Md. Code Regs. 10.56.04.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 25, December 13, 2024

Section 10.56.04.04 - Prehearing Procedures

A. Discovery.

(1) Discovery on Request. By written request served on the other party and filed with the Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings, as appropriate, a party may require another party to produce, within 15 days, the following:

(a) A list of witnesses to be called;

(b) Copies of documents intended to be produced at the hearing; or

(c) Both §A(1)(a) and (b) of this regulation.

(2) Mandatory Discovery.

(a) Each party shall provide to the other party not later than 15 days before the prehearing conference, if scheduled, or 45 days before the scheduled hearing date, whichever is earlier:

(i) The name and curriculum vitae of any expert witness who will testify at the hearing; and

(ii) A detailed written report summarizing the expert's testimony, which includes the opinion offered and the factual basis and reasons underlying the opinion.

(b) If the Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings, as appropriate, finds that the report is not sufficiently specific, or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings, as appropriate, shall exclude from the hearing the testimony of the expert and any report of the expert.

(c) The Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings, as appropriate, shall consider and decide arguments regarding the sufficiency of the report:

(i) At the prehearing conference, if scheduled; or

(ii) Immediately before the scheduled hearing.

(d) If an expert adopts a sufficiently specific charging document as the expert's report, that adoption satisfies the requirements set forth in this section.

(3) Parties are not entitled to discovery of items other than as listed in §A(1) and (2) of this regulation.

(4) Both parties have a continuing duty to supplement their disclosures of witnesses and documents.

(5) Absent unforeseen circumstances which would otherwise impose an extraordinary hardship on a party, witnesses or documents may not be added to the list:

(a) After the prehearing conference, if scheduled; or

(b) Later than 15 days before the hearing, if no prehearing conference is scheduled.

(6) The prohibition against adding witnesses does not apply to witnesses or documents to be used for impeachment or rebuttal purposes.

(7) Construction.

(a) In hearings conducted by an administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings, this regulation shall, whenever possible, be construed as supplementing and in harmony with COMAR 28.02.01.

(b) In the event of a conflict between this regulation and COMAR 28.02.01, this regulation applies.

B. Prehearing Conferences. The Board may set prehearing conferences as it deems appropriate.

C. Oaths and Subpoenas.

(1) The Board may issue subpoenas, administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of physical evidence before it from witnesses upon whom process is served anywhere within the State as in civil cases in the circuit court of the county or of Baltimore city, by subpoena issued over the signature of the Chairman or Secretary and the seal of the Board.

(2) If, without lawful excuse, an individual disobeys a subpoena from the Board, or an order by the Board to take any oath, testify, or answer a question, then, on petition of the Board, a court of competent jurisdiction may punish the individual for contempt of court.

D. Motions filed by a party shall be accompanied by a memorandum of points and authorities and shall be filed with the Board at least 10 working days before the hearing and a copy served on the opposing party. Any response shall be filed with the Board at least 5 working days before the hearing and a copy shall be served on the opposing party.

E. If after due notice the individual against whom the action is contemplated fails or refuses to appear, the Board may hear and determine the matter.

Md. Code Regs. 10.56.04.04

Regulation .04 amended effective October 2, 2000 (27:19 Md. R. 1726)
Regulation .04C amended effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1432)
Regulation .04E adopted effective August 13, 2007 (34:16 Md. R. 1432)