Iowa Admin. Code r. 561-7.14

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 561-7.14 - Prehearing procedures

(1)No factual dispute contested cases. If the parties agree that no dispute of material fact exists as to a matter that would be a contested case if such dispute or fact existed, the parties may present all relevant admissible evidence either by stipulation or otherwise as agreed by the parties, without necessity for the production of evidence at an evidentiary hearing. If such agreement is reached, then as soon as practicable the parties shall jointly submit to the presiding officer a schedule detailing the method and timetable for submission of the record, briefs, and oral argument. If the parties cannot agree, any party may file and serve a motion for summary judgment pursuant to paragraph 7.14(2)"e."

(2)Motions.

a. Form of motion. No technical form for motions is required. However, prehearing motions must be in writing, must state the grounds for relief, and must state the relief sought.

b. Time for response to motions. Any party may file a written response to a motion within 10 days after service of the motion, unless the time period is extended or shortened by rules of the agency or the presiding officer Failure to respond within the required time period may be deemed a waiver of objection to the granting of the motion.

c.Oral argument on motions. The presiding officer may schedule oral argument on any motion.

d.Time for filing. Motions pertaining to the hearing, except motions for summary judgment, must be filed and served prior to the date of hearing unless there is good cause for permitting later action or the time for such action is lengthened or shortened by the presiding officer.

e.Motions for summary judgment. Motions for summary judgment shall comply with the requirements of Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure 1.981 through 1.983 and shall be subject to disposition according to the requirements of those rules to the extent such requirements are not inconsistent with the provisions of this rule or any other provision of law governing the procedure in contested cases. Motions for summary judgment must be filed and served either at least 30 days prior to the scheduled hearing date, or during another time period determined by the presiding officer Any party resisting the motion shall file and serve a resistance within 15 days, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer, from the date a copy of the motion was served. A summary judgment order rendered on all issues in a contested case is subject to rehearing pursuant to subrule 7.17(6) and appeal pursuant to subrule 7.17(5).

(3)Discovery.

a. In general. The discovery procedures available to parties in civil actions are available to parties to a contested case. Unless lengthened or shortened by these rules or by order of the presiding officer, time periods for compliance with discovery shall be as provided in the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.

b. Motions relating to discovery. Any motion relating to discovery shall allege that the moving party has previously made a good-faith attempt to resolve the discovery issues with the opposing party. Motions in regard to discovery shall be ruled upon by the presiding officer Opposing parties shall be afforded the opportunity to respond within ten days of the filing of the motion unless the time is shortened as provided in subrule 7.3(2). The presiding officer may rule on the basis of the written motion and any response, or may order argument on the motion.

c.Evidence obtained in discovery. Evidence obtained in discovery may be used in the contested case proceeding if that evidence would otherwise be admissible in that proceeding.

d.Prior statements or reports of witnesses. When a party relies on a witness who has made prior statements or reports with respect to the subject matter of the witness's testimony, the party shall, upon request, make the statements or reports available to a party for use on cross-examination unless the statement is confidential under 561-Chapter 2. If the statement or report is confidential under 561-Chapter 2, it may be made available, but it may be made subject to a protective order

e.Disclosure of evidence and witnesses. At a prehearing conference or within some reasonable time set by the presiding officer prior to the hearing, each party shall make available, upon request, to the other parties the names of expert and other witnesses the party expects to call, together with a brief narrative summary of their expected testimony and a list of all documents and exhibits which the party expects to introduce into evidence. Amendments and additions to these materials may be made no later than ten days prior to the date of the hearing. However, following a prehearing conference held in accordance with subrule 7.14(5), witnesses, documents or exhibits may be added only if the moving party can show that they were not readily identifiable with reasonable diligence prior to the prehearing conference and that the addition is necessary to prevent manifest injustice.

(4)Subpoenas.

a.Issuance. A subpoena shall be issued to a party upon request to the presiding officer Such a request may be oral or in writing. In the absence of good cause for permitting later action, a request for a subpoena must be received at least three days before the scheduled hearing. The request shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the requesting party.

b.Service and expenses. Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, parties are responsible for service of their own subpoenas and payment of witness fees and mileage expenses.

c.Motion to quash or modify. The presiding officer may quash or modify a subpoena for any lawful reason upon motion in accordance with the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure. A motion to quash or modify a subpoena shall be set for argument promptly.

(5)Prehearing conference.

a.Matters considered. After filing of the pleadings, the presiding officer may, and shall upon the request of one of the parties, direct the parties to appear at a specified time and place before the presiding officer for a prehearing conference to consider, so far as is applicable to the particular hearing:

(1) The possibility or desirability of waiving any provisions of this chapter by written stipulation representing an informed mutual consent;

(2) The necessity or desirability of amending pleadings;

(3) Agreeing to the admission of facts, documents or records not controverted, to avoid unnecessary introduction of evidence;

(4) Limiting the number of witnesses;

(5) Settling on facts of which the presiding officer is to be asked to take official notice;

(6) Stating and simplifying the factual and legal issues to be decided in the contested case;

(7) The procedure at the hearing;

(8) Rescheduling the time and place of the hearing set forth in the notice of hearing to a date that will allow the parties and witnesses to prepare for and participate in the hearing;

(9) Other matters which may aid, expedite or simplify the disposition of the proceeding.

b.Stipulations. Since stipulations are encouraged, it is expected and anticipated that the parties proceeding to a hearing will stipulate to evidence to the fullest extent to which complete or qualified agreement can be reached, including all material facts that are not or should not fairly be in dispute.

c.Order or statement of agreement. Any action taken at the prehearing conference shall be recorded in an appropriate order, unless the parties enter into a written stipulation as to the matters or agree to the statement thereof made on the record by the presiding officer

d.Objections. When an order is issued at the termination of the prehearing conference, a reasonable time shall be allowed to the parties to present objections on the ground that the order does not fully or correctly embody the agreement at the conference. Thereafter, the terms of the order or modification shall determine the subsequent course of the proceedings relative to matters it includes, unless modified to prevent manifest injustice.

(6)Continuance. Unless otherwise provided, applications for continuance shall be made to the presiding officer Applications for continuance may be made orally or in writing, unless otherwise specified by the presiding officer However, a party making such an oral application for a continuance must confirm that request by written application within five days after the oral request unless that requirement is waived by the presiding officer No application for continuance shall be made or granted without notice to all parties except in an emergency where notice is not feasible.

(7)Prehearing telephone proceedings. The presiding officer may resolve preliminary procedural motions by telephone conference in which all parties have an opportunity to participate.

(8)Emergency orders. Prehearing procedures for emergency orders are set forth in rule 561-7.18 (17A,455A).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 561-7.14