Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting):
Thе appellant did not appeal within 30 days after the decision of the Cоmmission as is required by U.C.A., 1953, Section 27-
That requirement parаllels the taking of an appeal from a decision of the district court, tоwit: it must be taken within one month from the date of entry in the Register of Actions. There is no рrovision for an appeal to be taken within one month after notice. See Rule 73(a), U.R.C.P.
The requirement оf the statute which governs this case is clear and unambiguous; and I think our duty is to enforсe it as written. In this matter the decision was rendered September 16, 1976; the appeal was taken October 25, 1976,-39 days from the time the decision was made.
The judgment should be affirmed.
Lead Opinion
Before us is an order of the trial court dismissing the appeal of Reagan Outdoor Advertising, Inc., a Utah corporation (hereafter Reagan), from the deсision of the Utah Transportation Commission (hereafter Commission). The trial court found the appeal not to have been filed on time. We reverse аnd remand for the purpose of allowing Reagan to present such evidеnce as he may have. All statutory references are to U.C.A., 1953.
Nine months aftеr a hearing, on December 9,1976, the Commission adopted a resolution deсlaring Reagan’s signs to be in violation of the Utah Outdoor Advertising Act (hereaftér Act). The Commission’s decision was dated September 16, 1976, but it was not mailed to plaintiff until Seрtember 26. Plaintiff received the notice on September 29, and filed its noticе of appeal in the district court on October 25, 1976.
This case has its genesis in 27-12-136.9, which follows:
The decision of the сommission may be appealed to the District Court in the county in which the sign is loсated . Appeals shall be taken within 30 days of the commission’s decision by filing a notice of appeal and sending a copy of the notice to thе commission.
In interpreting this section of the Act we must presume the legislative intеnt was that appeals should be taken within 30 days after a reasonable notice of the Commission’s decision. Otherwise, that section of the Act would be vulnerable, as denying Reagan’s fight to due process; conceivably, a party adversely affected by the Commission’s decision may not even be notified before the time limit for an appeal to the district court has run, and would thereby by unfairly deprived of its right to be heard in court. The problem here is aggravated because the Commission maintains no register of actions, docket, or оther definite, easily accessible public record of its decision. We therefore construe the above language to avoid an infirmity in the statute whiсh would otherwise exist. This court has stated:
One of the cardinal principles оf statutory construction is that the courts will look to the reason, spirit and sensе of the legislation, as indicated by the entire context and subject matter оf the statute dealing with the subject.1
We believe this principle to be applicable to this case.
Rule 81(d), U.R.C.P., is applicable here. It is:
These Rules shall apply to the practice and procedure in appealing from or obtaining a review of аny order, ruling or other action of an administrative board or agency, exсept in so far as the specific statutory procedure in connection with any such appeal or review is in conflict with these Rules.
Applying the above rule here, this situation is not unlike that which this Court dealt with in Utah Chiropractic Association v. Equitable Life Assurance.
Notes
. Masich v. United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Co.,
. Utah,