Morris W. Cochran, M.D. v. Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

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REL: 04/12/2013 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e Reporter of Decisions, Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 2120221 M o r r i s W. Cochran, M.D. v. Alabama Board o f M e d i c a l Examiners Appeal from D e c i s i o n o f the Alabama Board of M e d i c a l Examiners (11-030) MOORE, J u d g e . Morris W. C o c h r a n , M.D., s e e k s r e v i e w o f a judgment o f t h e A l a b a m a B o a r d o f M e d i c a l E x a m i n e r s ("the b o a r d " ) r e v o k i n g 2120221 Cochran's Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate. We affirm. Procedural On June 22, 2012, t h e b o a r d e n t e r e d an C o c h r a n t o show c a u s e why Certificate dismiss the History h i s Alabama C o n t r o l l e d s h o u l d n o t be r e v o k e d . the a c t i o n , doctrine of asserting t h a t t h e a c t i o n was res j u d i c a t a . board entered a Cochran's Alabama judgment On on Controlled directing Substances Cochran f i l e d a motion to September b o a r d e n t e r e d an o r d e r d e n y i n g t h a t m o t i o n . the order October Substances 19, b a r r e d by 2012, the After a hearing, 9, 2012, revoking Certificate. On O c t o b e r 22, 2012, C o c h r a n f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r a r e h e a r i n g ; t h a t motion was notice of appeal to t h i s filed d e n i e d on November 16, a "petition 2012. Cochran filed c o u r t on December 13, 2012, for judicial and r e v i e w " on December 14, See ยง 3 4 - 2 4 - 3 8 0 ( c ) , A l a . Code his he 2012. 1975. Discussion C o c h r a n a r g u e s t h a t t h e b o a r d ' s a c t i o n was b a r r e d by t h e doctrine of previously before res judicata p r o s e c u t e d an because, action he ("the the M e d i c a l L i c e n s u r e Commission 2 says, the revocation ("the board has action") commission"), 2120221 s e e k i n g t o revoke Cochran's l i c e n s e t o p r a c t i c e medicine based on t h e same f a c t s . We note, however, t h a t "the d o c t r i n e of r e s j u d i c a t a w i l l n o t be a p p l i e d t o b a r a c l a i m t h a t c o u l d n o t have b e e n b r o u g h t i n a p r i o r a c t i o n . " Lee L. Saad C o n s t r . v. 507, DPF A r c h i t e c t s , P.C., 851 So. 2d S e c t i o n 3 4 - 2 4 - 3 6 0 , A l a . Code 1975, 517 provides, Co. ( A l a . 2002) . in part: "The [ c o m m i s s i o n ] s h a l l have t h e power and d u t y t o s u s p e n d , r e v o k e , o r r e s t r i c t any l i c e n s e t o p r a c t i c e m e d i c i n e o r o s t e o p a t h y i n the State licensee." part: "A of Alabama or boards." registration may be probation Section distribute or or State 20-2-52[, fine any Ala. as: "The Board of Ala. Code or dispense a c o n t r o l l e d revoked 20-2-2(3), boards" the under suspended Section "certifying Examiners, on S e c t i o n 2 0 - 2 - 5 4 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1975, p r o v i d e s , i n 1975,] t o manufacture, substance place by Code State Health, the 1975, Board the certifying of State defines Medical Board of Pharmacy, t h e S t a t e B o a r d o f D e n t a l E x a m i n e r s , t h e S t a t e B o a r d of Podiatry, and the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners." Thus, the present action seeking to revoke Cochran's A l a b a m a C o n t r o l l e d S u b s t a n c e s C e r t i f i c a t e c o u l d n o t have b e e n 3 2120221 brought i n the r e v o c a t i o n a c t i o n before the commission the The commission had authority to no a u t h o r i t y to revoke t h a t revoke Cochran's Substances C e r t i f i c a t e i s vested the seeking underlying action because certificate. Alabama Controlled i n only the board. to revoke Because Cochran's Alabama C o n t r o l l e d Substances C e r t i f i c a t e c o u l d n o t have b e e n b r o u g h t in doctrine the revocation action, "the of res judicata [ c o u l d ] n o t be a p p l i e d t o b a r " t h e u n d e r l y i n g a c t i o n . Saad Constr. judgment Co., revoking Certificate 851 So. Cochran's 2d at 517. Alabama Lee Accordingly, Controlled L. the Substances i s affirmed. AFFIRMED. Thompson, P . J . , and P i t t m a n Donaldson, and Thomas, J J . , c o n c u r . J . , concurs i n the r e s u l t , 4 without writing.

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