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| Prior to hearing a complaint, but not later than 45 days after | the filing of the complaint, the board shall require the parties | to attend a prehearing conference with the chair to discuss the | possibility of settlement.__If the matter is not resolved | through the conference, the matter must be placed on the board's | calendar for hearing.__Settlement conference discussions remain | confidential and may not be disclosed or used as an admission in | any subsequent hearing. |
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| | The board shall hold a hearing on the merits of a complaint | within 120 days of the filing of the complaint.__The hearing | must be conducted pursuant to rules established by the board.__ | A decision must be issued within 30 days of the completion of | the hearing.__The board shall determine the location of | hearings. |
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| | The parties to a hearing conducted pursuant to this | subchapter are permitted to conduct and use the same discovery | procedures as provided in the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, | subject to any amendments to the rules as the board might | adopt to secure that discovery is expedited. |
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| | Compliance with discovery procedures authorized by this | section and by rule may be enforced by application to the | board or on the board's own motion. |
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| | A party appealing an order of the board to the Superior | Court shall indicate in the appeal whether it is an appeal on | issues of law or on factual matters. |
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| | 1.__Appeal as matter of law.__An order or decision may be | appealed solely on the basis that the board made an error of | law.__An order or decision appealed may not be set aside or | vacated except for an error of law.__Additional evidence may | not be heard or taken by the Superior Court on an appeal made | under this section. |
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| | 2.__Appeal involving factual matters.__A party to a decision | by the board may appeal to the Superior Court for a hearing on | the merits of the dispute.__In any such hearing before the | Superior Court, all findings of fact of the board are presumed | to be correct unless rebutted by clear and convincing | evidence. |
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| | A copy of the decision, certified as true and accurate by |
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