Washington Code 43.19.783 – Loss prevention review team — Final report — Use of report and testimony limited
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(1) The final report from the state agency’s loss prevention review team to the director shall be made public by the director promptly after review, and shall be subject to public disclosure. The final report shall be subject to discovery in a civil or administrative proceeding. However, the final report shall not be admitted into evidence or otherwise used in a civil or administrative proceeding except pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
Terms Used In Washington Code 43.19.783
- Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- 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: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) The relevant excerpt or excerpts from the final report of a loss prevention review team may be used to impeach a fact witness in a civil or administrative proceeding only if the party wishing to use the excerpt or excerpts from the report first shows the court by clear and convincing evidence that the witness, in testimony provided in deposition or at trial in the present proceeding, has contradicted his or her previous statements to the loss prevention review team on an issue of fact material to the present proceeding. In that case, the party may use only the excerpt or excerpts necessary to demonstrate the contradiction. This section shall not be interpreted as expanding the scope of material that may be used to impeach a witness.
(3) No member of a loss prevention review team may be examined in a civil or administrative proceeding as to (a) the work of the loss prevention review team, (b) the incident under review, (c) his or her statements, deliberations, thoughts, analyses, or impressions relating to the work of the loss prevention review team or the incident under review, or (d) the statements, deliberations, thoughts, analyses, or impressions of any other member of the loss prevention review team, or any person who provided information to it, relating to the work of the loss prevention review team or the incident under review.
(4) Any document that exists prior to the appointment of a loss prevention review team, or that is created independently of such a team, does not become inadmissible merely because it is reviewed or used by the loss prevention review team. A person does not become unavailable as a witness merely because the person has been interviewed by or has provided a statement to a loss prevention review team. However, if called as a witness, the person may not be examined regarding the person’s interactions with the loss prevention review team, including without limitation whether the loss prevention review team interviewed the person, what questions the loss prevention review team asked, and what answers the person provided to the loss prevention review team. This section shall not be construed as restricting the person from testifying fully in any proceeding regarding his or her knowledge of the incident under review.
(5) Documents prepared by or for the loss prevention review team are inadmissible and may not be used in a civil or administrative proceeding, except that excerpts may be used to impeach the credibility of a witness under the same circumstances that excerpts of the final report may be used pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.
(6) The restrictions set forth in this section shall not apply in a licensing or disciplinary proceeding arising from an agency’s effort to revoke or suspend the license of any licensed professional based in whole or in part upon allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the death, injury, or other incident reviewed by the loss prevention review team.
(7) Nothing in RCW 43.19.782 or this section is intended to limit the scope of a legislative inquiry into or review of an incident that is the subject of a loss prevention review.
NOTES:
Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.
Intent—2002 c 333: See note following RCW 43.19.782.