Appeals from final decisions of board of appeals or appeals tribunal.

Within 30 days after the decision of the board of appeals has become final, any party to the proceeding including the secretary who claims to be aggrieved by the decision may secure a judicial review thereof by filing a notice of appeal in the circuit court of the county of the residence of the claimant; except, that if the claimant does not reside in this state at the time the appeal is taken, the notice of appeal shall be filed in the circuit court of the county in this state in which the claimant last resided, or in the circuit court of the county in this state wherein the claimant last worked. In such action, the notice of appeal need not be verified, but shall state the grounds upon which a review is sought. A copy shall be served upon the secretary or upon such person as the secretary may designate (and for the purpose hereof, mailing a copy addressed to the secretary at Montgomery by registered or certified mail shall be deemed service on the secretary), and such service shall be deemed completed service on all parties, but there shall be left with the parties so served as many copies of the notice of appeal as there are defendants, and the secretary shall forthwith mail one copy to each defendant. The secretary shall cause to be certified and filed in the said court all documents and papers introduced in evidence before the Board of Appeals or appeals tribunal, together with the findings of fact and the decision of the Board of Appeals or the appeals tribunal, as the case may be. No circuit court shall permit an appeal from a decision allowing or disallowing a claim for benefits unless the decision sought to be reviewed is that of an appeals tribunal or of the board of appeals and unless the person filing such appeal has exhausted his administrative remedies as provided by this chapter. Trial in the circuit court shall be de novo. Actions under this chapter shall be tried by any judge of the circuit court to whom application is made at any location in said circuit, and shall be given precedence over all other civil cases except cases arising under Chapter 5 of this title. An appeal may be taken from the decision of the circuit court in the same manner as is provided in civil cases. It shall not be necessary in any judicial proceeding, under this section, to enter exceptions to the rulings of the board of appeals or the appeals tribunals, as the case may be, and no bond shall be required before entering such appeal. Upon the final determination of such judicial proceeding, the board of appeals shall enter an order in accordance with such determination.

(Acts 1939, No. 497, p. 721; Code 1940, T. 26, §221; Acts 1957, No. 298, p. 381; Acts 1995, No. 95-311, p. 582, §2.)