Iowa Code r. 875-69.23 - Hearing procedures

(1) The presiding officer has the authority to administer oaths, to admit or exclude testimony or other evidence, and to rule on all motions and objections.

(2) All objections shall be timely made and stated on the record.

(3) Parties have the right to participate or to be represented in all hearings or prehearing conferences related to their case. Any party may be represented by an attorney at the party's own expense.

(4) Subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the presiding officer, parties have the right to introduce evidence on issues of material fact, cross-examine witnesses present at the hearing as necessary for a full and true disclosure of the facts, present evidence in rebuttal, and submit briefs and engage in oral argument.

(5) The presiding officer maintains the decorum of the hearing and may refuse to admit or may expel anyone whose conduct is disorderly.

(6) Witnesses may be sequestered during the hearing.

(7) The presiding officer shall conduct the hearing in the following manner:

a. The presiding officer will give an opening statement briefly describing the nature of the proceedings.

b. The parties will be given an opportunity to present opening statements.

c. The parties will present their cases in the sequence determined by the presiding officer.

d. Each witness will be sworn or affirmed by the presiding officer or the court reporter and be subject to examination and cross-examination. The presiding officer may limit questioning in a manner consistent with law.

e. When all parties and witnesses have been heard, the parties may be given the opportunity to present final arguments.

f. The presiding officer may enter a default judgment against a party who fails to appear at the hearing.

(8) The presiding officer has the right to question a witness. Examination of witnesses by the presiding officer is subject to properly raised objections.

(9) The hearing will be open to the public, except as otherwise provided by law.

(10) Oral proceedings shall be electronically recorded. Upon request, the board shall provide a copy of the whole or any portion of the audio recording at a reasonable cost. A certified shorthand reporter may be engaged to record the proceeding at the request of a party and at the expense of the party making the request. A transcription of the record of the hearing shall be made at the request of either party at the expense of the party making the request. The parties may agree to divide the cost of the transcription. A record of the proceedings, which may be either the original recording, a copy, or a transcript, shall be retained by the board for five years after the resolution of the case.

(11) Default.

a. If a party fails to appear or participate in a contested case proceeding after proper service of notice, the presiding officer may, if no continuance is granted, enter a default decision or proceed with the hearing and render a decision in the absence of the party.

b. Where appropriate and not contrary to law, any party may move for default against a party who has requested the contested case proceeding and has failed to file a required pleading or has failed to appear after proper service.

c. Default decisions or decisions rendered on the merits after a party has failed to appear or participate in a contested case proceeding become final board action unless, within 15 days after the date of notification or mailing of the decision, a motion to vacate is filed and served on all parties or an appeal of a decision on the merits is timely initiated within the time provided by subrule 69.27(3). A motion to vacate must state all facts relied upon by the moving party that establish good cause existed for that party's failure to appear or participate at the contested case proceeding. Each fact must be substantiated by at least one attached, sworn affidavit of a person with personal knowledge.

d. The time for further appeal of a decision for which a timely motion to vacate has been filed is stayed pending a decision on the motion to vacate.

e. Properly substantiated and timely filed motions to vacate are granted only for good cause shown. The burden of proof as to good cause is on the moving party. Adverse parties have ten days to respond to a motion to vacate. Adverse parties shall be allowed to conduct discovery as to the issue of good cause and to present evidence on the issue prior to a decision on the motion, if a request to do so is included in that party's response.

f. "Good cause" for purposes of this rule has the same meaning as "good cause" for setting aside a default judgment under the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.

g. A decision denying a motion to vacate is subject to further appeal within the time limit allowed for further appeal of a decision on the merits in the contested case proceeding.

h. If a motion to vacate is granted and no timely interlocutory appeal has been taken, the presiding officer shall issue another notice of hearing and the contested case will proceed accordingly.

i. A default decision may award any relief consistent with the request for relief made in the petition and embraced in its issues but, unless the defaulting party has appeared, it cannot exceed the relief demanded.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 875-69.23

ARC 8772C, IAB 1/8/25, effective 2/12/25

ARC 8621B, lAB 3/24/10, effective 4/28/10 Adopted by IAB January 8, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 14, effective 2/12/2025