Hartwin R. Peterson, D.C. v. the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners ( 1998 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

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NO. 03-97-00652-CV

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Hartwin R. Peterson, D.C., Appellant

v.

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Appellee

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FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 250TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT NO. 97-07263, HONORABLE HUME COFER, JUDGE PRESIDING

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This is a purported collateral attack on a final order of The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the "Board") revoking appellant Hartwin R. Peterson's chiropractic license. Peterson brings this appeal after the district court dismissed the cause for want of jurisdiction. In four points of error, Peterson argues that the Board's plea to the jurisdiction was erroneously granted because the trial court had jurisdiction to determine collaterally whether the Board's final order was void due to its imposition of revocation without proper notice or because the Board failed to follow certain statutory requirements under Texas Revised Civil Statute article 4512b (hereinafter the "Chiropractic Act"). We will affirm the district court's judgment sustaining the Board's plea to the jurisdiction and dismissing the cause.

BACKGROUND

On March 6, 1997, the Board issued a final order revoking Peterson's license for engaging in multiple acts of sexual misconduct that constituted "grossly unprofessional conduct" under Title 22 section 75.1(3) of the Texas Administrative Code. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.1(3) (1997) (it shall be considered grossly unprofessional conduct for a licensee to engage in sexual misconduct with a patient within the chiropractic/patient relationship); Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14a(5) (West 1998) (Board may cancel, revoke, or suspend licenses for engaging in grossly unprofessional or dishonorable conduct). ⁽¹⁾ These acts of sexual misconduct were reported to the Board in October 1993 by one of Peterson's female patients.

After the Board issued its order revoking Peterson's license, Peterson timely filed a motion for rehearing. In his motion for rehearing, Peterson argued, as he does here, that because the Board invoked jurisdiction only under section 14e(e) of the Chiropractic Act, the Board was without jurisdiction to issue its order. To understand the context of Peterson's complaints, however, it is necessary to first conduct a brief history and overview of the Chiropractic Act.

In 1949, the Texas Legislature established the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. See Act of April 27, 1949, 51st Leg., R.S., ch. 94, § 2, 1949 Tex. Gen. Laws 160 (now codified at Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 3). Pursuant to the creation of this Board, the Legislature delegated to the Board broad powers to examine and license chiropractors in this State. One such power was the Board's authority to revoke or suspend a chiropractor's license for violations specified in the newly created act. See Act of April 27, 1949, 51st Leg., R.S., ch. 94, § 14, 1949 Tex. Gen. Laws 160, 166 (now codified at Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, §§ 14, 14a).

In 1993, the 73rd Legislature significantly amended the Chiropractic Act. Among other things, the amendments expanded the Board's disciplinary powers to include, in addition to its power to revoke or suspend a chiropractor's license, the power to impose monetary administrative penalties. See Act of June 19, 1993, 73d Leg., R.S., ch. 910, sec. 18, §§ 14, 14e, 1993 Tex. Gen. Laws 3834, 3841 (now codified at Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, §§ 14, 14e). These administrative penalties could be levied, however, only after a series of informal conferences and reviews with the chiropractor in question. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 75.9(c)(4) (informal conference shall be conducted as statutorily established), 75.10 (Board may assess administrative penalty in accordance with Chiropractic Act section 14e). ⁽²⁾ Thus, after 1993, the Chiropractic Act provided for a dual-track system of discipline with section 14a authorizing the more severe sanctions of cancellation, revocation, or suspension, and section 14e authorizing the less severe sanction of monetary fines.

The bulk of Peterson's complaints alleged procedural irregularities regarding the administrative penalties part of the disciplinary procedure. Specifically, Peterson argued that the Act required an enforcement committee, which is a subcommittee of the Board charged with investigating complaints, to issue a report stating facts constituting a violation and recommending a monetary fine to the full Board for formal action. ⁽³⁾ See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(a) (enforcement committee may issue to Board a report stating facts constituting a violation of the Act and a recommendation for the imposition of an administrative penalty). Peterson argued that the enforcement committee never issued a report in his case and therefore the Board's final order was defective and void.

Additionally, Peterson argued that not only did he have a right to have a report made, he also argued that section 14e entitled him to: (1) a brief summary of the report; ⁽⁴⁾ (2) a right to formally reject the enforcement committee's recommendation for punishment and request a hearing; ⁽⁵⁾ or (3) a right to accept the enforcement committee's recommendation for punishment and have it imposed. ⁽⁶⁾ Finally, Peterson argued that because this report was never made and the aforementioned procedures were not followed, the issuance of an order by the Board "deprived [him] of substantive due process and equal protection." Despite these arguments, Peterson's motion for rehearing was overruled by operation of law on May 15, 1997.

After his motion for rehearing was overruled, Peterson had thirty (30) days to file a petition for judicial review. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 2001.176(a) (West 1998) (person initiates judicial review in contested case by filing a petition not later than 30th day after date decision is final and appealable). It is undisputed, however, that Peterson failed to file his original petition for judicial review within the thirty-day requirement. The record shows that Peterson hand-delivered his original petition for filing with the district clerk on June 20, 1997, four days after the filing deadline.

In response to Peterson's untimely petition for judicial review, the Board filed a plea to the jurisdiction. Peterson rejoined by filing a first amended original petition collaterally attacking the Board's order as void. His collateral attack, however, was primarily based on the same arguments he had previously made in his motion for rehearing and his untimely petition for judicial review, i.e., the invalidity of the Board's order due to its failure to follow the statutory requirements prescribed in section 14e of the Chiropractic Act.

On August 7, 1997, the trial court held a hearing to consider the Board's plea to the jurisdiction. After hearing extensive arguments regarding the validity of the Board's order, the trial court concluded that Peterson's first amended original petition did not allege facts showing that the Board lacked authority to issue its order. In an abundance of caution, however, the trial court afforded Peterson a second opportunity to amend his pleadings and allege other facts showing that the Board's order was void. Thereafter, on August 15, 1997, Peterson filed a second amended original petition.

In his second amended original petition, Peterson alleged that the Board was without jurisdiction to revoke his license because the Board failed to give proper notice that it was seeking revocation. As discussed in more detail below, Peterson alleged that the Board's notice asserted jurisdiction only under section 14e(e) of the Chiropractic Act which is the section providing the Board jurisdiction to seek monetary administrative penalties. See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(e); 22 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 75.1(b), 75.10. As discussed above, unlike sections 14 and 14a of the Chiropractic Act, which grant the Board jurisdiction to either revoke, suspend, reprimand, or impose an administrative penalty for violating the Chiropractic Act, section 14e(e) of the Chiropractic Act specifically authorizes the Board to issue only monetary administrative penalties. See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14 (Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall revoke, suspend, reprimand, or impose administrative penalty if licensee violates Chiropractic Act or rule of Board); Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e (upon finding violation of Chiropractic Act, Board may impose administrative penalty); see also 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.10 (pursuant to section 14e Board may assess administrative penalty for violation of Chiropractic Act or rule of Board).

As in his motion for rehearing and his untimely petition for judicial review, Peterson argued that such improper notice, in addition to the Board's failure to follow certain statutory requirements in the Chiropractic Act, violated his constitutional rights to due process of law. After reviewing his second amended original petition, the trial court again concluded that Peterson failed to allege facts showing that the Board lacked authority to issue its order. Consequently, the trial court rendered a final judgment granting the Board's plea to the jurisdiction and dismissing the cause for want of jurisdiction. Peterson appeals.

DISCUSSION

It is well established that an agency's final order, like the final judgment of a court of law, is ordinarily immune from collateral attack. See Alamo Express, Inc. v. Union City Transfer, 309 S.W.2d 815, 827 (Tex. 1958) (concluding that collateral attack on Railroad Commission order was impermissible because administrative statutes provided sole method of attack); State v. Triax Oil & Gas, No. 03-97-00274-CV, slip op. at 4 (Tex. App. Austin--March 26, 1998, no pet. h.); Public Util. Comm'n v. Allcom Long Distance, 902 S.W.2d 662, 666 (Tex. App.--Austin 1995, writ denied). Moreover, we have specifically held that a final order of an agency that is valid on its face is not subject to collateral attack. Triax Oil & Gas, slip op. at 4; Jolly v. State, 856 S.W.2d 859, 861 (Tex. App.--Austin 1993, writ denied). Even valid defenses to the substance of an order are not permitted if the order has become final and unappealable. Id. Exceptions to this general rule excluding collateral attacks are limited. See Texas Dep't of Transp. v. T. Brown Const., 947 S.W.2d 655, 659 (Tex. App.--Austin 1997, pet. denied). Such exceptions will be found when an agency's order involves a fundamental error or when an agency acts beyond its statutory authority. See T. Brown Const., 947 S.W.2d at 659; Allcom Long Distance, 902 S.W.2d at 666.

In four points of error, Peterson argues that the Board's plea to the jurisdiction was erroneously granted because the trial court had jurisdiction to determine collaterally (1) whether the Board's final order was void due to its imposition of revocation without proper notice; or (2) whether the Board's final order was void due its failure to follow certain statutory requirements under the Chiropractic Act. After examining the Board's order, we determine that it is regular on its face and conclusively rebuts all of Peterson's points of error. However, in an abundance of deference, we will address each of Peterson's arguments in turn.

Notice

Peterson's right to receive notice is a fundamental right that is proper for collateral attack. See T. Brown Const., 947 S.W.2d at 659. We conclude, however, that Peterson's argument regarding improper notice is without merit and thus hold that the trial court did not err in granting the Board's plea to the jurisdiction on this basis.

In February 1994, Peterson received notice that a formal hearing would be held before the State Office of Administrative Hearings ("SOAH") "for the purpose of taking disciplinary action" against him. The notice contained two provisions that are relevant to this appeal. First, the notice stated that the Board had "jurisdiction of the subject matter of the hearing pursuant to section 14e(e) of the Chiropractic Act." ⁽⁷⁾ Section 14e(e) provides:

If the person requests a hearing or fails to respond timely to the notice, the executive director shall set a hearing and give notice of the hearing to the person. The hearing shall be held by an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The administrative law judge shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and promptly issue to the Board a proposal for a decision about the occurrence of the violation and the amount of a proposed penalty. Based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposal for a decision, the Board by order may find that a violation has occurred and impose a penalty or may find that no violation occurred.

Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(e) (emphasis added).

Second, the notice informed Peterson that the SOAH hearing would involve "the matter asserted . . . by the attached complaint," which was incorporated into the notice by reference. The incorporated "complaint" was a formal complaint filed by the Board's staff. The staff's complaint alleged that Peterson's sexual misconduct with his patient was grounds for the Board "to revoke or suspend" his license based on sections 14 and 14a(5) of the Chiropractic Act. Section 14a(5) specifically provides that:

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners may refuse to admit persons to its examinations and may cancel, revoke or suspend licenses or place licensees upon probation for such length of time as may be deemed proper by the Board for any one or more of the following causes:

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5. Grossly unprofessional conduct or dishonorable conduct of a character likely to deceive or defraud the public, habits of intemperance or drug addiction, or other habits calculated in the opinion of the Board to endanger the lives of patients.

Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14a(5) (emphasis added). Moreover, the staff's complaint expressly prayed for an "Order . . . to revoke or suspend [Peterson's] Texas Chiropractic license. (Emphasis added.) Therefore, given the Board's clearly expressed intent to seek revocation, we conclude that Peterson had ample notice that the Board sought to revoke his license and Peterson's allegations based upon this record constitutes an improper collateral attack.

Statutory Requirements

Because we have already held that Peterson had notice that the Board was seeking revocation under section 14a of the Chiropractic Act, Peterson's argument that the Board failed to follow certain statutory requirements under section 14e must also fail.

As discussed above, the overwhelming majority of Peterson's complaints that the Board failed to follow certain statutory requirements of the Act would have only been applicable had the Board exclusively invoked jurisdiction under section 14e. However, as discussed above and as expressly stated in the Board's final order, the Board invoked jurisdiction under sections 14 and 14a, the sections permitting revocation. ⁽⁸⁾ See Triax Oil & Gas, slip op. at 4; Jolly v. State, 856 S.W.2d at 861 (final order of an agency that is valid on its face is not subject to collateral attack). Because the Board invoked its jurisdiction to revoke Peterson's license under sections 14 and 14(a) of the Chiropractic Act, Peterson's procedural complaints are without merit. The trial court correctly determined that Peterson's attempted collateral attack was improper. We overrule Peterson's four points of error.

CONCLUSION

Having overruled all of Peterson's points of order, we affirm the judgment of the trial court dismissing the cause for want of jurisdiction.

Mack Kidd, Justice

Before Justices Powers, Kidd and B. A. Smith

Affirmed

Filed: June 25, 1998

Do Not Publish

1. We recognize that there was an extensive procedural history before the Board's final order on March 6, 1997. Throughout this history, we note that Peterson unsuccessfully argued that the Board lacked jurisdiction to hear his case due to its failure to follow certain prescribed rules under the Chiropractic Act.

2. It is apparent from the rules of the Board that the informal conferences are designed to avoid a contested case and dispose of all complaints by way of mutual resolution between the licensee and the Board. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.9(7) (licensee's concurrence required if Board seeks to change a proposed order by enforcement Committee; should Board disapprove of proposed order, case shall be rescheduled for purposes of reaching an agreed order).

3.

Pursuant to statute, the enforcement committee is authorized to conduct and oversee investigations of all complaints filed with the Board. Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14c. The committee has the power to subpoena witnesses and documents, as well as hold informal conferences at which the complainant and the licensee have an opportunity to be heard. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 75.9(c). These informal conferences are not considered meetings of the Board, and thus no formal record is required. Id. § 75.9(c)(6).

4. See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(b) (within 14 days after report is issued by enforcement committee, notice of the report shall be given to the licensee containing a brief summary of the alleged violation and a statement of the recommended penalty).

5.

See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(c) (within 20 days after licensee receives notice of report by enforcement committee, licensee may accept determination and recommended penalty).

6.

See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, § 14e(d) (if licensee accepts determination and recommended penalty of enforcement committee, Board by order shall approve determination and impose recommended penalty).

7. We note that at oral argument counsel for the Board admitted that the aforementioned notice provision invoking jurisdiction under section 14e(e) was a mistake. However, as will be discussed, the incorporation by reference of the staff's complaint in its entirety clearly informed Peterson that the Board was seeking revocation and not merely an administrative penalty.

8. Conclusion of Law No. 1 in the Board's final order states, "The Board of Chiropractic Examiners has jurisdiction over this matter, pursuant to Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 4512b, §§ 14 and 14a."

Statutory Requirements

Because we have already held that Peterson had notice that the Board was seeking revocation under section 14a of the Chiropractic Act, Peterson's argument that the Board failed to follow certain statutory requirements under section 14e must also fail.

As discussed above, the overwhelming majority of Peterson's complaints that the Board failed to follow certain statutory requirements of the Act would have only been applicable had the Board exclusively invoked jurisdiction under section 14e. However, as discussed above and as expressly stated in the Board's final order, the Board invoked jurisdiction under sections 14 and 14a, the sections permitting revocation. ⁽⁸⁾ See Triax Oil & Gas, slip op. at 4; Jolly v. State, 856 S.W.2d at 861 (final order of an agency that is valid on its face is not subject to collateral attack). Because the Board invoked its jurisdiction to revoke Peterson's license under sections 14 and 14(a) of the Chiropractic Act, Peterson's procedural complaints are without merit. The trial court correctly determined that Peterson's attempted collateral attack was improper. We overrule Peterson's four points of error.

CONCLUSION

Having overruled all of Peterson's points of order, we affirm the judgment of the trial court dismissing the cause for want of jurisdiction.

Mack Kidd, Justice

Before Justices Powers, Kidd and B. A. Smith

Affirmed

Filed: June 25, 1998

Do Not Publish

1. We recognize that there was an extensive procedural history before the Board's final order on March 6, 1997. Throughout this history, we note that Peterson unsuccessfully argued that the Board lacked jurisdiction to hear his case due to its failure to follow certain pres