69-3-404. Review confined to record -- exceptions. - Montana Statutes

     69-3-404. Review confined to record -- exceptions. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record.
     (2) In cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency not shown in the record, evidence thereof may be taken in the court. The court, upon request, shall hear oral argument and receive written briefs.
     (3) If, before the date set for hearing, application is made to the court for leave to present additional evidence and it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were good reasons for failure to present it in the proceeding before the agency, the court, before proceeding to render judgment, may transmit a copy of such evidence to the commission and, if such transmission is made, shall stay further proceedings in said action for 35 days from the date of such transmission. The court shall, within 14 days after the introduction of such evidence, decide whether or not to transmit a copy of such evidence to the commission. The court is considered to have ruled that the evidence need not be transmitted to the commission unless it orders otherwise within such 14-day period. Upon receipt of such evidence, the commission shall consider the same and may modify, amend, or rescind its order relating to such rate, fare, charge, classification, joint rate, regulation, practice, or service complained of in said action and shall report its action thereon to said court within 30 days from the receipt of such evidence.
     (4) If the commission rescinds its order complained of, the action shall be dismissed. If it alters, modifies, or amends the same, such altered, modified, or amended order shall take the place of the original order complained of and judgment shall be rendered thereon as though made by the commission in the first instance. If the original order is not rescinded or changed by the commission, judgment shall be rendered upon such original order.

     History: En. Sec. 26, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3906, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3906, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 56, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 475, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 70-128(3), (4); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 366, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 187, L. 1983.