Cal. Civ. Code § DWD 220.21
Hearing.
Operative Text
DWD 220.21 Hearing. (1) Procedure. Hearings shall be conducted in conformity with the act and the provisions of ch. 227, Stats. (2) Postponements and continuances. All requests for postponements shall be filed with the administrative law judge or with the chief of the hearing section within 10 days after the date of the notice of hearing, except where emergency circumstances arise after the notice is issued but prior to the hearing. The party requesting a postponement shall mail a copy of the request to all other parties at the time the request is filed with the division. Postponements and continuances may be granted only for good cause shown and shall not be granted solely for the convenience of the parties or their attorneys. (3) Appearance of parties. Parties may appear at the hearing in person and by counsel or other representative. (4) Failure to appear at hearing. If the complainant fails to appear at the hearing, either in person or by a representative authorized to proceed on behalf of the complainant, the administrative law judge shall dismiss the complaint. If the respondent fails to appear at the hearing, the hearing shall proceed as scheduled. If, within 10 days after the date of the hearing, any party who failed to appear shows good cause in writing for the failure to appear, the administrative law judge may reopen the hearing.
Wisconsin Administrative Code § DWD 220.21 establishes the procedural rules governing hearings under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, incorporating the formal requirements of Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 227. The rule sets out how postponements and continuances are handled, requiring requests to be filed within 10 days of the hearing notice and granted only for good cause—not mere convenience. It also specifies what happens when a party fails to appear: a complainant's absence leads to dismissal, while a respondent's absence allows the hearing to proceed, though either party may seek to reopen the hearing within 10 days by showing good cause in writing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § DWD 220.21, a respondent named in a fair employment complaint who cannot attend a scheduled hearing generally files any postponement request within 10 days of receiving the hearing notice, mails a copy to all other parties, and demonstrates a substantive reason beyond mere scheduling convenience. If a respondent does not appear, the hearing proceeds without them, which can result in an unfavorable outcome decided on the complainant's evidence alone. Operators familiar with this provision typically ensure they or their authorized representative appear at the hearing or take timely steps to address any scheduling conflict well in advance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
As a complainant under § DWD 220.21, a tenant or employee who has filed a fair employment complaint should be aware that failing to appear at the scheduled hearing—either personally or through an authorized representative—will result in dismissal of the complaint. If an emergency prevents attendance, the rule allows a party to submit a written showing of good cause within 10 days of the hearing date to request that the hearing be reopened. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help complainants understand the procedural requirements of § DWD 220.21 and the options available if a hearing date becomes unworkable.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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