Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-14-412 - Failure to Appear; Default; Reopening

A. If an appellant fails to appear at the hearing, the hearing officer shall:

1. Enter a default and issue a decision dismissing the appeal, except as provided in subsection (B);

2. Rule summarily on the available record; or

3. Adjourn the hearing to a later date and time.

B. The hearing officer shall not enter a default or rule summarily if the appellant notifies the Office of Appeals before the scheduled time of hearing that the appellant cannot attend the hearing because of good cause and still desires a hearing or wishes to have the matter considered on the available record. Good cause includes circumstances beyond the household's reasonable control such as, but not limited to, illness, illness of another household member requiring the presence of the adult member, or a household emergency.

C. A party who did not appear at the hearing may file a request to reopen the proceedings no later than 10 days after the hearing. The request shall be in writing, by mail or e-mail, or be made in person or by telephone and shall demonstrate good cause for the party's failure to appear.

D. If the hearing officer finds that the party had good cause for failure to appear, the hearing officer shall reopen the proceedings and schedule a new hearing with notice to all interested parties as prescribed in R6-14-405.

E. If the hearing officer cannot grant or deny the request to reopen the proceedings based on the information provided, the hearing officer shall set the matter for a hearing to determine whether the party had good cause for failure to appear.

F. Good cause, for the purpose of reopening a hearing, is established if the failure to appear at the hearing and the failure to timely notify the hearing officer were beyond the reasonable control of the nonappearing party. Good cause also exists when the nonappearing party demonstrates excusable neglect, as used in Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 60(b)(1) for both the failure to appear and the failure to timely notify the hearing officer. "Excusable neglect" means an action involving an error such as might be made by a reasonably prudent person who attempts to handle a matter in a prompt and diligent fashion.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-14-412

New Section made by emergency rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 2081, effective July 6, 2018 for for 180 days (Supp. 18-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 263, effective 1/21/2020.