Opinion ID: 2320131
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Housing Authority's Failure to Produce a Witness

Text: [¶ 11] Dowling relies on 24 C.F.R. § 982.555(e)(5) (2005) to argue that any witness whose testimony is to be relied upon by the Authority must be produced in person by the Authority and be subjected to questioning by the Section 8 participant. She contends that the Authority violated section 982.555(e)(5), as well as her right of procedural due process, when it considered McDonald's notes about the conversation McDonald had with Wortman about the side agreement without producing Wortman himself for cross-examination by Dowling. [¶ 12] The fundamental requisite of due process of law is the opportunity to be heard, including timely and adequate notice detailing the reasons for the proposed termination, and an effective opportunity to defend by confronting any adverse witness and by presenting [her] own arguments and evidence orally. Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254, 267-68, 90 S.Ct. 1011, 25 L.Ed.2d 287 (1970) (quotation marks omitted). Due process considerations are indeed implicated in the termination of a welfare subsidy, and the process that is due must be tailored to the capacities and circumstances of those who are to be heard. Id. at 268-69, 90 S.Ct. 1011. In the case of termination of a Section 8 subsidy, due process is fulfilled by an informal, pre-termination evidentiary hearing at which the participant in the rental assistance program is present and may be represented by counsel. Id. at 270-71, 90 S.Ct. 1011; see 24 C.F.R. § 982.555. Within the context of such informal hearings, both the Authority and the participant must be given the opportunity to present evidence, and may question any witnesses. 24 C.F.R. § 982.555(e)(5). [¶ 13] Dowling, however, never objected to the Authority's consideration of McDonald's notes. Assuming that Dowling did have the right to cross-examine any witness on whose evidence the Authority relied, we have nevertheless held in a variety of contexts that a party may fail to preserve rights, including those of constitutional import. See Berg v. Bragdon, 1997 ME 129, ¶ 9, 695 A.2d 1212, 1214 (We have stated that issues raised for the first time on appeal are generally unpreserved. We have applied this rule consistently whether the alleged right is constitutional or based on the common law.) (citation and quotation marks omitted); see also Irving Oil Corp. v. Me. Aviation Corp., 1998 ME 16, ¶ 5, 704 A.2d 872, 874 (Because [the defendants] failed to preserve the issue in the Superior Court, we will not review it on appeal even though it is one of constitutional dimension.). Because Dowling failed to object at the Authority's administrative hearing to the admission of the notes taken by McDonald of her conversation with Wortman's son, Dowling's challenge to the admission of those notes is unpreserved for appellate review.