WSR 04-16-009

PERMANENT RULES

BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL

INSURANCE APPEALS

[ Filed July 22, 2004, 3:10 p.m. , effective August 22, 2004 ]


     

     Purpose: To revise the board's rules of practice and procedure by amending WAC 263-12-020, 263-12-050 and 263-12-117; and adding new WAC 263-12-106.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 263-12-020, 263-12-050, and 263-12-117.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 51.52.020.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-11-117 on May 19, 2004.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 263-12-020, proposed revisions to WAC 263-12-020 (3)(e) have been withdrawn. Proposed revisions to WAC 263-12-020 (3)(d) are being adopted.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: July 22, 2004.

Thomas E. Egan

Chairperson


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-23-021, filed 11/7/00, effective 12/8/00)

WAC 263-12-020   Appearances of parties before the board.   (1) Who may appear.

     (a) Any party to any appeal may appear before the board at any conference or hearing held in such appeal, either on the party's own behalf or by an attorney at law or other authorized lay representative of the party's choosing as prescribed by section 3 below.

     (b) Appeals under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.

     (i) In an appeal by an employee or employee representative under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, the cited employer may enter an appearance as prescribed in subsection (2) below and will be deemed a party to the appeal.

     (ii) In an appeal by an employer, under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, an employee or employee representative may enter an appearance as prescribed in subsection (2) below, and will be deemed a party to the appeal.

     (c) Where the party appears representing himself or herself, he or she may be accompanied, both at conference and at hearing, by a lay person of his or her choosing who shall be permitted to accompany the party into the conference or hearing room and with whom he or she can confer during such procedures.

     (d) Although the industrial appeals judge may not advocate for either party, all parties who appear either at conferences or hearings are entitled to the assistance of the industrial appeals judge presiding over the proceeding. Such assistance shall be given in a fair and impartial manner consistent with the industrial appeals judge's responsibilities to the end that all parties are informed of the procedure which is to be followed and the issues which are involved in the proceedings. Any party who appears representing himself or herself shall be advised by the industrial appeals judge of the burden of proof required to establish a right to the relief being sought.

     (2) How to make an appearance.

     (a) Appearances shall be made either by:

     (i) Filing a written notice of appearance with the board containing the name of the party to be represented, and the name and address of the representative; or by

     (ii) Appearing at the time and place of a conference or hearing on the appeal, and notifying the industrial appeals judge of the party to be represented, and the name and address of the representative.

     (b) The appearing party shall furnish copies of every written notice of appearance to all other parties or their representatives of record at the time the original notice is filed with the board.

     (c) The board shall serve all notices and orders on each representative and each party represented. Service upon the representative shall constitute service upon the party. Where more than one individual associated with a firm, or organization, including the office of the attorney general, has made an appearance, service under this subsection shall be satisfied by serving the individual who filed the notice of appeal, or who last filed a written notice of appearance or, if no notice of appeal or written notice of appearance has been filed on behalf of the party, the individual who last appeared at any proceeding concerning the appeal.

     (3) Lay representation. Duly authorized lay representatives may be permitted to appear in proceedings before the board without a formal request for admission to practice before the board so long as the lay representative does not charge a fee and is not otherwise compensated for the representation except as provided below:

     (a) A worker or beneficiary may be represented by a person employed by the worker's labor union whose duties include handling industrial insurance matters for the union. Lay persons may not represent workers before the board in return for remuneration received from the worker or from the worker's receipt of benefits under this act.

     (b) An employer may be represented by an employee. An employer may also be represented by a firm or firms that contracts with the employer to handle matters pertaining to industrial insurance without regard to whether a fee is charged.

     (c) In appeals involving the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act under chapter 49.17 RCW and assessments under chapter 51.48 RCW, an employer may be represented by a lay person without regard to whether a fee is charged.

     (d) Paralegals supervised by an attorney licensed in the state of Washington to practice law may represent any party ((appealing)) appearing before the board.

     (4) Withdrawal or substitution of representatives. An attorney or other representative withdrawing from a case shall immediately notify the board and all parties of record in writing. The notice of withdrawal shall comply with the rules applicable to notices of withdrawal filed with the superior court in civil cases. Withdrawal shall be subject to approval by the industrial appeals judge or the executive secretary. Any substitution of an attorney or representative shall be accomplished by written notification to the board and to all parties of record together with the written consent of the prior attorney or representative. If such consent cannot be obtained, a written statement of the reason therefor shall be supplied.

     (5) Conduct. All persons appearing as counsel or representatives in proceedings before the board or before its industrial appeals judges shall conform to the standards of ethical conduct required of attorneys before the courts of the state of Washington.

     (a) Industrial appeals judge. If any such person does not conform to such standard, the industrial appeals judge presiding over the appeal, at his or her discretion and depending on all the circumstances, may take the following action:

     (i) Admonish or reprimand such person, or

     (ii) Exclude such person from further participation in the proceedings and adjourn the same, or

     (iii) Certify the facts to the appropriate superior court for contempt proceedings as provided in RCW 51.52.100, or

     (iv) Report the matter to the board.

     (b) The board. In its discretion, either upon referral by an industrial appeals judge as stated above or on its own motion, after information comes to light that establishes to the board a question regarding a persons ethical conduct and fitness to practice before the board, and after notice and hearing, may take appropriate disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

     (i) A letter of reprimand,

     (ii) Refusal to permit such person to appear in a representative capacity in any proceeding before the board or its industrial Appeals judges, or

     (iii) Certification of the record to the superior court for contempt proceedings as provided in RCW 51.52.100. If the circumstances require, the board may take action as described above prior to notice and hearing if the conduct or fitness of the person appearing before the Board requires immediate action in order to preserve the orderly disposition of the appeal or appeals.

     (c) Proceedings. If any person in proceedings before the board disobeys or resists any lawful order or process, or misbehaves during a hearing or so near the place thereof as to obstruct the same, or neglects to produce, after having been ordered so to do, any pertinent book, paper or document, or refuses to appear after having been subpoenaed, or upon appearing refuses to take oath as a witness, or after having the oath refuses to be examined according to law, the industrial appeals judge may, at his or her discretion and depending on all the circumstances:

     (i) Admonish or reprimand such person, or

     (ii) Exclude such person from further participation in the proceedings and adjourn the same, or

     (iii) Certify the facts to the appropriate superior court for contempt proceedings as provided in RCW 51.52.100, or

     (iv) Report the matter to the board for action consistent with (b) above.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 00-23-021, § 263-12-020, filed 11/7/00, effective 12/8/00; 98-20-109, § 263-12-020, filed 10/7/98, effective 11/7/98; 91-13-038, § 263-12-020, filed 6/14/91, effective 7/15/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.41.060(4) and 51.52.020. 83-01-001 (Order 12), § 263-12-020, filed 12/2/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 82-03-031 (Order 11), § 263-12-020, filed 1/18/82; Order 7, § 263-12-020, filed 4/4/75; Order 6, § 263-12-020, filed 9/29/72; Order 4, § 263-12-020, filed 6/9/72; General Order 2, § 3.1, filed 6/12/63; General Order 1, filed 3/23/60; General Order 3, § 3.1(b), Subsection (2), filed 10/29/65.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-02-038, filed 12/24/02, effective 1/24/03)

WAC 263-12-050   Contents of notice of appeal.   The board's jurisdiction shall be invoked by filing a written notice of appeal.

     (1) General Rule. In all appeals, the notice of appeal ((shall)) should contain where applicable:

     (a) The name and address of the appealing party and of the party's representative, if any;

     (b) A statement identifying the date and content of the department order, decision or award being appealed. This requirement may be satisfied by attaching a copy of the order, decision or award;

     (c) The reason why the appealing party considers such order, decision or award to be unjust or unlawful;

     (d) A statement of facts in full detail in support of each stated reason;

     (e) The specific nature and extent of the relief sought;

     (f) The place, most convenient to the appealing party and that party's witnesses, where board proceedings are requested to be held;

     (g) A statement that the person signing the notice of appeal has read it and that to the best of his or her knowledge the contents are true;

     (h) The signature of the appealing party or the party's representative.

     (2) Industrial Insurance Appeals. In appeals arising under the Industrial Insurance Act (Title 51 RCW), the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) The name and address of the injured worker;

     (b) The name and address of the worker's employer at the time the injury occurred;

     (c) In the case of occupational disease, the name and address of all employers in whose employment the worker was allegedly exposed to conditions that gave rise to the occupational disease;

     (d) The nature of the injury or occupational disease;

     (e) The time when and the place where the injury occurred or the occupational disease arose.

     (3) Crime Victims' Compensation Act. In appeals arising under the Crime Victims' Compensation Act (chapter 7.68 RCW), the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) The time when and the place where the criminal act occurred;

     (b) The name and address of the alleged perpetrator of the crime; and

     (c) The nature of the injury.

     (4) Assessment Appeals. In appeals from a notice of assessment arising under chapter 51.48 RCW or in cases arising from an assessment under the Worker and Community Right to Know Act (chapter 49.70 RCW), the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) A statement setting forth with particularity the reason for the appeal; and

     (b) The amounts, if any, that the party admits are due.

     (5) LEOFF and Public Employee Death Benefit Appeals. In appeals arising under the special death benefit provision of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (chapter 41.26 RCW), the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) The time when and the place where the death occurred; and

     (b) The name and address of the decedent's employer at the time the injury occurred.

     (6) Asbestos Certification Appeals. In appeals arising under chapter 49.26 RCW concerning the denial, suspension or revocation of certificates involving asbestos projects, the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) A statement identifying the certification decision appealed from;

     (b) The reason why the appealing party considers such certification decision to be incorrect.

     (7) WISHA Appeals. In appeals arising under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (chapter 49.17 RCW), the appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) A statement identifying the citation, penalty assessment, or notice of abatement date appealed from;

     (b) The name and address of the representative of any labor union representing any employee who was or who may be affected by the alleged safety violation(s);

     (c) A statement certifying compliance with WAC 263-12-059.

     (8) Other Safety Appeals. In appeals arising under chapter 49.22 RCW concerning alleged violations of safety procedures in late night retail establishments, chapter 70.74 RCW concerning alleged violations of the Washington State Explosives Act, or chapter 88.04 RCW concerning alleged violations of the Charter Boat Safety Act, the notice of appeal ((shall)) should also contain:

     (a) A statement identifying the citation, penalty assessment, or notice of abatement date appealed from;

     (b) The name and address of the representative of any labor union representing any employee who was or who may be affected by the alleged safety violation or violations;

     (c) If applicable, a statement certifying compliance with WAC 263-12-059.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 03-02-038, § 263-12-050, filed 12/24/02, effective 1/24/03; 01-09-031, § 263-12-050, filed 4/11/01, effective 5/12/01; 00-23-021, § 263-12-050, filed 11/7/00, effective 12/8/00; 91-13-038, § 263-12-050, filed 6/14/91, effective 7/15/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.104, 51.52.020 and chapters 51.48 and 42.17 RCW. 86-03-021 (Order 20), § 263-12-050, filed 1/10/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 82-03-031 (Order 11), § 263-12-050, filed 1/18/82; Order 7, § 263-12-050, filed 4/4/75; Order 4, § 263-12-050, filed 6/9/72; Rule 5.1, filed 6/12/63; Rules 3.1 - 3.2, filed 3/23/60, amended by General Order 3, Rule 5.1, filed 10/29/65. Formerly WAC 296-12-050.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-02-038, filed 12/24/02, effective 1/24/03)

WAC 263-12-117   Perpetuation depositions.   (1) Evidence by deposition. The industrial appeals judge may permit or require the perpetuation of testimony by deposition((.)), subject to the applicable provisions of WAC 263-12-115. Such ruling may only be given after the industrial appeals judge gives due consideration to: (a) The complexity of the issues raised by the appeal; (b) The desirability of having the witness's testimony presented at a hearing; (c) The costs incurred by the parties in complying with the ruling; and (d) The fairness to the parties in complying with the ruling. The industrial appeals judge may require that depositions be taken and published within prescribed time limits, which time limits may be extended by the industrial appeals judge for good cause. Each party shall bear its own costs except when appropriate and requested by a party, the industrial appeals judge may allocate costs to parties or their representatives. If the deposition is not transcribed in a reproducible format it may be excluded from the record.

     (2) Procedure at deposition. Unless the parties stipulate or the industrial appeals judge determines otherwise all depositions permitted to be taken for the perpetuation of testimony shall be taken subject to the following conditions: (a) That all motions and objections, whether to form or otherwise, shall be raised at the time of the deposition and if not raised at such time shall be deemed waived; (b) that all exhibits shall be marked and identified at the time of the deposition and, if offered into evidence, appended to the deposition; (c) that the deposition be published without necessity of further conference or hearing at the time it is received by the industrial appeals judge; (d) that all motions, including offers to admit exhibits and objections raised at the time of the deposition, shall be ruled upon by the industrial appeals judge in the proposed decision and order; and (e) that the deposition may be appended to the record as part of the transcript, and not as an exhibit, without the necessity of being re-typed into the record.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 03-02-038, § 263-12-117, filed 12/24/02, effective 1/24/03.]


NEW SECTION
WAC 263-12-106   Expedited hearings.   If a statute requires that the board conduct an expedited hearing in a matter, the matter will be referred to a duly authorized industrial appeals judge. Notices of conferences and hearings related to the expedited hearing will conform to the requirements identified in WAC 263-12-090 and WAC 263-12-100. After hearing all testimony and receiving all evidence related to the expedited hearing, the industrial appeals judge will refer the matter directly to the board for decision. The board will issue an order based on the record of the expedited hearing.

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