(1) Good cause is a substantial reason or legal justification allowing the administrative law judge (ALJ) to grant a party's request or to excuse their action or inaction, including granting a continuance or excusing a failure to appear at an administrative proceeding.
(2) To determine if there is good cause, the administrative law judge may consider the provisions of Superior Court Civil Rule 60 as a guideline. Good cause may include, but is not limited to, the following examples:
(a) The party who requested the hearing ignored a notice because the party was in the hospital or was otherwise prevented from responding; or
(b) The party who requested the hearing could not respond to the notice because it was written in a language that the party did not understand.
(3) For applicants and recipients with rights to adjudicative proceedings, good cause for failing to meet a hearing deadline is further addressed in RCW
74.09.741.
(4) The requestor bears the burden to show why a request should be granted or an action excused.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.021,
41.05.160, and
74.09.741. WSR 24-21-046, s 182-526-0020, filed 10/9/24, effective 11/9/24. Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.021 and
41.05.160. WSR 17-05-066, § 182-526-0020, filed 2/13/17, effective 3/16/17. Statutory Authority: 2011 1st sp.s. c 15 § 53, chapters
74.09,
34.05 RCW, and 10-08 WAC. WSR 13-02-007, § 182-526-0020, filed 12/19/12, effective 2/1/13.]