7.5 RULE: WCAT will normally grant the appellant's request for an oral hearing where the appeal involves a significant issue of credibility, where there are significant
factual issues in dispute, and / or where there are other compelling WCAT reasons for convening an oral hearing (e.g. where an unrepresented appellant has difficulty communicating in writing or in English).
Although the Court did not rule on
the factual issues in dispute involving «reasonable excuse» and «prejudice» and could not do so in the absence of a full evidentiary record, there was commentary with respect to the concepts of «reasonable excuse» and «prejudice.»
Not exact matches
Since the majority frames the
issue as a
dispute over the interpretation of a contract, and the
factual matrix surrounding the making of the settlement contract was not materially
in dispute, it is possible to conclude the record before the Chambers Judge was not deficient:
Indeed, it is almost impossible to conceive how this Court might continue to function effectively were we to resolve afresh the underlying
factual disputes in all cases containing constitutional
issues.
The Prosecutor should consider whether the hearing can be conducted by a
factual summary and submissions without the necessity of calling evidence or by conducting a focused hearing dealing with only
issues that are
in dispute.