Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) In the absence of any other provisions, and except as may otherwise be provided by law, whenever any person is aggrieved and desires a hearing with respect to the final resolution of any issue or question involved in connection with either an application for and entitlement to the issuance of, or the proposed revocation of, any certificate, license, permit, privilege or right, or relating to the confiscation of any property, or any other adverse action proposed or taken to implement any revenue regulatory or registration law administered by the commissioner, not including those laws relating to assessments or levies of taxes, fees, fines, penalties, interest, or the waiver of penalties, such person shall, upon written request made within ten (10) days of the action complained of, be afforded an opportunity for a formal hearing before the commissioner.(2) Such hearing shall be scheduled within a reasonable time following such request and shall be held after reasonable notice is given in writing by the commissioner to the person aggrieved and requesting such hearing, and such notice shall include a statement of the time, place and nature of the hearing.(3) Any person afforded such a hearing may respond in person or by attorney, may submit appropriate responsive pleadings, and may present evidence and argument on all issues or questions involved.(b)(1) The commissioner may personally hold such hearings as the commissioner may deem proper.(2) In addition to holding hearings, the commissioner is authorized to designate a hearing officer who may hold such hearings in the place of and in the absence of the commissioner. This authority to designate a hearing officer is also extended to include the conduct of any hearing authorized to be held under any other law. Such hearing officer shall be deemed to be and have the same authority as assistants to the commissioner as provided in § 4-3-1901.(c)(1) The commissioner, or any hearing officer designated by the commissioner, may utilize prehearing conferences to simplify or clarify the issues or questions involved and to expedite disposition of a contested denial or revocation of any certificate, license, permit, privilege or right, or any other adverse action or determination of the department, except such as may be specifically excepted from review in this manner.(2) Unless otherwise precluded by law, informal disposition may be made of any contested action, issue or question by an agreed settlement or consent order.(d)(1) At the conclusion of any formal hearing or prehearing conference, or within a reasonable time thereafter, the commissioner shall issue such orders as, in the commissioner’s discretion, the pleadings, evidence and argument justify.(2) If a formal hearing is held by a hearing officer, as authorized in this section, the hearing officer shall make findings of fact, conclusions of law and proposed settlements or orders based thereon for submission to the commissioner within a reasonable time thereafter. If a prehearing conference is held by a hearing officer, as authorized in this section, the hearing officer may make such findings, conclusions and proposed settlements or orders if the circumstances warrant. If the commissioner concurs, the commissioner shall issue the same finding, conclusion, proposed settlement or order made by the hearing officer; or the commissioner may, upon review of the record, make such findings and conclusions and issue such orders as, in the commissioner’s discretion, the record justifies.
