Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Hearing examiner may allow pre-hearing
discovery.
(1) As a part of the authority to
conduct the hearing, and except as provided in paragraph (B) of this rule, the
hearing examiner may allow pre-hearing discovery of any matter that is not
privileged or confidential and that is relevant to the subject matter of the
proceeding, provided that such discovery is necessary to facilitate the
thorough and adequate preparation of the hearing. The participants to any
hearing governed by this chapter may also conduct pre-hearing discovery by
mutually agreeable methods or by stipulations subject to approval by the
hearing examiner. When a method of pre-hearing discovery is permitted, it shall
be conducted in accordance with the Ohio
Rules of Civil Procedure
(7/1/2000) unless the hearing examiner orders
otherwise, and except as modified by paragraph (B) of this rule. Use of
discovered material at any hearing shall also be governed by the
Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure
(7/1/2000).
(2) When permitted pursuant to
this rule, pre-hearing discovery may begin immediately after a hearing request
is timely made, and must be completed before the actual commencement of the
hearing. The hearing examiner may limit the length of the time allowed for
discovery and may shorten or lengthen the time
allowed for response to discovery requests. Pre-hearing discovery may be
obtained through use of interrogatories, requests for the production of
documents, permission to enter upon land or other property, depositions, and
requests for admissions.
(3)
Nothing in this rule prohibits an appellant or the issuing state agency from
gaining access to any information made public by the operation of state law.
(B) Depositions. For
the purpose of conducting a hearing, the issuing state agency or any appellant
may take depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state in the
same manner as is prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil
actions in the court of common pleas of this state. Depositions of state
employees are to be conducted in the Columbus offices of the issuing state
agency during normal business hours unless other arrangements are approved by
the issuing state agency.
(C)
Subpoena issuance and enforcement.
The issuing state agency, upon its own motion or that of any
appellant, shall issue a subpoena requiring the attendance of witnesses and the
production of books and records as are necessary for the purpose of conducting
a hearing.
(1) Upon the request of
the appellant, the issuing state agency shall issue a subpoena for any witness
or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, or
papers. The issuing state agency shall issue such subpoena in blank to a party
requesting it, who is solely responsible for completing the subpoena form,
including the address where the person is to be served, and returning it to the
issuing state agency along with a written request for service. The written
request along with the completed subpoena must be received by the issuing state
agency no later than twenty-one business days before commencement of the
hearing or deposition, unless otherwise ordered for good cause shown. Upon its
own initiative and for its own use, the issuing state agency may issue a
subpoena for any purpose set forth in this rule or otherwise authorized by law.
At its discretion, the issuing state agency may make available electronically a
subpoena in blank and may authorize electronic submission of a completed
subpoena.
(2) All subpoenas issued
under this rule are to be directed to the sheriff of the county where the
person to be served resides or is found. The subpoena is to be served and
returned in the same manner as a subpoena in a criminal case. Fees and mileage
of the sheriff and the witness will be the same as that allowed in the court of
common pleas in criminal cases. The issuing state agency will pay allowable
fees and mileage.
(3) In any case
of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served upon any person, or the
refusal of any witness to testify to any matter in which there may be lawful
interrogation, the issuing state agency will apply to the court of common pleas
where such disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs for an order to compel
obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt, as in the case of
disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court, or a
refusal to testify therein.