Section 200.907  Default

If a party, after proper service of notice, fails to appear at a pre-hearing conference or at a hearing, and if no continuance is granted, the Department may then proceed and make its decision in the absence of such party.  If the failure to appear at such pre-hearing conference or hearing is due to emergency situation beyond the party's control, and the Department is notified of such situation on or before the scheduled pre-hearing conference or hearing date, the pre-hearing conference or hearing will be continued or postponed pursuant to Section 200.903.  Emergency situations include sudden unavailability of counsel, sudden illness of a party or his representative, or similar situations beyond the party's control.