Robb, J.
Case Summary and Issue
In 2015, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (“BMV”) denied the renewal of Craig Watson’s chauffeur’s license. Following an unsuccessful administrative appeal, Watson petitioned for and the trial court granted him special driving privileges. BMV refused to issue Watson’s special driving privileges, and Watson subsequently filed a motion to compel the issuance of a valid chauffeur’s license, which the trial court granted. The Attorney General of Indiana then intervened on behalf of BMV and filed a motion to correct error alleging the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction to consider Watson’s motion to compel. The trial court denied BMV’s motion to correct error. BMV now appeals, raising one issue for our review, whether the trial court erred in denying its motion to correct error. Because Watson effectively petitioned the trial court for judicial review of an agency action without having served the Attorney General of Indiana, as required by the Indiana Administrative Orders and Procedures Act (“AOPA”), we conclude the trial court did not have personal jurisdiction and therefore could not enter an order directing BMV to issue Watson a chauffeur’s license. We therefore reverse the trial court’s denial of BMV’s motion to correct error and vacate its order directing BMV to issue Watson a chauffeur’s license.
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We agree with BMV that Watson requested and the trial court engaged in judicial review of an agency decision. Although labeled otherwise, Watson’s Motion to Compel Issuance of Specialized Driving Privileges or to Issue a Valid Driver’s License Credential, at least in relevant part, challenged BMV’s denial of his license renewal, contested BMV’s interpretation of the Driver License Compact Act, and requested the trial court overrule BMV’s decision and order it to issue him a chauffeur’s license. The trial court agreed with Watson and, in its order, concluded BMV misinterpreted the relevant statutory provisions on which it based its license denial. Because Watson’s motion to compel effectively petitioned the trial court for judicial review of BMV’s decision, Watson was required to comply with AOPA. See Ind. Code § 4-21.5-5-1 (establishing AOPA as the exclusive means for judicial review of an agency action).
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Conclusion
Although labeled otherwise, we conclude Watson’s Motion to Issue a Valid Driver’s License Credential effectively asked the trial court to engage in judicial review of an agency action. As such, Watson was required to comply with AOPA and serve the Attorney General, which he failed to do. Absent valid service upon the Attorney General, the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction to order BMV to issue a chauffeur’s license to Watson. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s denial of BMV’s motion to correct error and vacate its order directing BMV to issue Watson a chauffeur’s license.
Reversed and vacated.