Iowa Admin. Code r. 161-4.2 - Notice of hearing and answer

(1) Statement of charges.

a. Where conciliation efforts fail and it is determined that the record justifies proceeding to hearing, the commission's attorney or the executive director shall prepare a written statement of charges in support of the complaint and forward it to the presiding officer together with a request for a hearing date.

b. The statement of charges shall contain:

(1) An allegation that the respondent is a proper respondent within the meaning of and subject to provisions of the Iowa civil rights Act.

(2) A factual allegation or allegations of an unfair or discriminatory practice or practices, substantially as uncovered in the investigation, stated in the complaint (including amendments thereto), stated in the order of probable cause, or stated in the investigative summary.

c. A statement of charges is sufficient if it:

(1) Names the respondents and complainants;

(2) States the section(s) of the statute alleged to be violated; and

(3) Incorporates by reference the complaint and any amendments to the complaint.

d. The statement of charges shall also specifically identify all allegations, if any, in the complaint, as amended, which:

(1) Have been closed by other than a probable cause finding, or

(2) The commission has elected not to prosecute despite a probable cause finding.

e. None of the allegations identified pursuant to paragraph 4.2(1) "d" shall be considered as a claim of discrimination in the contested case proceeding, but evidence on such allegations may be considered when relevant to other allegations of discrimination or as background evidence.

(2) Scheduling conference.

a. The presiding officer may set the matter for a scheduling conference in order that the parties, including the commission, and the presiding officer may arrive at a mutually agreed date for the public hearing. If practicable, the scheduling conference should be set for no sooner than 7 and no later than 30 days after the presiding officer receives the statement of charges. The parties may be notified by regular mail of the date of the scheduling conference. The scheduling conference may be conducted in whole or in part by telephone.

b. If no date can be agreed upon, the date of the public hearing may be set according to the presiding officer's discretion.

c. A public hearing should be scheduled for as early a date as practicable. In setting the date of hearing the availability of the presiding officer, the parties, the attorneys involved, likely witnesses, and any special circumstances shall be considered.

d. In setting the place of hearing, the location of the presiding officer, the parties, the attorneys involved, likely witnesses, and any special circumstances shall be considered.

(3) Notice of hearing. Delivery of the notice of hearing constitutes the commencement of the contested case proceeding. Delivery shall be executed by any of the following means: certified mail with return receipt requested, personal service as provided in the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, first-class mail, or publication as provided by the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure to all interested parties or their attorneys at least 30 days before the date of the hearing. Certified mail return receipts, returns of service, or similar evidence of service shall be filed with the presiding officer The notice shall include:

a. The time and place of hearing;

b. The nature of the hearing, the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is being held;

c. A short and plain statement of the matters asserted. This requirement may be satisfied by a statement of the issues as described by the statement of charges or an incorporation of the attached statement of charges;

d The reference to the sections of the statute and rules involved;

e. Identification of all parties including the name, address and telephone number of the person who will act as advocate for the commission and of parties' counsel where known;

f. Reference to the procedural rules governing conduct of the contested case proceeding;

g. Identification of the presiding officer, if known.

(4) Answer to notice of hearing. The respondent is encouraged to file an answer to the allegations contained within the notice of hearing within 20 days of the service of the notice of hearing. Answers are encouraged as a means of sharpening the issues and preserving claimed error

a. If an answer is filed, it should show on whose behalf it is filed and specifically admit, deny, or otherwise answer all material allegations contained within the notice of hearing. The answer should also state any facts alleged to show an affirmative defense and contain as many additional defenses as the respondent may claim.

b. An answer should state the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the answer, the person or entity on whose behalf the answer is filed, and the attorney, if any, representing that person.

c. Failure to file an answer or failure to follow the guidelines of this rule does not by itself constitute a waiver of any argument nor an admission of any issue. The optional nature of the answer, however, does not affect the respondent's obligations to raise issues in a timely fashion, to reply to discovery, or to fulfill any other obligation which is imposed upon respondent by law.

(5) Presiding officer

a. The presiding officer assigned to render a proposed decision shall be an administrative law judge employed by the department of inspections and appeals.

b. As used in these rules the term "presiding officer" shall mean the administrative law judge employed by the department of inspections and appeals assigned to render a proposed decision in the contested case.

c. As used in rules 161-4.13 (17A) and 161-4.14 (17A) the term "presiding officer" shall include the commissioners of the Iowa civil rights commission as well as the administrative law judge assigned to render a proposed decision in the contested case.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 161-4.2