licensing of
those engaged in certain trades, businesses, or professions and has established
administrative boards for the purpose of granting or revoking such licenses. See
Ralston v. Ryan, 217 Ind. 482, 484, 29 N.E.2d 202, 203 (1940) (regarding the
licensing of engineers). Those administrative boards “act as fact-finding bodies
to ascertain whether applicants conform to a legislative formula by which the
right to a license is fixed.” State Bd. of Med. Registration and Examination v.
Scherer, 221 Ind. 92, 96, 46 N.E.2d 602, 603 (1943). Here, the legislature has
provided for the Department to “issue a license as an elevator contractor [or]
elevator mechanic . . . to a person who qualifies and complies with the
provisions of the licensing program.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-6(c). The “legislative
formula” for renewing an elevator mechanic’s license is to
(1) Submit to the [D]epartment an application provided by the
[D]epartment . . . .
(2) Submit proof of completion of the continuing education
required by section [22-15-5-15].
(3) Pay the nonrefundable and nontransferable license fee
established under IC 22-12-6-6.
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(4) Affirm under penalty of perjury that all information provided
to the [D]epartment is true to the best of the applicant’s
knowledge and belief.
Ind. Code § 22-15-5-12(d).3 It is undisputed the Applicants did not submit proof
of completion of the CE required by statute, either with their applications or
when given the opportunity to supplement their applications thereafter. The
required “proof” includes information about the date the Department-approved
CE was taken; the name of the CE course, provider, and instructor; and proof
of attendance. At best, the Applicants provided the name of providers; their
documentation does not include dates, names of courses or instructors, or proof
of attendance at an approved CE. On its face, then, there is nothing arbitrary or
capricious about the Commission’s decision to deny the applications for license
renewal, as the Applicants failed to conform to the statutory requirements for
renewal.
[16] Essentially, however, the Applicants argue they actually did complete the
required CE because they attended in-house training that should have been
retroactively approved by the Department.4 The Applicants note that despite
contacting the Division regarding approved CE options for the renewal period
3
Section 22-15-5-8(b) sets forth the requirements for renewing an elevator contractor’s license, which in
addition to the requirements for an elevator mechanic’s license, includes demonstrating proof of insurance
and proof of worker’s compensation coverage.
4
Despite alleging in the letter to the Department that they had attended a four-hour “accredited” course
through the Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils, Inc., the Applicants’ argument focuses solely on
obtaining CE credit for the in-house training.
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at issue, they were unable to obtain information about any approved courses.
They also note that the statute is not clear that in-house training could satisfy
the CE requirement, as Indiana Code section 22-15-5-15(d) provides:
The continuing education courses designed to ensure the
continuing education of an individual holding a license regarding
new and existing provisions of the rules of the commission may
include:
(1) programs sponsored by the commission;
(2) trade association seminars;
(3) labor training programs; or
(4) joint labor management apprenticeship and journeyman
upgrade training programs.
Moreover, they note the Division never informed them that in-house training
could be CE-approved, despite approving other elevator companies’ in-house
training for CE. Finally, they argue the Department’s interpretation of the
statute defining the CE requirement is unreasonable because the statute does
not explicitly state CE must be pre-approved for it to satisfy the requirement.
[17] With regard to the difficulty the Applicants claim they had in obtaining
information about available CE, Zeller testified at the hearing before the ALJ
based upon shorthand notes written by his secretary that she had called the
Division on possibly two occasions at the end of September 2007 to inquire
whether Ivy Tech was again providing a CE course. He testified his secretary
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also recorded making several phone calls to Ivy Tech in October and November
2007, including one on November 21, 2007, in which Ivy Tech informed her it
would not be providing a CE course, but gave her the names and numbers of
other organizations to call. Rather than contact any of those organizations or
call the Division again for further guidance, Zeller told his secretary on
November 28, 2007, to send a check to the State for the license renewal fees,
followed thereafter by the applications. The Division may not have done all it
could to communicate with current license holders about available CE options, 5
especially given the licensing program was still relatively new, but the Division
itself is not responsible for offering CE programs, only approving them to be
offered by others. The onus to obtain CE rests with the Applicants, and they
certainly did not do all they could, either. They made at most two phone calls
to the Division, seeking information about an Ivy Tech course. They explored
no alternatives beyond Ivy Tech. It is true the statute describing CE courses
does not specifically include in-house training among the types of courses that
may meet the CE requirement. However, the statute is also clear that the list is
not exclusive, as it states such courses “may include” those listed. Ind. Code §
22-15-5-15(d). The Applicants could have inquired of the Division whether
ZECO’s weekly in-house training could count as CE, but instead, once the
5
Throughout their briefing, the Applicants argue the Department “was under a specific, statutory duty” to
tell them they could provide in-house training, citing Indiana Code section 5-14-3-1. See Appellants’ Reply
Brief at 4. That statute is part of Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act, which allows any person to inspect
and copy the records of any public agency. Knightstown Banner, LLC v. Town of Knightstown, 838 N.E.2d 1127,
1130 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied. It does not impose on the Department the obligation the Applicants
seek to impose.
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Applicants ascertained a course similar to the one provided two years prior was
not going to be provided again, they asked no further questions and simply
submitted their applications without regard to the plainly stated requirement to
submit proof of approved CE attendance.
[18] As to ZECO’s assertion it was treated differently than other elevator companies
who were approved for in-house CE training, we note that again, this goes to
the question of whether ZECO could be a CE provider rather than to the
question of whether the renewal applications should have been denied.
Regardless, the record contains no evidence of discriminatory treatment. It is
true other elevator companies’ in-house training was approved for CE credit.
But there is absolutely no evidence that the Department proactively gave those
companies information about the option to provide in-house training that it did
not provide to ZECO, as the Applicants seem to allege. Moreover, those other
companies submitted the appropriate documentation to have their in-house CE
approved prior to offering it, and, presumably, their employees then submitted
the appropriate documentation of their attendance with their renewal
applications. ZECO did not submit any documentation seeking to have its in-
house training approved until after the Applicants’ licenses had expired and
their renewal applications were denied. Therefore, ZECO was not treated
differently than other elevator companies because it was not in the same
position as the other companies.
[19] This leads to the Applicants’ final allegation that the Department’s
interpretation of the CE statute to require a CE course to be pre-approved is
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“unavailing.” Appellants’ Brief at 19. The CE statute states that in order for an
individual’s completion of a CE course to satisfy an applicant’s CE
requirement, “the continuing education provider, instructor and the curriculum
must have been approved by the [D]epartment.” Ind. Code § 22-15-5-15(d)
(emphasis added).
[20] The Applicants analogize their CE requirements with an attorney’s continuing
legal education requirements, citing the Mandatory Continuing Legal
Education Guideline that an attorney “may apply for credit of a course either
before or after the date on which it is offered.” Guidelines to the Ind.
Admission and Discipline Rule, Section 3(d). The Applicants contend “there is
no just reason why elevator licensees, like attorneys . . ., may not submit proof
of their CE training after it occurs and receive approval from the Department at
that time.” Appellants’ Brief at 20. But there are several reasons why the two
do not necessarily have to be treated the same. First, the attorney licensing and
education scheme was created by the Indiana Supreme Court and is overseen
by a court-created commission, whereas the elevator contractor and mechanic
licensing and education scheme was created by the Indiana General Assembly
and is overseen by a legislatively-created agency. Second, the continuing legal
education rules for attorneys specifically provide in certain cases for approval
after a course is completed, whereas section 22-15-5-15(d) does not. Third,
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Guideline 3(d) states in its entirety that
an attorney may apply for credit either before or after the course “[e]xcept for
distance education and in-house courses”; for a law firm’s in-house course to be
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approved for continuing legal education credit, an application for accreditation
must be received at least thirty (30) days prior to the course. So if the two
continuing education schemes were to be treated the same as the Applicants
wish, in-house elevator training would require pre-approval notwithstanding the
specific language of section 22-15-5-15. And fourth, regardless of the
appropriate timing of approving a CE course and even if the documentation
ZECO submitted after the fact would be sufficient for it to be approved as a
provider and Zeller as an instructor, the Applicants provided no documentation
at any time proving their attendance at any given training session.
[21] Turning to the language of the statute specifically applicable to this situation,
Indiana Code section 22-15-5-15 does not say that for an individual’s
completion of a course to satisfy the CE requirement the course “must be
approved” by the Department; rather, it says the course “must have been
approved.” Because the obligation imposed by the statute is written in the past
tense, it necessarily means the required Department action—approval of a
course—is to be taken before the individual’s completion of the course may
satisfy the CE requirement. Cf. In re P.F., 849 N.E.2d 1220, 1225 (Ind. Ct. App.
2006) (reviewing a statute regarding school expulsion that requires the
governing body to hear a student’s appeal unless the school board “has voted”
not to hear appeals of expulsions and noting that because “has voted” is in the
past tense, the school board is required to hear a student’s appeal unless it had
already taken a vote not to hear any such appeals prior to the initiation of that
individual’s appeal). In addition, to the extent the language of the statute is
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ambiguous, the Department’s representative testified at the ALJ hearing that
the Department interprets section 22-15-5-15 to mean a course must be
approved before the training is provided. We recognize an agency has expertise
in its field and therefore give great weight to an agency’s interpretation of a
statute it is responsible for enforcing. Andy Mohr West v. Office of Ind. Sec’y of
State, 54 N.E.3d 349, 352-53 (Ind. 2016). If the agency’s interpretation of a
statute is reasonable, we end our analysis there. Id. And indeed, the
Department’s interpretation of the statute here is reasonable.
[22] In sum, ZECO did not do what was necessary to offer approved CE to its
employees and the Applicants did not prove they had otherwise attended eight
hours of approved CE. “An administrative decision is arbitrary and capricious
only when it is willful and unreasonable, without consideration or in disregard
of the facts and circumstances of the case, or without some basis which could
lead a reasonable person to the same conclusion.” Ind. Horse Racing Comm’n v.
Martin, 990 N.E.2d 498, 503 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). Because the Applicants
failed to prove they had met all the requirements for renewal of their licenses,
and have failed to show the Department or the Commission acted
unreasonably, in disregard of the facts and circumstances, or without a
reasonable basis in denying the applications on this ground, they have also
failed to meet their burden of showing the agency action in this case was
invalid.
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III. ALJ Hearing
[23] Finally, the Applicants contend the ALJ acted improperly by deferring to the
Department’s position and not conducting a true de novo review.
The ALJ is guided in his role by Ind. Code §§ 4-21.5-3-1 through
4-21.5-3-37 which establish the procedure the ALJ is to follow.
More particularly, Ind.Code § 4-21.5-3-27 requires the ALJ to
make findings of fact based on the evidence presented at the
hearing. This requires the ALJ to independently weigh the
evidence presented at the hearing and to base recommendations
exclusively on that record.
Ind. Dep’t of Nat. Res. v. United Refuse Co. Inc., 615 N.E.2d 100, 104 (Ind. 1993).
[24] The trial court found this issue waived for failure to raise it to the Commission,
noting the Applicants raised this new argument for the first time in their pre-
hearing brief on judicial review. In general, “[a] person may file a petition for
judicial review . . . only after exhausting all administrative remedies available
within the agency whose action is being challenged and within any other
agency authorized to exercise administrative review.” Ind. Code § 4-21.5-5-
4(a). In United Refuse, our supreme court determined the ALJ did not perform a
de novo review and remanded the case for a new ALJ hearing conducted under
the appropriate standard of review. 615 N.E.2d at 104. In a concurring
opinion, Justice DeBruler noted the objections to the ALJ’s nonfinal order were
based in part on the review standard employed by the ALJ and the ultimate
authority had the ability to reject or modify the ALJ’s findings and make its
own. Id. at 105 (citing Ind. Code § 4-21.5-3-28(g)(2)). That the ultimate
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authority affirmed the ALJ’s findings without modification under those
circumstances justified setting aside the agency action. Id. Here, the propriety
of the ALJ’s decision on this particular basis could have been raised for the
Commission to correct but was not. See App. at 61 (ZECO’s “exception” to the
ALJ’s order, raising only alleged omissions from certain findings of fact).
[25] Regardless, we see nothing improper about the ALJ’s role in this case. With
respect to the ultimate issue before the ALJ—whether the applications met the
statutory requirements—the ALJ determined from the evidence presented at the
hearing that the applications did not meet the statutory requirements because
they failed to include proof of attendance at eight hours of approved CE. This
is an appropriate review and resolution of the case.
Conclusion
[26] The Applicants have not established that the Commission’s decision was
unsupported by substantial evidence or was arbitrary, capricious, or in violation
of any constitutional, statutory, or legal principles. Accordingly, the trial
court’s decision affirming the Commission’s order denying the Applicants’
license renewals was not in error. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
[27] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Crone, J., concur.
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