R137-1-18. Procedural Matters

  The provisions under this section pertain to initial administrative and Level 4 proceedings before the CSRO.

  (1) Purpose. A formal adjudicative proceeding provides a fair and impartial opportunity for the parties to be heard and to present their evidence. The adjudicative process allows the CSRO administrator or the CSRO hearing officer to be completely informed about the case. After having considered the parties' evidence, the CSRO administrator or the CSRO hearing officer may then render a proper determination based upon all of the facts, circumstances, and applicable laws, rules and policies.

  (2) Types of Adjudications. For purposes of Section 63G-4-202 of the UAPA:

  (a) All initial administrative and Level 4 adjudications at the CSRO are formal adjudicative proceedings. Sections 63G-4-205 through 63G-4-209, 63G-4-401 and 63G-4-403 through 63G-4-405 of the UAPA are incorporated by reference within this rule and are applicable to these adjudicative proceedings.

  (3) Rules of Evidence/Procedure Inapplicable. The technical rules of evidence and the formal rules of civil procedure as observed in the courts of law are inapplicable to these grievance procedure proceedings, except for the rules of privilege as recognized by law and those specific references to the rules of evidence and procedure as set forth in the UAPA.

  (4) Expelling. The presiding CSRO hearing officer may clear the proceeding of witnesses not under examination and may exclude any unruly or disruptive person. The hearing officer may also expel any persons whose presence is antagonistic, oppressive, intimidating or appears to have a chilling effect on the witness under examination.

  (5) Presentation of Case. Each party is given the opportunity to make an opening statement and to present evidence. After the evidence is closed, each party may offer a closing argument. The moving party may offer one rebuttal. Continuous rebuttal is not permissible.

  (6) Objections.

  (a) When an objection is made as to the admissibility of evidence, the presiding CSRO hearing officer shall note the objection for the record and make a ruling or take the objection under advisement to be ruled upon later.

  (b) The presiding CSRO hearing officer has discretion to exclude inadmissible evidence and to order that cumulative or repetitive evidence be discontinued.

  (c) A party objecting to the introduction of evidence must state the precise grounds of the objection at the time such evidence is offered.

  (7) Marking Exhibits. All exhibits shall be numerically marked and labeled in the order received into evidence, unless previously marked and labeled.

  (8) Motion to Dismiss. The administrator or CSRO hearing officer may, upon a party's motion or upon their own motion, dismiss the grievance or appeal before the CSRO.

  (9) Consolidation of Grievances. Grievances of the same or of a sufficiently similar context may be consolidated by the administrator for purposes of conducting a single or joint hearing.

  (10) Standard of Proof. In all CSRO adjudicative proceedings, the standard of proof is the substantial evidence standard according to Subsections 67-19a-406(2) and 67-21-3.5.

  (11) Hearsay Evidence. Hearsay evidence is admissible in CSRO formal adjudicative proceedings as qualified by Subsection 63G-4-208(3) of the UAPA which is incorporated by reference.

  (12) Discovery. The following rule provisions satisfy Section 63G-4-205 of the UAPA on discovery.

  (a) Discovery shall be limited to that which is relevant and nonprivileged, and for which each party has a substantial, demonstrable need for supporting their respective claims or defenses.

  (b) At the discretion and approval of the administrator or appointed CSRO hearing officer, parties to a dispute may obtain discovery. The CSRO administrator or hearing officer has discretion to entertain discovery motions on a case-by-case basis regarding the following:

  (i) production of documents, records and things under Utah Rule 34 of Civil Procedure; and

  (ii) depositions only when a proposed witness is unavailable for giving testimony at a scheduled hearing.

  (c) No other form of discovery is permitted.

  (d) Witness lists and copies of exhibits shall be offered by each party to the opposing party and to the CSRO hearing officer during a prehearing/scheduling conference, unless the exchange is scheduled for a later date.

  (i) Each party's list of witnesses shall contain a brief statement describing the nature of the proposed testimony to be offered by each witness.

  (ii) A party may not surprise the opposing party with a witness or an exhibit at the hearing which was not made known by a scheduled exchange date, unless the witness or exhibit is in direct rebuttal to admitted opposing evidence. Also refer to R137-1-7(1)(c).

  (13) Page Limitation.

  (a) Unless otherwise specified by the CSRO, written motions, pleadings, briefs, and memoranda for all CSRO proceedings may not exceed 10 typed, double-spaced 8-1/2 x 11 inch pages, exclusive of any statement of facts. Reply briefs may not exceed five pages.

  (b) An application for an exception to the above-stated page limitation provisions must be timely filed in writing, and not more than five double-spaced 8-1/2 x 11 inch pages in a 12-point font. The applicant party has the burden to offer sufficient justification for requests to exceed the page limitations.

  (c) The CSRO may weigh all requests to exceed the page limitations based upon the reasonableness and necessity of such requests in light of each case and its circumstances. The CSRO does not automatically grant exceptions simply on the basis of a request.