{1} The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine (the Board) issued a notice of contemplated action against veterinarian Michael Riegger, alleging violations of the Veterinary Practice Act (VPA), NMSA 1978, §§ 61-14-1 to -20 (1967, as amended through 2005). The Board considered the evidence, determined that Riegger violated several provisions of the VPA, Section 61-14-13(A), and ordered Riegger to fulfill several conditions, including payment of $22,021.83 in costs associated with the disciplinary proceeding. According to the Uniform Licensing Act (ULA), "[l]icensees shall bear all costs of disciplinary proceedings unless they are excused by the board from paying all or part of the fees or if they prevail at the hearing." NMSA 1978, § 61-1-4(G) (1993). Riegger appealed several issues to the district court, including the assessment of costs. The court found that Section 61-1-4(G) should be read to permit only those costs anticipated by Rule 1-054 NMRA, which governs the recoverable costs in civil cases before district courts. The Board then appealed to the Court of Appeals, which held that Section 61-1-4(G) "costs" are "not limited by the terms of Rule 1-054(D)." Bd. of Veterinary Med. v. Riegger, 2006-NMCA-069, 1, 139 N.M. 679, 137 P.3d 619.
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