13 Pa. Commw. 43 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1974
Opinion By
This is an appeal by Dr. Peter B. Feddish (Fed-dish) from an adjudication and order of the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Board) which suspended his license to practice chiropractic for a period of six months. A supersedeas was granted at the time this appeal was filed.
We can briefly state the procedural background of this case. Feddish, a duly licensed chiropractor, re
Feddish now argues that he was denied due process of law because he was not afforded the opportunity to file a brief with the Board prior to adjudication. This argument is based on Section 33 of the Administrative Agency Law, Act of June 4,1945, P. L. 1388, 71 P.S. §1710.33, which provides “All parties shall be afforded opportunity to submit briefs prior to adjudication. Oral argument upon substantial issues may be heard by the agency.” (Emphasis added.)
The flaw in Feddish’s argument is that his right to file a brief has never been questioned. Indeed, since he admittedly never asked to file a brief prior to the Board’s adjudication, the narrow issue here is whether or not he waived this right by failing to make a specific request.
Unfortunately for Feddish, this issue has been resolved by prior decisions of this Court holding that the right to file a brief under Section 33 of the Administrative Agency Law is waived unless specifically requested.
Our recent decision in Sharp’s Convalescent Home v. Department of Public Welfare, 7 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 623, 300 A. 2d 909 (1973), contains a thorough discussion of the cases dealing with this issue. There
In conclusion, we hold that Feddish cannot now complain that he was not afforded an opportunity to file a brief when he neither requested the opportunity to do so nor indicated any such desire even by intimation prior to the Board’s adjudication of his case.
Order
And Now, this 5th day of April, 1974, the adjudication and order of the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, dated April 24, 1973, is hereby affirmed.