Opinion ID: 2346458
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prehearing Discovery

Text: [¶ 8] As a preliminary matter, the Town asserts that the Board abused its discretion when it restricted prehearing discovery to a requirement that the parties file their expert witnesses' testimony in writing prior to the hearing. The Town has not, however, identified any specific prejudice to it resulting from this restriction. [¶ 9] Due process at the agency level does not require full trial-like procedures. Fichter v. Bd. of Envtl. Prot., 604 A.2d 433, 437-38 (Me.1992). Moreover, relaxation or modification of procedural rules by an administrative agency does not constitute reversible error absent `a showing of injury or substantial prejudice.' In re Me. Clean Fuels, Inc., 310 A.2d 736, 744 (Me.1973) (quoting Sun Oil Co. v. Fed. Power Comm'n, 256 F.2d 233, 239 (5th Cir.1958), cert. denied, 358 U.S. 872, 79 S.Ct. 111, 3 L.Ed.2d 103 (1958)). The Town has neither demonstrated any injury from the procedure used, nor shown that it has been substantially prejudiced by the Board's procedure. We find no abuse of discretion in the prehearing procedure employed by the Board.