Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a)
These hearings shall be held in Chicago or Springfield at a location determined
by the Secretary, taking into consideration the location and/or request of the
complainant.
b) The hearing officer
does not represent any party at the proceeding, but merely facilitates the
hearing by presiding over it and performing the following duties in addition to
those set forth in the Act:
1) Inform the
parties of the relevant issues to be decided;
2) Rule on motions, the admissibility of
evidence and all other legal issues raised;
3) Prepare a proposed decision and submit it
to the Chairperson and have the Secretary serve it upon the parties to the
proceeding.
c) The
hearing shall proceed in the following manner:
1) The hearing officer will identify the
parties and set forth the violations of the Act alleged by the
complainant.
2) The party bearing
the burden of proof as set forth in Sections 4 or 29 of the Act shall then
present evidence in the form of documents and/or testimony relevant to the
alleged violation of the Act. If Section 4 or 29 of the Act does not specify
which party has the burden of proof for a particular violation of the Act, the
burden of proof shall be on the respondent to show that there is good cause for
its action or inaction.
3) The
other party to the proceeding shall then be allowed to present its
evidence.
4) The hearing officer
may ask questions as deemed necessary.
5) At the conclusion of the taking of
evidence, each party shall be allowed to make a closing statement.
6) The hearing officer will then advise the
parties that in accordance with Section 30 of the Act all expenses incurred by
the Board in conducting the hearing shall be paid by the parties equally and
further that if the complainant substantially prevails it will be awarded
attorney's fees and costs in accordance with Section 13 of the Act. The hearing
officer may also advise the complainant that, in the event that complainant may
substantially prevail, it should submit as soon as possible a detailed billing
setting forth the cost allowed under Section
1001.790(b)
it incurred in the hearing process.
7) The hearing officer shall then take the
matter under advisement, review the evidence and make a written recommendation
to the Board by submitting it to the Secretary who shall then forward it to the
Board members and serve it upon the parties.
d) The monitor shall review the
recommendation, any exceptions and briefs submitted, and make a recommendation
to the Board.
e) The Board shall
then review the case file, the recommendation of the hearing officer, any
exceptions and briefs, and the recommendation of the monitor. The Board shall
then issue a final order. The final order shall be forwarded to the Secretary
who shall then serve it upon the parties.
1)
If the final order is such that the complainant does not substantially prevail,
the final order shall include the amount of Board expenses payable by each
party.
2) If the final order is
such that the complainant substantially prevails and is based upon a hearing
officer's written recommendation that includes an award of attorney's fees and
costs as allowed under Section
1001.790(b),
it shall include an award of attorney's fees and costs.
3) If the final order is such that the
complainant substantially prevails and is based upon a hearing officer's
written recommendation that does not include an award of attorney's fees and
costs as allowed under Section
1001.790(b):
A) The complainant shall be allowed to submit
to the hearing officer within 10 days after receipt of the final order a
detailed motion requesting the payment of the costs allowed under Section
1001.790(b)
that it incurred in the hearing process. A copy of the motion shall also be
sent to the respondent and 3 copies to the Secretary. If the complainant fails
to submit the motion in a timely manner, the complainant will be deemed to have
waived its right to an award of such costs.
B) The respondent shall have 10 days from
receipt of the motion to file an answer with the hearing officer. A copy shall
also be sent to the complainant and 3 copies to the Secretary.
C) The hearing officer may, if he/she deems
it necessary, set a hearing on the motion requesting the payment of
costs.
D) The hearing officer shall
then take the motion under advisement and make a written recommendation to the
Board on the award of attorney's fees and costs by submitting it to the
Secretary who shall then forward it to the Board members and serve it upon the
parties.
E) The monitor shall
review the recommendation, the pleadings filed, any exceptions and briefs
submitted, and make a recommendation to the Board.
F) The Board shall than review the
recommendation of the hearing officer, the pleading filed, any exceptions and
briefs, and the recommendation of the monitor. The Board shall then issue a
final order assessing the Board's expenses and awarding attorney's fees and
costs to the complainant. The final order shall be forwarded to the Secretary
who shall then serve it upon the parties.