Hearings

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes the procedures for the setting, notices, and conduct of hearings. (1) The commission shall set the time and place for all hearings and serve notice as required by law. Additional notice may be served when the commission deems it to be appropriate. (2) The presiding officer may order continuance of a hearing date for good cause. (A) When a continuance has been granted at the request of the applicant or complainant, the commission may dismiss the case for failure to prosecute if it has not received a request from the applicant or complainant that the matter be again continued or set for hearing within ninety (90) days from the date of the order granting the continuance. (B) Failure to appear at a hearing without previously having secured a continuance shall constitute grounds for dismissal of the party or the party’s complaint, application or other action unless good cause for the failure to appear is shown. (3) When pending actions involve related questions of law or fact, the commission may order a joint hearing of any or all the matters at issue, and may make other orders concerning cases before it to avoid unnecessary costs or delay. (4) The presiding officer shall establish a procedural schedule through one (1) or more procedural orders in which the hearing and conference dates are set, date for filing testimony and pleadings are set, and any other applicable procedural parameters are established as determined necessary by the presiding officer or agreed to by the parties. (5) The order of procedure in hearings shall be as follows, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties or ordered by the presiding officer: (A) In all cases except investigation cases, the applicant or complainant shall open and close, with intervenors following the staff counsel, or his designee, and the public counsel in introducing evidence; and (B) In investigation cases, the staff counsel, or his designee, shall open and close. (6) A reporter appointed by the commission shall make a full and complete record of the entire proceeding in any formal hearing, or of any other hearing or proceeding at which the commission determines reporting is appropriate. (7) Suggested corrections to the transcript of record shall be offered within ten (10) days after the transcript is filed, except for good cause shown. The suggestions shall be in writing and shall be filed in the official commission file. Objections to proposed corrections shall be made in writing within ten (10) days after the filing of the suggestions. The commission shall determine what changes, if any, shall be made in the record after a review of the suggested corrections and any objections. (8) A party may request that the commission reopen the record for the taking of additional evidence if the request is made after the hearing has been concluded, but before briefs have been filed or oral argument presented, or before a decision has been issued in the absence of briefs or argument. Such a request shall be made by filing a motion to reopen the record for the taking of additional evidence. The motion shall assert the justification for taking additional evidence including material changes of fact or of law alleged to have occurred since the conclusion of the hearing. The petition shall also contain a brief statement of the proposed additional evidence, and an explanation as to why this evidence was not offered during the hearing. AUTHORITY: section 386.410, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-2.110. Original rule filed Dec. 19, 1975, effective Dec. 29, 1975. Amended: Filed Nov. 7, 1984, effective June 15, 1985. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1985, effective Dec. 15, 1985. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 10, 1995, effective Nov. 30, 1995. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Aug. 24, 1999, effective April 30, 2000. Amended: Filed March 2, 2011, effective Oct. 30, 2011. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-2.110, effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 386.410, RSMo 1939, amended 1947, 1977, 1996.