Home COMMONWEALTH vs. DAVID COLEMAN.

397 Mass. 1001

March 10, 1986

Michael D. Cutler for the defendant.

Judy G. Zeprun, Assistant District Attorney (Paul F. Connolly, Assistant District Attorney, with her) for the Commonwealth.

We adopt the analysis and conclusion in the well constructed opinion of the Appeals Court. 20 Mass. App. Ct. 541 (1985). We decline to modify the quantitative rule at this time because this case is not an appropriate vehicle for such modification.

The judgment of the Superior Court on indictment no. 039591 is reversed, the verdict is set aside, and judgment is to be entered for the defendant. The judgment of the Superior Court is affirmed on indictment no. 039590.

So ordered.

Home ROBERT DAY vs. BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN EMBALMING AND FUNERAL DIRECTING.

397 Mass. 1001

April 9, 1986

Cornelius J. Moriarty, II (Brian T. Conway with him) for the plaintiff.

Charles E. Walker, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, for the defendant.

The plaintiff, a registered embalmer and funeral director, was convicted of possession of cocaine in violation of G. L. c. 94C, Section 31 (1984 ed.). The Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing (board), after a hearing, determined that the offense of which he was found guilty was an offense "relating to the practice of Embalming and Funeral Directing" and therefore was cause for revocation of his certificate of registration pursuant to G. L. c. 112, Section 61 (1984 ed.). On review, a single justice of this court held that the board's decision was supported by substantial evidence. The plaintiff now appeals that decision. G. L. c. 112, Section 64 (1984 ed.). See Gurry v. Board of Pub. Accountancy, 394 Mass. 118, 128-129 (1985).

The plaintiff argues that, in determining whether there was substantial evidence to support the board's decision, the single justice erred in considering a police report relating to the plaintiff's arrest for possession of cocaine, inasmuch as the board made no reference to the report in its final order. The record shows that the police report was admitted without objection. It was before the board when it rendered its decision, and the board stated specifically in its decision that it had considered all the evidence presented. The single justice was therefore justified in considering the police report to determine if, on the entire record, the board's findings were supported by substantial evidence.

Page 1002

G. L. c. 30A, Section 14 (7) (e) (1984 ed.). Langlitz v. Board of Registration of Chiropractors, 396 Mass. 374, 379 (1985).

The police report contained an admission by the plaintiff that he had stored cocaine in a casket at the funeral home at which he was employed. The plaintiff told the arresting officer that on one occasion he went to the funeral home with two women, removed a plastic bag containing cocaine from a casket, and gave the bag to one of the women, who removed some cocaine from it. He then directed the woman to replace the bag in the casket. In light of this admission, we agree with the board and the single justice that the plaintiff's conviction for possession of cocaine involved misconduct which was sufficiently related to his employment as an embalmer and funeral director to sustain the board's revocation of his certificate of registration.

We need not decide whether a criminal conviction for possession of cocaine, standing alone, is an offense sufficiently related to the practice of embalming and funeral directing so as to warrant revocation of the offender's certificate of registration under G. L. c. 112, Section 61. In the instant case, the storage of the contraband at the plaintiff's place of employment, together with his disbursement of the substance to a third party on those same premises, renders our decision an easy one. Cf. G. L. c. 112, Sections 83, 84 (1984 ed.).

Judgment affirmed.