1. (1) Evidence by deposition. The industrial appeals judge may permit or require the perpetuation of testimony by deposition, subject to the applicable provisions of WAC 263-12-115. Such ruling may only be given after the industrial appeals judge gives due consideration to:

   1. (a) The complexity of the issues raised by the appeal;
   2. (b) The desirability of having the witness's testimony presented at a hearing;
   3. (c) The costs incurred by the parties in complying with the ruling; and
   4. (d) The fairness to the parties in complying with the ruling.

2. (2) Deposition format: When testimony is taken by perpetuation deposition, a party or witness, representative, or other participant may participate, and testimony may be presented, in person or by contemporaneous transmission from a different location (telephone or video) if all parties agree. If there is no agreement, the industrial appeals judge may consider the following nonexclusive factors when determining the format by which participation occurs:

   • The need of a party to observe a witness's demeanor.

   • Difficulty in handling documents and exhibits.

   • The number of parties participating in the deposition.

   • Whether any of the testimony will need to be interpreted.

   • Ability of the witness to travel.

   • Availability of quality telecommunications equipment and service.

   If a perpetuation deposition is taken by telephone or video, the court reporter transcribing the deposition is authorized to swear in the deponent, regardless of the deponent's location within or outside the state of Washington.

3. (3) The industrial appeals judge may require that depositions be taken and published within prescribed time limits. The time limits may be extended by the industrial appeals judge for good cause. Each party shall bear its own costs except when the industrial appeals judge allocates costs to parties or their representatives. If a party takes a deposition under this section, but elects not to file the deposition as evidence in the appeal, the party shall provide written notice to the assigned industrial appeals judge and all other parties prior to the deposition filing deadline.

4. (4) The court reporter filing a deposition must submit the stenographically reported and transcribed deposition, certification, and exhibits in an electronic format in accordance with procedures established by the board. The following requirements apply to the submission of depositions:

   1. (a) Video depositions will not be considered as part of the record on appeal;
   2. (b) The electronic deposition transcript must be submitted in searchable pdf format that is accessible to persons with disabilities (including, but not limited to, being compatible with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, Narrator for Windows, VoiceOver for Apple, and TalkBack for Android);
   3. (c) Exhibits to the deposition must be filed electronically as a single attachment separate from the deposition transcript and certification;
   4. (d) Any media exhibit (audio or video) must meet the requirements set forth in WAC 263-12-116; and
   5. (e) If the deposition is not transcribed in a reproducible format that is accessible to persons with disabilities, or not properly submitted, it may be excluded from the record.

5. (5) Procedure at deposition. Unless the parties stipulate or the industrial appeals judge determines otherwise all depositions permitted to be taken for the perpetuation of testimony shall be taken subject to the following conditions:

   1. (a) That all motions and objections, whether to form or otherwise, shall be raised at the time of the deposition and if not raised at such time shall be deemed waived.
   2. (b) That all exhibits shall be marked and identified at the time of the deposition and, if offered into evidence, appended to the deposition.
   3. (c) That the deposition be published without necessity of further conference or hearing at the time it is received by the industrial appeals judge.
   4. (d) That all motions, including offers to admit exhibits and objections raised at the time of the deposition, shall be ruled upon by the industrial appeals judge in the proposed decision and order.
   5. (e) That the deposition may be appended to the record as part of the transcript, and not as an exhibit, without the necessity of being retyped into the record.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.52.020. WSR 24-23-048, s 263-12-117, filed 11/14/24, effective 12/15/24; WSR 23-23-010, § 263-12-117, filed 11/1/23, effective 12/2/23; WSR 22-14-024, § 263-12-117, filed 6/24/22, effective 7/25/22; WSR 21-15-042, § 263-12-117, filed 7/14/21, effective 8/14/21; WSR 17-24-121, § 263-12-117, filed 12/6/17, effective 1/6/18; WSR 16-24-054, § 263-12-117, filed 12/2/16, effective 1/2/17; WSR 14-24-105, § 263-12-117, filed 12/2/14, effective 1/2/15; WSR 10-14-061, § 263-12-117, filed 6/30/10, effective 7/31/10; WSR 04-16-009, § 263-12-117, filed 7/22/04, effective 8/22/04; WSR 03-02-038, § 263-12-117, filed 12/24/02, effective 1/24/03.]