Opinion ID: 2632272
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: presiding officer's alleged error

Text: Winston contends the presiding officer's evidentiary decisions and other rulings were arbitrary and capricious and favored SRS. A ruling that is arbitrary and capricious is a ground for relief under the KJRA pursuant to K.S.A. 77-621(c)(8). Winston cites to specific instances in his brief, which he contends demonstrate that the presiding officer acted more favorably toward SRS. After reviewing the entire record of the hearing, there is no evidence of favoritism toward SRS or bias against Winston. The presiding officer took an open approach to the admission of evidence and applied this approach equally to both sides. Winston points out only those instances in which a ruling did not go in his favor and neglects to point out the numerous instances in which the presiding officer allowed questioning and evidence over SRS's objection. Winston also contends in his brief that the admission of Julia's statements through the testimony of Sarah Byall and Detective Hohnholt was arbitrary and capricious. Julia did not testify at the hearing; however, Julia's statements were admitted into evidence through the reports created during the investigation and through testimony of other witnesses. The basis for Winston's objection to the admission of the evidence is that Julia refused to cooperate during her deposition and that he was deprived of an opportunity to cross-examine her because she did not testify. We find nothing in the record that indicates Winston did anything to compel Julia to submit to further questioning. The only action documented in the record was Winston's motion in limine to exclude all of Julia's testimony. In administrative proceedings conducted under the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act, K.S.A. 77-501 et seq., the presiding officer is not bound by the technical rules of evidence and evidence need not be excluded solely because it is hearsay. K.S.A. 77-524(a). Thus, the fact the presiding officer allowed Julia's statements to be admitted into evidence through reports and testimony of others was not arbitrary and capricious. As for the fact Winston was not able to cross-examine Julia on those statements, Winston could have called Julia as a witness or obtained an order requiring Julia to comply with the discovery request and submit to a subsequent deposition. See K.S.A. 77-522. It must be noted that Julia's failure to cooperate in the deposition was the result of her and her own attorney, not as the result of action by SRS. The presiding officer overruled Winston's objection to the admission of Julia's statements in the reports on the grounds that Winston had statutory remedies available to him, such as going to district court, as the result of Julia's failure to fully submit to examination in her deposition. The presiding officer held that it was Winston's duty to pursue those remedies. We note that when Winston's counsel brought Julia's actions to the attention of the presiding officer, the presiding officer informed him that he would not compel Julia to respond. The presiding officer stated at the hearing that he meant to inform Winston's counsel that he, himself, did not have the physical ability to pry open Julia's mouth and make her talk and did not mean to mislead counsel about available remedies. The presiding officer also noted that Winston's counsel could have read the statutes and determined what remedies were available. The district court, in affirming the decision and finding that Winston's due process rights had not been violated, noted that the presiding officer acted within his authority in admitting the hearsay statements of Julia and that although this procedure resulted in Winston having the burden to produce Julia as his witness in order to examine her and test her credibility, there was no indication that Winston could not have done so. The presiding officer's rulings on the admission of evidence were not arbitrary and capricious. Affirmed.