Opinion ID: 1757162
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the hearing officer deny Juanita Ricks the opportunity for a fair hearing by limiting cumulative testimony?

Text: ¶ 25. Ricks complains that she was not afforded the opportunity for a hearing, in that the hearing was limited to 45 minutes. The Health Department responds that Ricks did not raise this issue at the hearings or during appeal to the lower court, and is procedurally barred from raising it for the first time upon appeal to this Court. Ponder v. State, 335 So.2d 885, 886 (Miss.1976). Further, Ricks does not assert that there is any piece of evidence which she was not allowed to present which would have affected the outcome of the hearing, and therefore, she has not shown that she was prejudiced by any actions taken by the hearing officer. In fact, at the close of the hearing, the Hearing Officer asked Ricks if there was any additional evidence she wished to present, to which she replied, That's it. This issue is without merit.