{
  "id": 11914297,
  "name": "DEEP RIVER CITIZENS COALITION, SCOTT LINEBERRY and GUY SMALL, Petitioners-Appellees v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, Respondent-Appellants, and PIEDMONT TRIAD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, Intervenor-Respondent-Appellant",
  "name_abbreviation": "Deep River Citizens Coalition v. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health & Natural Resources",
  "decision_date": "1995-06-06",
  "docket_number": "No. COA94-873",
  "first_page": "232",
  "last_page": "235",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "119 N.C. App. 232"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
    "id": 14983,
    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "210 S.E.2d 541",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1975,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "543"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "24 N.C. App. 387",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8551382
      ],
      "year": 1975,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "389"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/24/0387-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "451 S.E.2d 634",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1994,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "338 N.C. 314",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        2520680,
        2518128,
        2519168
      ],
      "year": 1994,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/338/0314-01",
        "/nc/338/0314-02",
        "/nc/338/0314-03"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "447 S.E.2d 768",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1994,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "779"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "337 N.C. 569",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        2551286
      ],
      "year": 1994,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "588"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/337/0569-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 389,
    "char_count": 7042,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.739,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 9.701242254044871e-08,
      "percentile": 0.5298227811737286
    },
    "sha256": "e79d5d64d4a5e343e549644f9c71b3f2dcbd85edbe7796848d1fd0f85d6b62af",
    "simhash": "1:6205d17310781c15",
    "word_count": 1108
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:09:59.579385+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Judges JOHNSON and MARTIN, JOHN C., concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "DEEP RIVER CITIZENS COALITION, SCOTT LINEBERRY and GUY SMALL, Petitioners-Appellees v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, Respondent-Appellants, and PIEDMONT TRIAD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, Intervenor-Respondent-Appellant"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "GREENE, Judge.\nThe North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (DEHNR), The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC), and Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority (Water Authority) (collectively respondents) appeal from an order of the Wake County Superior Court which reversed and vacated the decision of the EMC.\nWater Authority filed a petition with EMC on 18 August 1988, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7\u00a7 162A-7 and 153A-285, to obtain a certificate allowing the exercise of eminent domain powers to acquire water from the Deep River basin and divert it to the Haw and Yadkin river basins to construct the Randleman Lake, a drinking water project. Although a member of the EMC, assigned to review the case and recommend a decision, recommended that EMC deny the certificate, after a public hearing, EMC granted the certificate pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 162A-7. The Deep River Citizens Coalition, Scott Lineberry and Guy Small (collectively petitioners) petitioned the Wake County Superior Court for judicial review of EMC\u2019s decision, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7\u00a7 150B-43, 162A-7, and 153A-285. At the same time, petitioners filed a petition for a contested case in the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). DEHNR and EMC moved for the dismissal of the OAH proceeding on the grounds that OAH lacked subject matter jurisdiction and OAH denied the motion. The superior court, however, granted respondents\u2019 motion for writ of cer-tiorari and stayed any further OAH proceedings. Water Authority intervened in the superior court proceedings with the consent of all the parties.\nThe dispositive issue is whether the superior court has subject matter jurisdiction to review an administrative decision when the \u201cperson aggrieved\u201d has not first exhausted his right to an administrative hearing.\nOur Supreme Court has recently determined that pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 150B-23(a) of the North Carolina Administrative Procedure Act (NCAPA), any \u201cperson aggrieved\u201d by an administrative agency decision is \u201centitled to an administrative hearing to determine the person\u2019s rights, duties, or privileges,\u201d unless \u201cthe organic statute [under which an agency renders an aggrieving decision], amends, repeals or makes an exception to the NCAPA so as to exclude him from those expressly entitled to appeal thereunder.\u201d Empire Power Co. v. North Carolina Dep\u2019t of E.H.N.R., 337 N.C. 569, 588, 447 S.E.2d 768, 779, reh\u2019g denied, 338 N.C. 314, 451 S.E.2d 634 (1994). Water Authority argues that it necessarily follows that the superior court is without jurisdiction to conduct a judicial review of an agency decision sought by an aggrieved party, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 150B-43, who has not first had the administrative hearing to which he is entitled. We agree.\nThe purpose of the contested case hearing is to give a party who qualifies as a \u201cperson aggrieved,\u201d in a hearing before an administrative law judge (AU), an \u201copportunity to present arguments on issues of law and policy and an opportunity to present evidence, on issues of fact.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-25(c) (1991). Additionally, the \u201caggrieved\u201d party, at this hearing, is permitted to \u201ccross-examine any witness, including the author of a document prepared by, on behalf of, or for use of the agency and offered in evidence.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-25(d). Once the ALJ makes her recommended decision, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-34(a) (1991), the party is given an \u201copportunity to file [with the agency who will make the final decision] exceptions to the [recommended] decision . . . and to present written arguments.\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-36(a) (1991). \u201cIf the agency does not adopt the [ALJ's] recommended decision as its final decision, the agency shall state in its decision or order the specific reasons why it did not adopt [it].\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-36(b). Only after this final agency decision is an aggrieved party entitled to judicial review in the superior court. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-43'(1991) (no judicial review until all administrative remedies are exhausted). This judicial review must be based on the \u201cofficial record in the contested case,\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-47 (1991), which includes all the evidence presented before the AU. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-37 (1991). Accordingly, the superior court\u2019s jurisdiction to review the agency decision does not arise until this official record is prepared. Indeed, the superior court cannot perform its function until that record is complete and any attempt to do so is premature. To hold otherwise would preclude the aggrieved person his right to prepare a record before the AU and influence the decision of the agency.\nIn this case, it is not disputed that petitioners are \u201cperson[s] aggrieved\u201d by EMC\u2019s certification, and that there is no language in N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 162A-7 which excludes them from the provisions of the NCAPA. Thus, because the petitioners did not first have the contested case hearing to which they were entitled, the superior court was without jurisdiction to conduct a judicial review and the order of that court reversing and vacating the decision of EMC is vacated. The order of the trial court staying the proceedings before the administrative agency is reversed and remanded in order that OAH may provide the petitioners with a contested case hearing and that EMC may issue a decision based on the new record.\nBecause the issues presented in this case relate to the subject matter jurisdiction of the trial court, it is not relevant that the petitioners have not and do not object to the trial court\u2019s exercise of jurisdiction. Subject matter jurisdiction \u201ccannot be conferred upon a court by consent, waiver, or estoppel.\u201d State v. Earley, 24 N.C. App. 387, 389, 210 S.E.2d 541, 543 (1975).\nVacated in part, reversed in part and remanded.\nJudges JOHNSON and MARTIN, JOHN C., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "GREENE, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "John D. Runkle for petitioner-appellees.",
      "Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel C. Oakley and Special Deputy Attorney General Francis W. Crawley, for respondent-appellants.",
      "Poyner & Spruill, L.L.P., by H. Glenn Dunn and Timothy P. Sullivan, for interuenor-respondent-appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "DEEP RIVER CITIZENS COALITION, SCOTT LINEBERRY and GUY SMALL, Petitioners-Appellees v. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, Respondent-Appellants, and PIEDMONT TRIAD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, Intervenor-Respondent-Appellant\nNo. COA94-873\n(Filed 6 June 1995)\nAdministrative Law and Procedure \u00a7 52 (NCI4th)\u2014 judicial review prior to administrative hearing \u2014 error\nThe superior court is without jurisdiction to conduct a judicial review of an agency decision sought by an aggrieved party, pursuant to N.C.G.S. \u00a7 150B-43, who has not first had the administrative hearing to which he is entitled.\nAm Jur 2d, Administrative Law \u00a7\u00a7 595 et seq.\nAppeal by respondents and intervenor-respondent from order entered 12 May 1994 in Wake County Superior Court by Judge Dexter Brooks. Heard in the Court of Appeals 9 May 1995.\nJohn D. Runkle for petitioner-appellees.\nAttorney General Michael F. Easley, by Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel C. Oakley and Special Deputy Attorney General Francis W. Crawley, for respondent-appellants.\nPoyner & Spruill, L.L.P., by H. Glenn Dunn and Timothy P. Sullivan, for interuenor-respondent-appellant."
  },
  "file_name": "0232-01",
  "first_page_order": 266,
  "last_page_order": 269
}
