Kalb v. Director of Revenue

• Decision Date: 13 June 2000
• Citation: Kalb v. Director of Revenue, 32 S.W.3d 126 (Mo. App. 2000)
• Parties: (Mo.App. E.D. 2000) . Kenneth Kalb, Petitioner/Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Respondent/Appellant. Case Number: ED76234 Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Handdown Date: 0
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

32 S.W.3d 126 (Mo.App. E.D. 2000)

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.

Kenneth Kalb, Petitioner/Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Respondent/Appellant.

Case Number: ED76234

Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District

Handdown Date: 06/13/2000

Appeal From: Circuit Court of Ste. Genevieve County, Hon. Raymond M. Weber

Counsel for Appellant: Evan J. Buchheim

Counsel for Respondent:

Opinion Summary: The Director of Revenue appeals from a judgment reinstating the driving privileges of Kenneth Kalb after the Director suspended them pursuant to section 303.025, RSMo (Cum. Supp. 1997).

REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DISMISS THE PETITION.

Division Two holds: The driver's failure to timely file his petition for review in the circuit court pursuant to section 303.290.2, RSMo (1994), deprived the circuit court of subject matter jurisdiction.

Opinion Author: Kathianne Knaup Crane, Presiding Judge

Opinion Vote: REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DISMISS THE PETITION.R. Dowd, Jr., and Sullivan, JJ., concur.

Opinion:

The Director of Revenue (Director) appeals from the circuit court judgment reinstating the driving privileges of the petitioner, Kenneth Kalb, pursuant to Section 303.290.2 RSMo (1994).Director contends that because petitioner did not file his petition for review in the trial court within the statutorily required 30-day period, the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and the trial court's decision should be reversed.

On July 27, 1998 Director held a hearing to determine if petitioner's driving privileges should be suspended for failing to maintain financial responsibility pursuant to Section 303.025 RSMo (Cum. Supp. 1997).On August 17, 1998 Director notified petitioner by certified mail that his driving privileges would be suspended for 60 days and notified petitioner that he had thirty days "after notice is given" of the final decision pursuant to Section 303.290.2 in which to file a petition for review of the decision in the trial court.On September 18, 1998, 32 days after notice of the suspension was mailed, petitioner filed his petition for review in the trial court.Director moved to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.The trial court heard the matter and reversed Director's decision on the grounds it was unreasonable.On appeal Director contends that the trial court erred in setting aside the license suspension because the trial court did not have subject matter jurisdiction as required by Section 303.290.2.

On appeal, we review the decision of the trial court, not of the director.Altman v. Director of Revenue, 926 S.W.2d 705, 706(Mo. App.1996).The decision of the trial court will be affirmed unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, it is against the weight of the evidence, or it erroneously declares or applies the law.Id.;Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32(Mo. banc 1976).

For Director's sole point, he contends that the trial court erred in setting aside the petitioner's revocation because the trial court did not have subject matter jurisdiction, pursuant to Section 303.290.2, due to petitioner's failure to file his petition for review of the administrative decision within the statutorily prescribed 30 day period.

Section 303.290.2 RSMo (1994), states in relevant part, that:

[a]ny decision, finding or order of the director . . . shall be subject to review by appeal to the circuit court of the county of the residence of the licensee, at the instance of any party in interest . . . at any time within thirty days after notice is given the licensee of such decision, finding or order.

Section 303.290.2(emphasis added).

The date notice is given is...