R986-100-132. What Constitutes Grounds to Set Aside a Default Order or Reopen a Hearing

  (1) A request to reopen a hearing or set aside a default order for failure to participate:

  (a) will be granted if the party was prevented from participating and/or appearing at the hearing due to circumstances beyond the party's control;

  (b) may be granted upon such terms as are just for any of the following reasons: mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the decision. The determination of what sorts of neglect will be considered excusable is an equitable one, taking into account all of the relevant circumstances.

  (2) Requests to reopen or set aside are remedial in nature and thus must be liberally construed in favor of providing parties with an opportunity to be heard and present their case. Any doubt must be resolved in favor of granting reopening.