PDFWAC 391-55-225
Interest arbitration—Prehearing conference—Hearing.
(1) The neutral chairperson may, upon the chairperson's own motion or upon request of a party, convene a prehearing conference.
(a) The purpose of a prehearing conference is to consider any one or more of the following:
(i) Simplification of issues;
(ii) The possibility of obtaining stipulations, admissions of fact, and admissions of the genuineness of documents, which will avoid unnecessary proof;
(iii) Limitations on the number and consolidation of the examination of witnesses;
(iv) Procedural matters;
(v) Distribution of written testimony and exhibits to the parties prior to the hearing; and
(vi) Any other matters that may aid in the disposition or settlement of the case.
(b) Prehearing conferences may be held by telephone conference call or other electronic means at a time and location specified by the neutral chairperson.
(c) Following a prehearing conference, the neutral chairperson shall issue an order reciting the action taken at the conference and the agreements made by the parties concerning all of the matters considered. If no objection is filed within 10 days after the date that the order is issued, the order controls the subsequent course of the case unless modified for good cause by subsequent order.
(2) The arbitration panel shall promptly establish a date, time, and place for a hearing and provide reasonable notice to the parties. For good cause shown, the neutral chairperson may adjourn the hearing upon the request of a party or upon the chairperson's own initiative. The parties may waive oral hearing by written agreement.
(a) A recording of the hearing must be taken and is the official record of the hearing, unless the parties agree to take a transcript. If the parties do not agree to take a transcript and share in its cost, a party may take a transcript at its own expense. If a copy of the transcript is provided to the neutral chairperson, all parties must have access to a copy.
(b) The statutory prohibition against a partisan arbitrator presenting the case for a party does not preclude another member of the same organization or firm from presenting the case at the hearing.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.52.080, 41.56.090, 41.58.050, 41.59.110, 41.76.060, 41.80.080, 47.64.135, and 49.39.060. WSR 22-23-101, § 391-55-225, filed 11/16/22, effective 1/1/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.52.080, 41.56.090, 41.59.110, 41.58.050 and 41.56.450. WSR 99-14-060, § 391-55-225, filed 7/1/99, effective 8/1/99; WSR 96-07-105, § 391-55-225, filed 3/20/96, effective 4/20/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.52.080, 41.56.040, 41.58.050, 41.59.110 and 47.64.040. WSR 80-14-049 (Order 80-8), § 391-55-225, filed 9/30/80, effective 11/1/80.]