Code of Massachusetts Regulations
452 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Title 452 CMR 1.00 - Adjudicatory Rules of the Industrial Accident Board
Section 1.11 - Hearings
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) Unless a late appeal is permitted by the Director, as provided by M.G.L. c. 152, § 10A, any appeal from an order of an administrative judge must be filed with the department, on a form prescribed by the department, not later than 14 calendar days from the filing date of said order.
(2) Upon opening the hearing record, the parties shall exchange hearing memoranda produced on forms prescribed by the Department, and the administrative judge shall state clearly on the record, the claims and defenses in issue in the dispute.
(3) At a hearing, any testimony of parties and witnesses before an administrative judge shall be given under oath or affirmation. Where the administrative judge finds that testimony should be given through any interpreter, the latter shall give oath to interpret faithfully and impartially.
(4) In all hearings before an administrative judge the testimony of witnesses shall be taken orally or by deposition. Unless otherwise provided by M.G.L. c. 152, or 452 CMR 1.00, the admissibility of evidence and the competency of witnesses to testify at a hearing shall be determined under the rules of evidence applied in the courts of the Commonwealth. The decision of the administrative judge shall be based solely on the evidence introduced at the hearing.
(5) At a hearing in a case which does not involve a dispute over medical issues as defined in 452 CMR 1.02, or in which the administrative judge has made a finding under M.G.L. c. 152, § 11A(2) that additional testimony is required due to the complexity of the medical issues involved or the inadequacy of the report submitted by the impartial medical examiner, a party may offer as evidence medical reports prepared by physicians engaged by said party, together with a statement of said physician's qualifications. The administrative judge may admit such medical report as if the physician so testified, provided that where specific facts are in controversy, the administrative judge shall, on motion by a party, strike any part of such report that is not based on:
(6) The administrative judge shall preside over the hearing and shall control the conduct of parties, attorneys, and witnesses. Each party at a hearing may give a brief opening statement and closing argument, and may submit briefs, motions, requests for findings of facts, and requests for rulings of law, within such time as the administrative judge may prescribe. The administrative judge, at his discretion, may require the filing of briefs in such form and within such time as he may direct.