Opinion ID: 454754
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Right to an Impartial Hearing Officer

Text: 21 Leventhal contends that Hearing Officer Black's conduct of the second city hearing and his written decision show that he was not a fair and impartial arbitrator, as required by 20 C.F.R. Sec. 676.83(c)(8). The ALJ found that the overall record showed that Black was not biased against Leventhal. 22 Substantial evidence supports the ALJ's conclusion that Black was not biased. Leventhal received a full, four-day hearing in which he was able to present evidence and to examine and cross-examine numerous witnesses. Black did not deny Leventhal a fair hearing by justifiably limiting Leventhal's argumentative and often repetitive questioning of witnesses. Although Leventhal complains that Black excluded two witnesses, he has failed to identify those witnesses. Leventhal also contends that Black should have considered transcripts of testimony that two witnesses, Norman Mezey and Joseph Kasey, gave a year earlier in the first hearing. Black, however, allowed those witnesses to testify at the second hearing. Moreover, a review of the record shows that the testimony of these witnesses was essentially the same at both hearings. 23 Black stated in his decision that Leventhal's obvious inability to control his words and deeds at a hearing only persuade me that this same attitude must have been exhibited during February and March 1980. Leventhal contends that this statement shows a personal bias against him. Black also noted, however, that he was not personally biased by Leventhal's conduct, although it did influence his assessment of the City witnesses' credibility. Black's consideration of Leventhal's conduct at the hearing was legitimate, and does not show a lack of impartiality. Cf. United States v. Grayson, 438 U.S. 41, 50, 98 S.Ct. 2610, 2615, 57 L.Ed.2d 582 (1978) (in imposing sentence, trial judge may legitimately consider not only the evidence heard at trial, but also the defendant's demeanor). 24 Leventhal also argues that Black's inaccurate summaries of the testimony of several witnesses in his decision manifest bias. Black's summaries, however, are essentially correct. Black did erroneously state that Gary Davis testified that Leventhal slapped away the hand of a co-worker, Craig Hammill. We find this mistake insignificant, however, because it is undisputed that Leventhal had a confrontation with Hammill, and Hammill testified that Leventhal slapped his hand away.