Arkansas Game & Fish Commission v. Gerard

I disagree with the majority’s decision to reverse the Commission’s interpretation of the application and priority of the attorney’s-fee statute, Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-715 (Repl. 2012) and the benefits-reduction statute, Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-411. Based on our standard of review, I would affirm.

The framework for analyzing the Commission’s determination is stated as follows:

A statute is ambiguous where it is open to.two or more constructions, or where it is of such obscure or doubtful meaning that reasonable minds might disagree or be uncertain as to its meaning. Id. In interpreting an…