WAC 263-12-01501   Communications and filing with the board.  (1) Communications with the board.

     (a) Where to file. All written communications, except those listed below, shall be filed with the board at its headquarters in Olympia, Washington. With permission of the industrial appeals judge assigned to an appeal, depositions, witness confirmations, motions, briefs, stipulations, agreements, and general correspondence may be filed in the appropriate regional board facilities located in Tacoma, Spokane, or Seattle.

     (b) Methods of filing. Unless otherwise provided by statute or these rules any written communication may be filed with the board personally, by mail, or by telephone facsimile.

     (i) Filing personally. The filing of a written communication with the board personally is perfected by delivering the written communication to an employee of the board at the board's headquarters in Olympia during customary office hours.

     (ii) Filing by mail. The filing of a written communication with the board is perfected by mail when the written communication is deposited in the United States mail, properly addressed to the board's headquarters in Olympia and with postage prepaid. Where a statute or rule imposes a time limitation for filing the written communication, the party filing the same should include a certification demonstrating the date filing was perfected as provided under this subsection. Unless evidence is presented to the contrary, the date of the United States postal service postmark shall be presumed to be the date the written communication was mailed to the board.

     (iii) Filing by telephone facsimile.

     (A) The filing of a written communication with the board by telephone facsimile is perfected when a legible copy of the written communication is reproduced on the board's telephone facsimile equipment. All facsimile communications, except those listed below, shall be filed with the board at its headquarters in Olympia, Washington. With permission of the industrial appeals judge assigned to an appeal, depositions, witness confirmations, motions, briefs, stipulations, agreements, and general correspondence may be filed in the appropriate regional board facilities located in Tacoma, Spokane, or Seattle.

     (B) The hours of operation of the board's telephone facsimile equipment are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. If a transmission of a written communication commences after these hours of operation the written communication shall be deemed filed on the next succeeding business day.

     (C) Any written communication filed with the board by telephone facsimile should be preceded by a cover page identifying the party making the transmission, listing the address, telephone and telephone facsimile number of such party, referencing the appeal to which the written communication relates, and indicating the date of, and the total number of pages included in, such transmission.

     (D) No written communication should exceed fifteen pages in length, exclusive of the cover page required by this rule.

     (E) The party attempting to file the written communication by telephone facsimile bears the risk that the written communication will not be legibly printed on the board's telephone facsimile equipment due to error in the operation or failure of the equipment being utilized by either the party or the board.

     (F) The board may require a party to file an original of any document previously filed by telephone facsimile.

     (iv) Electronic filing of a notice of appeal. A notice of appeal may be filed electronically when using the appropriate form for electronic filing of appeals as provided on the board's internet site. An electronic notice of appeal is filed when it is received by the board's designated computer during the board's customary office hours pursuant to WAC 263-12-015. Otherwise the notice of appeal is considered filed at the beginning of the next business day. The board shall issue confirmation to the filing party that an electronic notice of appeal has been received. The board may reject a notice of appeal that fails to comply with the board's filing requirements. The board must notify the filing party of the rejection.

     (c) Sending written communication. All correspondence or written communication filed with the board pertaining to a particular case, before the entry of a proposed decision and order, should be sent to the attention of the industrial appeals judge assigned to the case. Interlocutory appeals should be sent to the attention of the chief industrial appeals judge. In all other instances, written communications shall be directed to the executive secretary of the board.

     (d) Form requirements. Any written communications with the board concerning an appeal should reference the docket number which was assigned by the board to the appeal, if known. Copies of any written communications filed with the board shall be furnished to all other parties or their representatives of record, and the original shall demonstrate compliance with this requirement. All written communications with the board shall be on paper 8 1/2" x 11" in size.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. 06-12-003, § 263-12-01501, filed 5/25/06, effective 6/25/06; 04-22-047, § 263-12-01501, filed 10/28/04, effective 11/28/04; 04-16-097, § 263-12-01501, filed 8/3/04, effective 9/3/04; 98-20-109, § 263-12-01501, filed 10/7/98, effective 11/7/98; 91-13-038, § 263-12-01501, filed 6/14/91, effective 7/15/91.]