Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Notice of Hearing. The notice of hearing
shall comply with the requirements of
R.S.
32:785(C) and
R.S.
49:955.
B. Service of Notice. The notice of hearing
shall be served:
1. by a field investigator
on the licensee either personally or at its place of business on the licensee's
employee (if service is made in this manner, the field investigator shall sign
the acknowledgment of service); or
2. through the office by certified or
registered mail (the return receipt shall serve as acknowledgment of
service).
C. Discovery.
The Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Articles 1420 et seq., shall apply to
all requests of discovery. Discovery shall be timely and give a reasonable
opportunity to respond.
D.
Preliminary Motions and Exceptions. No preliminary motions or exceptions shall
be considered by the commission unless filed five days prior to the
hearing.
E. Subpoenas
1. Subpoenas shall be issued in accordance
with R.S.
32:785(C)(3).
2. Subpoenas may be issued for the purpose of
assisting in the investigation of any violation or dispute which is before the
commission.
3. Subpoenas for the
attendance of witnesses, and/or for the furnishing of information required by
the commission and/or for the production of evidence of records of any kinds
shall be issued by the hearing officer.
4. Subpoenas shall be served by a field
investigator either personally on the witness or at the witness's place of
business or abode or by certified mail or registered mail. A return shall be
placed in the record designating the manner and date of service as well as the
oath the person making the service.
5. Any party to a hearing desiring the
attendance of witnesses upon his behalf shall have the right to seek compulsory
attendance of such witnesses and the production of relevant documents provided
said party has filed a list of names and addresses with the hearing officer at
least 10 days prior to the date that the testimony expected to be
taken.
6. The party requesting the
issuance of a subpoena shall deposit with the hearing officer a sum consistent
with R.S.
13:3661(B) to cover the
costs of the issuance of the subpoena.
F. Conduct and Order of the Hearing
1. The chairman of the hearing committee
shall preside over the conduct of the hearing and may set a reasonable time for
the presentation of a matter depending on the nature of the case and the
complexity of the issues.
2. The
chairman may in his discretion sequester witnesses.
3. The chairman shall make rulings on
evidentiary matters keeping in mind that the commission shall not be bound by
the technical rules of the evidence and may admit material and relevant
evidence. The principles underlying the Louisiana Code of Evidence shall serve
as a guide to the admissibility of evidence in hearings before the commission.
The specific exclusionary rules and other provisions shall be applied only to
the extent that they tend to promote the purposes of proceedings before the
commission.
4. The hearing shall
begin with any stipulation as to the facts or issues.
5. Witness Examination
a. Witnesses shall be first examined by the
presenting attorney or by the hearing officer.
b. Examination shall then be followed by the
commissioners.
c. Thereafter,
examination may be performed by the licensee or its counsel.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
32:785.