A respondent may respond to an initiating document by filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding or by waiving the opportunity for adjudicative proceeding.
(1) If the respondent wishes to file an application for an adjudicative proceeding:
(a) An application for adjudicative proceeding must be filed in accordance with the following time periods:
(i) For matters under chapter
18.130 RCW, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, within twenty days of service of the initiating documents unless an extension has been granted as provided in subsection (3) of this section; and
(ii) For all other matters in which the program proposes to deny, suspend, revoke, or modify a license, or proposes to impose a civil fine, within twenty-eight days of receipt of the initiating documents, unless otherwise provided by statute; and
(iii) For all other matters, within twenty days of service of the initiating documents, unless otherwise provided by statute.
(b) The application for adjudicative proceeding must be made either on the Request for Adjudicative Proceeding Form accompanying the initiating documents or by a written document containing at least the following information:
(i) Name and address of the party requesting an adjudicative proceeding;
(ii) Name and address of the attorney representing the party, if any;
(iii) Identification of the portion or portions of the initiating documents contested;
(iv) Summary of the party's position on the portion or portions contested;
(v) Statement of the party's standing to request an adjudicative proceeding under WAC
246-10-107; and
(vi) For matters not under chapter
18.130 RCW and in which the department proposes to deny, suspend, revoke, or modify a license, or proposes to impose a civil fine, the application shall include a copy of the initiating document containing the adverse notice.
(c) By filing a request for adjudicative proceeding, the responding party agrees to appear personally at the adjudicative proceeding or, if otherwise approved in advance by the presiding officer, by telephone, unless appearance is waived by the presiding officer as authorized in WAC
246-10-104(4).
(d) The application for adjudicative proceeding shall contain a response to the initiating documents, indicating whether each charge is admitted, denied, or not contested, and responses shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Once admitted or not contested, an allegation may not be denied; and
(ii) An allegation denied or not contested may later be admitted.
(e) When an allegation is admitted or not contested, it will be conclusively deemed to be true for all further proceedings. No proof of the allegation need be submitted.
(f) The application for adjudicative proceeding shall specify the representative, if any, designated pursuant to WAC
246-10-108 and any request for interpreter. The responding party shall amend the name of the representative and need for interpreter immediately if circumstances change prior to the hearing.
(g) The application for adjudicative proceeding must be filed at the adjudicative clerk's office at the address specified in WAC
246-10-102.
(2) A respondent may waive an adjudicative proceeding and submit a written statement and other documents in defense or in mitigation of the charges. Such waiver and documents shall be filed:
(a) In accordance with the timelines in subsection (1)(a) of this section; and
(b) As required in subsection (1)(g) of this section.
(3) For matters under RCW
18.130.180, if the twenty-day limit for filing an application for adjudicative proceeding results in a hardship to the respondent, the respondent may request an extension of not more than sixty days upon a showing of good cause.
(a) The request for extension must be filed within the twenty day limit and include:
(i) The reason for the request and the number of days for which the extension is requested; and
(ii) Documentation of the circumstances creating the hardship.
(b) The request may be granted for a period not to exceed sixty days upon showing of:
(i) Illness of the respondent; or
(ii) Absence of the respondent from the county of residence or employment; or
(iii) Emergency in the respondent's family; or
(iv) Other good cause as determined by the presiding officer.
(c) If a request for extension is denied, the respondent shall have ten days from service of the order denying the extension or twenty days from service of the initiating documents, whichever is longer, to file an application for adjudicative proceeding.
