3301-73-12 Pre-hearing conferences; status conferences.

(A) The hearing officer shall, in accordance with paragraph (B) of this rule, upon request of any party, schedule a pre-hearing conference. Such conference may be initiated by the hearing officer, or upon motion of either party.

(B) Pre-hearing conferences may be held for the following purposes:

(1) Identification of issues;

(2) Obtaining stipulations and admissions;

(3) Agreements limiting the number of witnesses;

(4) Discussion of documents, exhibits, and witness lists;

(5) Estimating the time necessary for hearing; or

(6) Discussion of any other matters the hearing officer deems appropriate.

(C) Procedural orders may be issued by the hearing officer based upon information obtained at a pre-hearing conference.

(D) The proceedings at a pre-hearing conference shall be informal, but the hearing officer may prepare, or order prepared, a pre-hearing conference report encompassing the agreements reached and decisions made at the pre-hearing conference, including any admissions, stipulations, or proposals agreed to.

(E) All offers of settlement, proposals of adjustment, and proposed stipulations not agreed to shall be privileged, shall not constitute admissions, and shall not be admissible in evidence against the respondent making the offer or proposal and shall not be a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/04/2009 and 03/04/2014

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 3301.07, 3319.31, 3319.311

Rule Amplifies: 3319.31, 3319.311

Prior Effective Dates: 9/25/2004