Chapter DWD 140

DWD 140.11(2) (2) If the appellant is scheduled to testify by telephone or videoconference and fails to provide the hearing office with the appellant’s telephone number or the name and telephone number of the appellant’s representative or fails to connect to the videoconference within a reasonable time before the hearing and if the appeal tribunal has made reasonable attempts to contact the appellant, the appeal tribunal shall dismiss the appeal. If the respondent fails to provide the hearing office with the telephone number or the name and telephone number of the respondent’s representative, or the representative fails to connect to the videoconference before the hearing, and if the appeal tribunal has made reasonable attempts to contact the respondent, the appeal tribunal shall proceed with the hearing.

DWD 140.11(3) (3) If the appellant is scheduled to appear by telephone or videoconference, the appeal tribunal shall, within 10 minutes after the starting time for the hearing, attempt to place at least two calls to the appellant’s telephone number of record or the telephone number furnished to the hearing office. One of the calls shall be attempted at or near the end of the 10 minute period unless the appeal tribunal determines after reasonable efforts that the appellant cannot be reached at that number. If, within 10 minutes after the starting time for the hearing, neither the appellant nor the appellant’s representative can be reached at the telephone number of record or the telephone number furnished to the hearing office, then the appeal tribunal shall dismiss the appeal.

DWD 140.11(4) (4) If the respondent is scheduled to appear by telephone or videoconference, the appeal tribunal shall proceed with the hearing if, within 10 minutes after the starting time for the hearing, neither the respondent nor the respondent’s representative can be reached at the respondent’s telephone number of record or the telephone number furnished to the hearing office. The appeal tribunal may refuse to allow a respondent to testify if the appeal tribunal is unable to reach the respondent or the respondent’s representative and neither the respondent nor the respondent’s representative have contacted the hearing office within 10 minutes after the starting time for the hearing. The respondent is considered to have failed to appear for the hearing if the appeal tribunal so refuses. The respondent may petition such a finding under s. 108.09 (6), Stats.

DWD 140.11(5) (5) All parties shall remain available for the hearing up to one hour after the scheduled starting time in the event of a delay in the prior hearings or other unforeseen circumstances. If the respondent cannot be contacted by telephone or connect by videoconference within one hour of the scheduled starting time of the hearing, the appeal tribunal shall proceed with the hearing if the appellant has appeared. If the appellant cannot be contacted within one hour of the scheduled starting time of the hearing, the appeal tribunal shall dismiss the appeal.

DWD 140.11(6) (6) The hearing office shall mark and electronically deliver or mail the potential exhibits for a telephone or videoconference hearing from the hearing file to all parties as soon as possible before the date of the telephone or videoconference hearing. A party may submit additional documents as potential exhibits by simultaneously electronically delivering or mailing those documents to the hearing office and copies to each party. A party may submit potential exhibits which are not documents in the manner designated by the hearing office to which the case is assigned. The appeal tribunal may refuse to consider any documents not received by the hearing office or each party at least 3 days before the hearing.

DWD 140.11 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; r. and recr., Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.12 DWD 140.12 Stipulations.

DWD 140.12(1) (1) After an appeal is filed, the parties may stipulate to relevant facts and request that the stipulation be used in lieu of a hearing. The appeal tribunal may accept the stipulation in lieu of a hearing only if all of the following occur:

DWD 140.12(1)(a) (a) The parties entered into the stipulation voluntarily.

DWD 140.12(1)(b) (b) The stipulation contains all the relevant and necessary facts to resolve the issues as determined by the appeal tribunal.

DWD 140.12(1)(c) (c) The stipulation is in writing and signed, or electronically executed, by the parties.

DWD 140.12(2) (2) If the appeal tribunal does not accept the stipulation of the parties, a hearing shall be held unless the appeal tribunal provides the parties with additional opportunities to submit an acceptable stipulation.

DWD 140.12(3) (3) At the hearing, the appeal tribunal may accept a partial stipulation of relevant facts not in dispute if the stipulation is entered into the hearing record and is agreed to on the record by the parties.

DWD 140.12 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1988, No. 395, eff. 12-1-88; renum. from ILHR 140.125 and am., Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.13 DWD 140.13 Parties who fail to appear; general provisions. All parties who are required to appear in person shall appear at the hearing location no later than the starting time listed on the notice of hearing. If the appellant does not appear within 10 minutes after the scheduled starting time of the hearing, the appeal tribunal shall dismiss the appeal. If the respondent does not appear within 10 minutes after the scheduled starting time of the hearing and the appellant is present, the appeal tribunal shall commence the hearing. The provisions of s. 108.09 (4), Stats., apply when a party fails to appear at a hearing under this chapter.

DWD 140.13 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. from ILHR 140.14 and am., Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.15 DWD 140.15 Hearing procedure; order of witnesses; public hearing and exclusion of certain persons; oral decisions.

DWD 140.15(1) (1) All testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation. The appeal tribunal shall administer the oath or affirmation to each witness. No person who refuses to swear or affirm the veracity of their testimony may testify. Each party shall be given an opportunity to examine and cross-examine witnesses. The appeal tribunal may limit testimony to only those matters that are disputed. The appeal tribunal may not allow into the record, either on direct or cross-examination, redundant, irrelevant or repetitive testimony.

DWD 140.15(2) (2) The appeal tribunal has the responsibility to develop the facts and may call and examine any witness that the appeal tribunal deems necessary, determine the order that witnesses are called and the order of examination of each witness. The appeal tribunal may deny the request of any party to examine a witness adversely. The appeal tribunal may hear closing arguments from the parties and may limit the time of such arguments. The appeal tribunal may adjourn and continue a hearing to a future date when the hearing cannot be completed in the time scheduled.

DWD 140.15(3) (3) The appeal tribunal may, upon motion of a party or upon the appeal tribunal’s own motion, exclude witnesses from the hearing until called to testify and may instruct the excluded witnesses not to discuss the matter being heard until the hearing has been concluded. The appeal tribunal may close the hearing to any person to the extent necessary to protect the interests and rights of either party to a fair hearing. This subsection does not authorize exclusion of a party who is a natural person; one officer or employee of a party which is not a natural person; or a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of the party’s case.

DWD 140.15(4) (4) The appeal tribunal may exclude any person who disrupts the hearing. The appeal tribunal may recess or adjourn the hearing if any person disrupts the hearing. The appeal tribunal may prohibit any excluded representative from representing a party at that hearing or any continuance. The appeal tribunal shall offer a party whose representative has been excluded or refused admittance an opportunity to secure another representative.

DWD 140.15 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. from ILHR 140.10 and am. (1) and (4), Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.16 DWD 140.16 Admissibility of evidence; administrative notice.

DWD 140.16(1) (1) Statutory and common law rules of evidence and rules of procedure applicable to courts of record are not controlling with respect to hearings. The appeal tribunal shall secure the facts in as direct and simple a manner as possible. Evidence having reasonable probative value is admissible. Irrelevant, immaterial and repetitive evidence is not admissible. Hearsay evidence is admissible if it has reasonable probative value but no issue may be decided solely on hearsay evidence unless the hearsay evidence is admissible under ch. 908, Stats.

DWD 140.16(2) (2) The appeal tribunal may take administrative notice of any department records, generally recognized fact or established technical or scientific fact having reasonable probative value but the parties shall be given an opportunity to object and to present evidence to the contrary before the appeal tribunal issues a decision.

DWD 140.16 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. from ILHR 140.12 and am., Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.17 DWD 140.17 Form of decision.

DWD 140.17(1) (1) The appeal tribunal may issue an oral decision at the hearing on the matters at issue but the appeal tribunal shall confirm the oral decision with a written decision. Only the written decision is appealable.

DWD 140.17(2) (2) The written decision of the appeal tribunal shall contain ultimate findings of fact and conclusions of law. The findings of fact shall consist of concise and separate findings necessary to support the conclusions of law. The decision shall contain the reasons and rationale which follow from the findings of fact to the conclusions of law.

DWD 140.17(3) (3) The decision of the appeal tribunal shall specify the time limit to file a petition for commission review with the commission under s. 108.09 (6), 108.095 (6) or 108.10 (2), Stats.

DWD 140.17 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. from ILHR 140.13, am. (2) and cr. (3), Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.18 DWD 140.18 Fees for representation of parties. No representative may charge or receive from a claimant for representation in a dispute concerning benefit eligibility or liability for overpayment of benefits, or in any administrative proceeding under ch. 108, Stats., concerning such a dispute, a fee which, in the aggregate, is more than 10% of the maximum benefits at issue unless the department has approved a specified higher fee before the claimant is charged. When a request for waiver of the 10% limitation is received, the department shall consider whether extended benefits or any other state or federal unemployment benefits are at issue. Any request for waiver of the 10% limitation on fees shall be submitted in writing to the central administrative office of the bureau of legal affairs in the division. Under s. 108.13, Stats., the department may not assign any past or future benefits for the collection of representative fees.

DWD 140.18 Note Note: Any request for a waiver under this section shall be submitted in writing to: Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Insurance, Central Administrative Office of the Bureau of Legal Affairs, 201 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8942, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8942.

DWD 140.18 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. and am. from ILHR 140.17, Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. 140.18 Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.19 DWD 140.19 Departmental assistance for persons with disabilities and hearing impairments.

DWD 140.19(1) (1) The department may, at its own expense, provide a person to assist a person with a hearing impairment in communicating at a hearing, if the person with a hearing impairment notifies the hearing office within a reasonable time before the date of the hearing and the appeal tribunal determines that the impairment is of a type which may hinder or prevent the person from communicating.

DWD 140.19(2) (2) If the person with a hearing impairment makes arrangements on their own behalf to have a person assist them in communicating, the department may reimburse such person for fees and travel expenses at the rate specified for interpreters under s. DWD 140.20, if the appeal tribunal determines that such person is necessary to assist the person with the hearing impairment in communicating.

DWD 140.19(3) (3) The hearing office shall attempt to schedule hearings in buildings which have ease of access for any person with a temporary or permanent incapacity or disability. The appeal tribunal may reschedule any hearing in which such a person who is a party or a necessary witness to the hearing does not have ease of access into the building where the hearing is scheduled.

DWD 140.19 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85, r. (1) (intro.), renum. (1) (a) and (b) to 100.02 (30) and (17), renum. (2), (3) and (4) to (1), (2) and (3), Register, September, 1995, No. 477, eff. 10-1-95; am. Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 2000, No. 537; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.20 DWD 140.20 Witness and interpreter fees; travel expenses.

DWD 140.20(1) (1) The appeal tribunal may authorize reimbursement by the department to any witness subpoenaed by a party or any party who has already made reimbursement to such a witness for witness fees and travel expenses. The appeal tribunal may also require reimbursement for an interpreter who is necessary to interpret testimony of a witness offered at the hearing.

DWD 140.20(2) (2) The department may refuse to reimburse a witness subpoenaed on behalf of a party other than the department for witness fees or travel expenses if the appeal tribunal determines that the testimony was not relevant or material to the issue of the hearing.

DWD 140.20(3) (3) No witness subpoenaed on behalf of or requested to appear by the department is entitled to prepayment of witness fees or travel expenses but any such witness who appears at the hearing shall be paid the fees and travel expenses provided under sub. (4).

DWD 140.20(4) (4) The fees of witnesses and interpreters are:

DWD 140.20(4)(a) (a) For witnesses, $16.00 per day.

DWD 140.20(4)(b) (b) For expert witnesses, the rate set under s. 814.04 (2), Stats., plus the fees under pars. (a) and (d).

DWD 140.20(4)(c) (c) For interpreters, $35.00 per half day, or the contracted amount.

DWD 140.20(4)(d) (d) For travel expenses, 20 cents per mile from the witness’ or interpreter’s residence in this state to the hearing site and back or, if without the state, from the point at which the witness or interpreter passes the state boundary to the hearing site, and back.

DWD 140.20 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (1), (2), (4) (c) and (d), Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; CR 18-033: am. (1), (2), (4) (c), (d) Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.

DWD 140.21 DWD 140.21 Transcripts and recordings.

DWD 140.21(1) (1) Copies of hearing transcripts may be obtained from the commission under s. LIRC 1.08.

DWD 140.21(2) (2) Under s. 108.09 (5), Stats., if testimony at a hearing is recorded, the department may furnish a person with a copy of the hearing recording. The fee is $7.00 per electronic recording. The department may waive this fee if the department is satisfied that the person is unable to pay.

DWD 140.21 Note Note: To request hearing recordings and waivers of fees contact the Department of Workforce Development, Division of Unemployment Insurance, Bureau of Legal Affairs, 201 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8942, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8942 or telephone [phone].

DWD 140.21 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (2) and (3) and r. (4), Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2007 No. 618; CR 08-019: am. (title) and (2), r. (3) Register July 2008 No. 631, eff. 8-1-08; CR 18-033: am. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register July 2022.

DWD 140.22 DWD 140.22 Standard affidavit form.

DWD 140.22(1) (1) In general.

DWD 140.22(1)(a) (a) Personal knowledge is the recognition of facts through firsthand observation or experience.

DWD 140.22(1)(b) (b) Information and belief is not based on firsthand observation or experience but is based on secondhand information that is sworn as true.

DWD 140.22(1)(c) (c) The department’s standard affidavit form for appeals under ss. 108.09, 108.095 and 108.10, Stats., is available at the department’s website or by requesting a copy from the hearing office.

DWD 140.22 Note Note: To obtain the department’s standard affidavit form, call [phone] or visit the website https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/forms/ui/ucl-17500-e.htm.

DWD 140.22(2) (2) Affidavit requirements.

DWD 140.22(2)(a) (a) An affidavit must contain all of the following information:

DWD 140.22(2)(a)1. 1. The name and address of the affiant.

DWD 140.22(2)(a)2. 2. The signature or mark of the affiant.

DWD 140.22(2)(a)3. 3. The date the statement was sworn.

DWD 140.22(2)(a)4. 4. The signature or mark of the notary public or other person authorized by law to verify sworn statements.

DWD 140.22(2)(a)5. 5. The county and state where the statement was sworn.

DWD 140.22(2)(b) (b) An affidavit based upon information and belief must state the source of the information and the grounds for the belief.

DWD 140.22(3) (3) Procedure.

DWD 140.22(3)(a) (a) A party may submit an affidavit as a potential exhibit by simultaneously delivering the affidavit to the hearing office and electronically delivering or mailing a copy to each party. The appeal tribunal conducting the hearing may refuse to consider an affidavit not received by the hearing office and each party at least 3 days before the hearing.

DWD 140.22(3)(b) (b) At the hearing, the appeal tribunal may accept the affidavit as evidence as provided under s. DWD 140.16.

DWD 140.22 History History: CR 13-106: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; CR 18-033: am. (1) (c), (3) (a), (b) Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19.