DWD 140.001(1)(1)
In general. Except as provided in
sub. (2), unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the definitions in
ch. DWD 100 apply to this chapter.
DWD 140.001(2)
(2) In this chapter. Notwithstanding
ch. DWD 100, the following words and phrases have the designated meanings unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
DWD 140.001(2)(a)
(a) "Division" means the unemployment insurance division of the department of workforce development.
DWD 140.001(2)(b)
(b) "Representative" means any attorney or agent who the department has notice is authorized to represent any party.
DWD 140.001 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; r. and recr. (7), r. (8),
Register, May, 1993, No. 449, eff. 6-1-93, r. (intro.), (2), (3) and (6), renum. (1) and (5) to 100.02 (1) and (32) and am., renum. (4) and (7) to (2) (a) and (b) and am. (b), cr. (1), (2) (title) and (intro.),
Register, September, 1995, No. 477, eff. 10-1-95; am. (2) (a),
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.01(1)
(1)
Appeal rights. Any party to a determination issued under ss.
108.09 or
108.10, Stats., has the right to an appeal. An appeal as to any matter in a determination is a request for hearing and shall be filed with the department by the appellant or its representative. Each determination issued under ss.
108.09 or
108.10, Stats., shall specify the time limit within which any appeal is required to be filed with the department under
ch. 108, Stats.
DWD 140.01(2)(a)(a) An appeal shall be filed after a copy of the determination is mailed or given to a party, whichever first occurs, as specified under ss.
108.09 or
108.10, Stats. If a party first receives a determination after the statutory appeal period has expired and through no fault of that party, the statutory appeal period as specified under ss.
108.09 or
108.10, Stats., shall extend from the date the party receives the determination. An appeal received within these time limits is timely filed. If the deadline for filing an appeal falls on a Saturday, Sunday, any of the holidays enumerated under ss.
230.35 (4) (a) and
995.20, Stats., or any other day on which mail is not delivered by the United States postal service, then the deadline shall be extended to include the next business day.
DWD 140.01(2)(b)3.
3. The central administrative office of the bureau of legal affairs, unemployment insurance division, department of workforce development.
DWD 140.01(2)(b)4.
4. An appeal by an interstate claimant may also be filed at a public employment office in the agent state under s.
108.14 (8), Stats., in the manner prescribed for timely filing with the department under this section.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)
(c) An appeal shall be considered filed on the earliest of the following dates:
DWD 140.01(2)(c)1.
1. The date on which the department actually receives the written appeal.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)2.
2. If the appeal was mailed and bears only a United States postal service postmark, on the date of that postmark.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)3.
3. If the appeal was mailed and bears both a United States postal service postmark and a private meter mark, on the date of the United States postal service postmark.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)4.
4. If the appeal was mailed and bears only a private meter mark, on the date of the of the private meter mark.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)5.
5. If the appeal was mailed and bears no United States postal service postmark, no private meter mark, or an illegible mark, 2 business days prior to the date the appeal was actually received by the department.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)6.
6. If the appeal was sent using a delivery service other than the United States postal service, on the date the department actually receives the appeal.
DWD 140.01(2)(c)7.
7. If the appeal was faxed, the date of transmission recorded on the faxed appeal. If the fax is received without a date of transmission recording, the date actually received by the department is presumed to be the date of transmission.
DWD 140.01 Note
Note: The address for the central administrative office of the bureau of legal affairs, unemployment insurance division, department of workforce development, is 201 E. Washington, room 331X, P.O. Box 8942, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8942.
DWD 140.01 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; r. and recr.,
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 2000, No. 537; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register June 2007 No. 618.
DWD 140.02
DWD 140.02
Representation of parties. Any party may appear on the party's own behalf at any hearing under this chapter or appear with or by a representative. The representative shall be presumed to have full authority to act on behalf of the party, including the authority to file or withdraw an appeal. The representative shall have authority to act on behalf of the party until the party or the representative terminates the representative's authorization and notifies the department that such representation has ended. No attorney whose license is suspended or who has been otherwise disbarred and prohibited from practicing law by the courts or bar association of any state may be allowed to act as a representative at any hearing under this chapter.
DWD 140.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (3) (intro.), (b) and (n),
Register, November, 1988, No. 395, eff. 12-1-88; r. and recr.,
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.03
DWD 140.03
Notice of pending appeal. The department shall promptly notify the parties in writing of the appeal after an appeal is received. The notice may also contain any information concerning the hearing which the department considers relevant.
DWD 140.03 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am.
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.04
DWD 140.04
Failure to file a timely appeal. DWD 140.04(1)
(1) The hearing office may schedule a hearing on the question of whether a late appeal was for a reason beyond the appellant's control. The hearing office may also schedule a provisional hearing on any matter in the determination at the same time as the hearing on the appellant's late appeal.
DWD 140.04(2)
(2) The administrative law judge shall issue a decision which makes ultimate findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether or not the appellant's late appeal was for a reason beyond the appellant's control. If the administrative law judge decides this question in favor of the appellant, the same or another administrative law judge shall then make ultimate findings of fact and conclusions of law on the merits of the case. If the administrative law judge decides that the late appeal was late for a reason within the appellant's control, the administrative law judge shall dismiss the appeal.
DWD 140.04 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (3),
Register, November, 1988, No. 395, eff. 12-1-88; r. and recr.
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.05
DWD 140.05
Withdrawal of appeal and retraction. DWD 140.05(1)(1) An appellant may withdraw its appeal at any time before the issuance of a decision on the merits by notifying the hearing office or by choosing not to continue to participate in a hearing. The administrative law judge shall issue a withdrawal decision after determining that an appeal has been withdrawn.
DWD 140.05(2)
(2) An appellant may submit a request to retract its withdrawal and reinstate its appeal. The retraction request shall be in writing and state a reason for the request. The administrative law judge may not grant a request to retract a withdrawal unless the request establishes good cause for the retraction and is received within 21 days after the withdrawal decision was mailed to the appellant.
DWD 140.05(3)
(3) If the hearing office receives a timely retraction request before the issuance of a withdrawal decision and the request establishes good cause for the retraction, the administrative law judge shall acknowledge the request by letter to the appellant. If a timely retraction request is received by the hearing office after issuance of the withdrawal decision and the request establishes good cause for the retraction, the administrative law judge shall issue a decision setting aside the withdrawal decision and the hearing office shall schedule another hearing.
DWD 140.05(4)
(4) If the hearing office receives a retraction request before or after the issuance of a withdrawal decision and the request does not establish good cause for the retraction, the administrative law judge shall deny the request by letter to the appellant.
DWD 140.05 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (1) to (3), cr. (4),
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.06
DWD 140.06
Notice of hearing; contents; to whom sent; issues not on notice of hearing; consolidation of issues. DWD 140.06(1)(1) The department shall schedule a hearing at the earliest feasible time after the appeal is received. The hearing office shall mail a notice of hearing to each party.
DWD 140.06(2)
(2) The notice of hearing shall state the time and place of the hearing, the department's statutory authority for convening the hearing and the issues to be heard. The hearing office shall mail the notice of hearing to the last-known address of each party not less than 6 days before the hearing, unless all parties waive the notice requirement.
DWD 140.06(3)
(3) The administrative law judge may receive evidence and render a decision on issues not listed on the notice of hearing if each party is so notified at the hearing and does not object.
DWD 140.06(4)
(4) The hearing office may consolidate, for hearing or decision, issues involving the same parties or issues involving more than one appellant or respondent and arising out of the same or similar circumstances.
DWD 140.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; am. (1) to (3), r. and recr. (4),
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.07(1)
(1) After an appeal is filed, an administrative law judge may direct the parties to appear before the administrative law judge for a prehearing conference. In determining whether a prehearing conference is necessary, the administrative law judge may consider the following criteria:
DWD 140.07(2)
(2) Prehearing conferences may be conducted in person or by telephone. The date and time for the prehearing conference shall be set by the hearing office. Parties shall have at least 10 days notice of the prehearing conference. The administrative law judge may adjourn the conference or order additional prehearing conferences.
DWD 140.07(3)
(3) Following the prehearing conference, the administrative law judge shall issue an order with respect to the course of the conference on any or all of the following matters:
DWD 140.07(3)(a)
(a) Definition and simplification of the issues of fact and law.
DWD 140.07(3)(b)
(b) Stipulations of fact and agreements concerning the identity of or authenticity of documents.
DWD 140.07(3)(c)
(c) Limitation of the number of witnesses and the exchange of the names of witnesses.
DWD 140.07(3)(d)
(d) Stipulations relating to alternative methods of evidence submission and acceptance.
DWD 140.07(3)(e)
(e) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the appeal.
DWD 140.07(4)
(4) If a party fails to appear or is unprepared to participate in a prehearing conference, the administrative law judge may conduct a conference and enter the prehearing order without participation by the party.
DWD 140.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.08(1)
(1) A party who requests a postponement of a hearing shall make the request known to the hearing office as soon as the party becomes aware that a postponement is necessary. Unreasonable delay in requesting a postponement may be the basis for denial of the request.
DWD 140.08(2)
(2) No postponements may be granted for the mere convenience of a party. All parties are expected to arrange time off from their everyday affairs, including management duties, work and school, to attend hearings. The hearing office or the administrative law judge scheduled to conduct the hearing may grant a postponement only for an exceptional reason. An exceptional reason may include circumstances such as the following:
DWD 140.08(2)(b)
(b) Death of an immediate family member of a party or necessary witness;
DWD 140.08(2)(c)
(c) Weather conditions on the day of the hearing which make it hazardous for a party or a necessary witness to travel to the hearing location;
DWD 140.08(2)(d)
(d) Transportation difficulties arising suddenly which prevent a party or necessary witness from traveling to the hearing location;
DWD 140.08(2)(e)
(e) A business meeting of a necessary witness which was scheduled prior to receipt of the hearing notice and which cannot be re-scheduled;
DWD 140.08(2)(f)
(f) Commitment of a representative which was scheduled prior to his or her being retained and which cannot be re-scheduled, if the party contacted the representative within a reasonable time after receipt of the hearing notice; or
DWD 140.08(2)(g)
(g) An unavoidable delay on the day of the hearing which prevents the administrative law judge from conducting the hearing as scheduled.
DWD 140.08 History
History: Cr.
Register, November, 1985, No. 359, eff. 12-1-85; renum. from ILHR 140.07 and am.,
Register, June, 1997, No. 498, eff. 7-1-97.
DWD 140.09
DWD 140.09
Access to hearing files; limited discovery; inspection of records. DWD 140.09(1)(a)(a) The hearing office shall compile a hearing file for every case in which a request for hearing has been received which shall contain the papers, documents and departmental records relating to the issue of the hearing. Prior to the scheduled date of the hearing, a party to a hearing may inspect the hearing file and procure copies of file contents during regular hearing office hours at the hearing office or other convenient location as determined by the hearing office. If requested, the hearing office may mail copies of file contents to a party. The department may allow such inspection or release of file contents to a party's representative, union agent or legislator only if that individual indicates by a written or verbal statement that the individual has authorization from the party.
DWD 140.09(1)(b)
(b) Unless the administrative law judge orders otherwise, the sole means of discovery available to a party or representative prior to a hearing is inspection of the hearing file and procurement of copies of file contents. The administrative law judge may also order a prehearing conference under
s. DWD 140.07. The provisions of
ch. 804, Stats., do not apply to hearings under ss.
108.09 and
108.10, Stats.
DWD 140.09(1)(c)
(c) The administrative law judge may deny a request to inspect the hearing file or procure copies of file contents on the day of the hearing if such inspection or procurement would delay or otherwise interfere with the hearing.
DWD 140.09(2)
(2) Hearing stage. At the hearing, evidence and exhibits are open to inspection by any party or representative except that the administrative law judge may conduct a closed inspection of evidence and exhibits if the interests of justice so require. The judge may sequester from the hearing room any person, party or representative as part of the closed inspection. The judge may also issue a protective order to prohibit the parties and their representatives from disclosing any evidence and exhibits listed as confidential in the protective order if the interests of justice so require.
DWD 140.09(3)
(3) Post hearing stage. After the hearing is concluded, a party or representative may inspect any hearing file contents that the party or representative may inspect under
subs. (1) and
(2), and also the hearing recording, written synopsis of testimony, and any transcript that is prepared at the department's direction. Any person who is not a party or representative at the hearing may inspect only the following and only if social security numbers have been redacted from the documents:
DWD 140.09(3)(b)
(b) The exhibits submitted and marked as exhibits at the hearing, whether or not received by the administrative law judge.
DWD 140.09(3)(f)
(f) The transcript of the testimony, if one is prepared at the department's direction.
DWD 140.09(4)
(4) Confidentiality of certain records at all stages of hearing. DWD 140.09(4)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
subs. (1) to
(3), neither an employing unit which is a party to a hearing nor its representative may inspect:
DWD 140.09(4)(a)1.
1. The worker's unemployment insurance record as that record relates to work for another employing unit unless an administrative law judge approves a request.
DWD 140.09(4)(a)2.
2. Department memoranda concerning unemployment tax litigation strategy.
DWD 140.09(4)(a)3.
3. The investigation reports of department auditors concerning the status and liability of employing units under
ch. 108, Stats.
