by Gregory Williams, Esq. | Under Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) Practice-and-Procedure Regulations, what are the rules concerning termination of a case without findings of fact? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).
TERMINATION OF A CASE WITHOUT FINDINGS OF FACT
WAC 162-08-099 is the relevant regulation, and it states that the rules concerning termination of a case without findings of fact are follows:
(1) Authorized. The commission in appropriate circumstances may terminate its action on a case without making findings of fact pursuant to RCW 49.60.240. This section provides procedures in some of the circumstances.
(2) Withdrawal of complaint. No findings or other procedures in RCW 49.60.240 and 49.60.250 are necessary when the complainant has requested withdrawal of the complaint and the commissioners have consented to the withdrawal pursuant to WAC 162-08-091.
(3) Settled before finding. Except as may be otherwise provided for a complaint alleging an unfair practice in a real estate transaction, a complaint may be settled before findings of fact are made, when the commission‘s staff and a respondent have entered into a written settlement agreement (prefinding settlement). Prefinding settlement agreements shall be presented to the commissioners. The commissioners, if they approve, shall enter an order setting forth the terms of the agreement, using the same procedure as if the agreement were presented to the commissioners under RCW 49.60.240 and WAC 162-08-106 after findings of fact. A prefinding settlement is not binding on the commission until the commissioners vote to accept it and issue their order.
(4) Administrative closure. A case may be administratively closed by vote of the commissioners when the complaint has been resolved informally, or has been adjudicated in another forum, or has become moot, or cannot be investigated because the complainant or respondent cannot be found, or when other circumstances justify administrative closure. Administrative closure is an official termination of work on a complaint prior to completion of the entire statutory process, letting the complaint lie in its present posture. A case that has been administratively closed can be administratively reopened by vote of the commissioners.
WAC 162-08-099 (emphasis added) (hyperlinks added).
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–gw