Supreme Court of Missouri / Jun 12, 2018
Grayland Nowden, Appellant, vs. Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, Missouri Department of Public Safety, Respondent.
Grayland Nowden appealed the circuit court's summary judgment in favor of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, which dismissed his petition for judicial review of his employment termination. Nowden, a former special agent, was terminated after an investigation revealed a conflict of interest. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court lacked authority to review Nowden's termination as a "contested case" under § 536.100 because the agency's internal policy did not mandate a hearing that determined his rights, duties, or privileges. Therefore, the case was a non-contested matter, and the circuit court properly dismissed the petition.