Steven Douglas Jones appeals the dismissal with prejudice of his complaint against defendant, the Colorado State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Board). We affirm.
Jones named the Board as a defendant for the purpose of enjoining the Board to adopt a regulation requiring all licensed chiropractors in Colorado to inform their patients that spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine can cause injury to the vertebral arteries resulting in closed head injury, permanent brain damage, and death. Such regulation would be in contrast to the existing regulation which provides that a chiropractor engages in incompetent and negligent conduct when he or she offers an “unproven procedure” without first obtaining the patient’s informed consent. Colorado State Board of Chiropractic Examiners Rule 10, 3 Code Colo.Reg. 707-1.
The power of the courts to order executive agencies to take any action is extremely limited. Injunctive relief is not generally available against an administrative agency performing the duties delegated to it.
Moore v. District Court,
Although framed as a request for a mandatory and permanent injunction, the relief sought by Jones is in the nature of mandamus.
See
C.R.C.P. 106(a)(2). Mandamus is appropriate where: 1) the plaintiff has a clear right to the relief sought; 2) the agency has a clear duty to perform the act requested; and 3) there is no other available remedy.
Gramiger v. Crowley,
The Board’s rule-making authority is a quasi-legislative function delegated to it by the General Assembly.
See
§ 12-33-107(l)(a), C.R.S. (1991 Repl. Vol. 5A). Legislative and quasi-legislative functions are inherently discretionary.
Tihonovich v. Williams,
As to the final criterion for mandamus relief, we note that there are existing remedies at law available to Jones. Jones can petition the Board for the issuance of the regulation, and the denial of such a petition is reviewable.
See
§§ 24-4-103(7), 24-4-106(7), and- 24^-103(8.1), C.R.S. (1988 Repl. Vol. 10A). Jones can bring a declaratory judgment action against the Board to challenge the validity and applicability of the existing regulation pursuant to C.R.C.P. 57.
See Collopy v. Wildlife Commission,
We disagree with Jones’ contention that since the district court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claim pursuant to § 24-4-106, C.R.S. (1988 Repl. Vol. 10A), it erred in dismissing his claim against the Board. In regard to this contention, we would first point out that the Act creating the Board provides for judicial review of quasi-legislative actions of the Board by the court of appeals not the district courts. See § 12-33-121, C.R.S. (1991 Repl. Vol. 5A); § 24-4-106(11), C.R.S. (1988 Repl. Vol. 10A). Furthermore, the issue here is not jurisdiction but remedy. We conclude that § 24-4-106 does not expand the power of the courts with respect to initiating and compelling administrative action beyond that available under C.R.C.P. 106(a)(2).
Jones’ reliance on
Colorado State Board of Optometric Examiners v. Dixon,
The judgment dismissing Jones’ complaint against the Board is affirmed.
