Section 34-4-33

Revocation or suspension - Notice of appeal; decision stayed; record and complaint filed; procedures; costs.

(a) Findings of the board with regard to the suspension or revocation of a license or the imposition of an administrative fine shall be final unless within 30 days after the date of the final order of the board, the applicant, or otherwise known as the accused, whether an individual or a corporation registered in Alabama, files a notice of appeal in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County. A party appealing a decision shall post a two hundred dollar ($200) appeal bond with the clerk of the circuit court. The circuit clerk shall notify the board of the appeal after the clerk has approved the appellant's bond.

(b) An appeal does not act as supersedeas, but the decision of the board may be stayed by the court pending the appeal.

(c) The board shall within 30 days of service of the notice of appeal, or within the additional time as the court may allow, file the record in the case with the circuit clerk. A complaint setting forth with particularity the issues raised on appeal shall be filed with the court and served on the board by the appealing party within 30 days after the notice of appeal is filed. The action shall be conducted in accordance with the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

(d) The appeal shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record made before the board. The decision of the board shall be taken as prima facie just and reasonable and the court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the board as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court shall affirm or reverse, in part or in whole, or modify the decision of the board. The court may remand the case to the board for further proceedings.

(e) If the decision of the board is affirmed in whole or in part, the cost of the appeal shall be taxed against the party taking the appeal. If the decision of the board is not affirmed, the court shall tax the costs of appeal against the board.

(Act 98-271, p. 440, §2.)