N.M. Admin. Code § 9.1.1.14

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 9.1.1.14 - HEARING PROCEDURES

A. Appearance and representation:

(1) The complainant shall be present at the hearing, may present testimony or evidence and may be represented by an attorney or other representative. The complainant or complainant's representative shall present the case supporting the complaint at hearing.

(2) If the complainant does not appear at the hearing after proper notice has been served, the complaint may be dismissed for failure of the complainant to appear and present the complainant's case at hearing as required in Subsections A and C of Section 28-1-11 NMSA 1978, as amended.

(3) The respondent to a complaint shall file a written answer to the complaint appear at the hearing, may present testimony or evidence and may be represented by an attorney or other representative. If the respondent is an entity, the respondent may designate a person to serve as its representative at the hearing. The respondent, respondent's representative or respondent's counsel may present the case responding to the complaint at hearing.

(4) Commission counsel, or an attorney representative from the Office of the Attorney General, may advise the commission during the hearing on legal matters and will assist in the preparation of the findings of fact, the conclusions of law and the order.

B. Sequence of the proceeding:

(1) introduction to the proceeding by the presiding commissioner or the hearing officer;

(2) invitation to the parties to attempt a settlement resolution prior to commending the hearing;

(3) consideration of any preliminary matters or motions;

(4) administration of oath of the parties and the witnesses by presiding commissioner or hearing officer;

(5) opening statement by the complainant or the complainant's attorney or other representative;

(6) opening statement by the respondent or the respondent's attorney or other representative;

(7) presentation of the complainant's case;

(8) presentation of the respondent's case;

(9) closing argument by the complainant or the complainant's attorney or other representative;

(10) closing argument by the respondent or the respondent's attorney or other representative;

(11) instructions to the parties as to the schedule for filing findings of fact, conclusions of law, briefs or other documents with the commission following the hearing; and

(12) final adjournment of the hearing.

C. Sequestering witnesses: The commission shall sequester the witnesses from the hearing until the time of their testimony. A complainant or the designated representative for respondent will be allowed to be present throughout the hearing, even though the complainant or the designated representative for respondent may be called to testify.

D. Custody of evidence: Evidence introduced as exhibits at the hearing will be retained in the custody of the hearing clerk at the bureau for commission purposes.

E. Matters of proof:

(1) Burden of proof: complainant has the burden of proof.

(2) Standard of proof: The complainant must prove the case by a preponderance of the evidence.

F. Evidentiary matters at hearing:

(1) Formal rules of evidence not binding on the commission or hearing officer: The formal rules of evidence governing the courts of law or equity shall not bind the commission or the hearing officer in hearing the evidence, as provided in Subsection D of Section 28-1-11 NMSA 1978, as amended.

(2) Objections to evidence offered: A party who has an objection to the evidence offered or to procedural matters in the proceeding must raise the objection orally during the hearing. The party raising the objection must state the grounds for the objection. The ruling on the objection, made by the presiding commissioner or hearing officer, shall be made a part of the record. A party's exception to each overruled objection shall be automatic and is not waived by the party's further participation in the hearing.

(3) Offers of proof: Whenever there is a ruling to exclude the evidence offered, the party offering the evidence may make an offer of proof, which shall be included in the record. An offer of proof for excluded evidence consists of a brief description of the nature of the evidence excluded, the purpose for which it is offered and its relevance to the issues before the commission or hearing officer. An offer of proof for excluded documents or exhibits shall additionally include the insertion into the record of the excluded documents or exhibits. If the commission decides that a hearing officer's ruling to exclude evidence was both erroneous and prejudicial, the commission may consider the excluded evidence and may reopen the proceedings to take such evidence.

G. Continuation and adjournment: The presiding commissioner or the hearing officer may continue a hearing from day to day or adjourn it to a later date.

H. Improper conduct: The commission or hearing officer may exclude from the hearing room any person who engages in improper conduct.

I. Closing arguments, briefs and findings of fact and conclusions of law:

(1) Closing arguments: At the hearing, a party or the party's attorney or representative may present an oral closing argument in support of the party's position. The commission or hearing officer may elect to allow the parties to present a written closing argument in addition to or in place of an oral closing argument. Written closing arguments, where applicable, shall be filed with the commission and served on all parties of record within 10 calendar days after the final adjournment of the hearing, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise.

(2) Findings of fact and conclusions of law: Each party may submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the commission within 10 calendar days after the final adjournment of the hearing, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise.

(3) Briefs and answer briefs:

(a) Briefs: Each party may submit a brief in support of its position, including an argument of how the law applies to the facts in the case. If a party elects to submit a brief, it shall be filed with the commission and a copy served on all parties of record within 10 calendar days after the final adjournment of the hearing, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise.

(b) Answer briefs: When a party has filed a brief, the opposing party may submit an answer brief to the commission or hearing officer and serve a copy on all parties of record within five calendar days of the filing of the brief, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise.

(4) Attorney fees:

(a) If the complainant is represented by private legal counsel and seeks to recover attorney fees from the respondent, complainant's counsel is required to submit an affidavit setting forth the attorney fees. The attorney affidavit shall be submitted to the commission and a copy served on the respondent within 15 calendar days after the final adjournment of the hearing, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise. The attorney affidavit shall include an itemization of fees, be signed by the attorney and be notarized.

(b) The respondent may submit a written objection, if any, to the attorney fees requested by the complainant. The objection to attorney fees shall be submitted to the commission and a copy served on the complainant within five calendar days after the submission of the attorney affidavit setting forth fees, unless the commission or the hearing officer directs otherwise.

J. Close of the hearing record: The hearing record closes following the final adjournment of the hearing, when the last time set for the submission of all documents to the commission has expired.

N.M. Admin. Code § 9.1.1.14

9/1/98; Recompiled 10/01/01, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 21, November 14, 2017, eff. 11/14/2017, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXX, Issue 24, December 31, 2019, eff. 1/1/2020, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 01, January 12, 2021, eff. 1/12/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 19, October 10, 2023, eff. 10/10/2023