Sec.38a-8-39. Rules of evidence

The following rules of evidences shall be applied at hearings:

(1) General. Any oral or documentary evidence may be received but the presiding officer shall, as a matter of policy, exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence. The allegations and facts as stated in the Notice of Hearing or complaint issued in Insurance Department enforcement proceedings shall determine the relevance of evidence at the hearing. The Commissioner or presiding officer shall give effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law in Connecticut. Subject to these requirements and subject to the right of any party to cross-examine, any testimony may be received in written form.

(2) Documentary evidence. Documentary evidence may be received at the discretion of the Commissioner or presiding officer in the form of copies or excerpts, if the original is not readily available. Upon request by any party an opportunity shall be granted to compare the copy with the original which shall be subject to production by the person offering such copies, within the provisions of section 52-180 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(3) Cross examination. Such cross examination may be conducted as the presiding officer shall find to be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts.

(4) Facts noticed, department records. The Commissioner or presiding officer, on his or her own initiative or at the request of any party, may take notice of judicially cognizable facts, including prior decisions and orders of the Commissioner or the department, and generally recognized technical or scientific facts within the Department's specialized knowledge.

(5) Facts, noticed, procedure. Parties shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the material so noticed by being notified before or during the hearing, or by an appropriate reference in preliminary reports or otherwise of the material noticed. The Commissioner shall nevertheless employ the department's experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge in evaluating the evidence presented at the hearing for the purpose of making findings of the facts and arriving at a decision in any contested case.

(Effective September 25, 1992; Amended February 1, 2001)