Charge and hearing of cases.
Seattle Mun. Code § 14.10.130
in effect14.10.130 - Charge and hearing of cases.
A. Following submission of the investigatory file from the Director in cases involving all respondents under Section 14.10.110, the City Attorney shall prepare a complaint against such respondent relating to the charge and facts discovered during the investigation thereof and prosecute the same in the name and on behalf of the Department and the City at a hearing before the Hearing Examiner and appear for and represent the interests of the Department and the City at all subsequent proceedings; provided, if the City Attorney determines that there is no legal basis for a complaint to be filed or for proceedings to continue, a statement of the reasons therefor shall be filed with the Department, charging party and the respondent.
B. The complaint shall be served on respondent in the usual manner provided by law for service of complaints and filed with the Seattle Hearing Examiner. A copy of such complaint shall be furnished to the charging party.
C. Within twenty (20) days of the service of such complaint upon it, the respondent shall file its answer with the Hearing Examiner and serve a copy of the same on the City Attorney.
D. Upon the filing of the complaint, the Hearing Examiner shall promptly establish a date for the hearing of such complaint and give notice thereof to the City Attorney and respondent, and shall thereafter hold a public hearing on the complaint, which hearing shall commence no earlier than ninety (90) days nor later than one hundred twenty (120) days from the filing of the complaint, unless otherwise ordered by the Hearing Examiner.
E. After the filing of a complaint with the Hearing Examiner, it may be amended only with the permission of the Hearing Examiner, which permission shall be granted when justice will be served thereby and all parties are allowed time to prepare their case with respect to additional or expanded charges which they did not and could not have reasonably foreseen would be in issue at the hearing.
F. The hearing shall be conducted by a Hearing Examiner from the Office of Hearing Examiner, or a hearing examiner pro tempore appointed by the Hearing Examiner. Such hearings shall be conducted in accordance with written rules and procedures consistent with this chapter and the Administrative Code of the City (Ordinance 102228). [9]
(Ord. 119601 § 13, 1999.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT14HURI_CH14.10FACOPR_14.10.130CHHECAFetched: 11/1/2026