Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-140 - Informal Conferences

A. A presiding administrative law judge may hold an informal conference to:

1. Resolve and dispose of disputed issues;

2. Narrow or limit the scope of the issues to be considered at a subsequent hearing;

3. Simplify the method of proof at a hearing; or

4. Eliminate the need for hearing if the facts appear to be uncontested.

B. A party may request that a pending hearing be disposed of by an informal conference, by filing a written request that:

1. Specifies the purpose for the conference consistent with subsection (A), and

2. Does not contain any argument regarding the merits of the case.

C. If the presiding administrative law judge determines that an informal conference is appropriate, the judge shall give notice to the parties of the time and place of the conference. The presiding administrative law judge may, without a request from a party, schedule an informal conference by giving five days notice to the parties of the time, place, and subject matter of the informal conference. The parties may waive the five day notice requirement of this subsection.

D. If a presiding administrative law judge disposes of issues in controversy at an informal conference, the presiding administrative law judge may enter an award without convening a hearing.

E. If a presiding administrative law judge disposes of, narrows, or limits some, but not all issues in controversy, the presiding administrative law judge shall prepare and mail to the parties a statement setting forth the issues to be resolved at a hearing. The presiding administrative law judge shall limit the hearing to the issues contained in the statement unless at the hearing all parties and, the presiding administrative law judge agree that the judge may consider issues beyond the scope of the statement.

F. Upon request by a party or upon a presiding administrative law judge's own motion, the presiding administrative law judge may order the parties to file a joint statement listing the disputed issues to be considered at formal hearing. The presiding administrative law judge shall give the parties at least 10 days to file the statement and shall order the parties to file the statement three to 10 days before the first scheduled hearing.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-140

Former Rule 40. Amended effective March 1, 1987, filed February 26, 1987 (Supp. 87-1). R20-5-140 recodified from R4-13-140 (Supp. 95-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 3966 and 7 A.A.R. 4995, effective August 17, 2001 (Supp. 01-3).