WAC 16-301-125   Referral to arbitration committee.  Within fifteen days of the receipt of the answer or forty-five days of the receipt of a complaint, the director shall refer the claim to the seed arbitration committee established by RCW 15.49.101 for investigation, finding and recommendation. The buyer and seller shall be notified by certified mail:

     (1) That the claim has been submitted to the arbitration committee.

     (2) The names of the members of the arbitration committee and the alternates. Within ten days after receipt of notification from the director, either buyer or seller may petition the director that a member of the arbitration committee be disqualified for cause and replaced by an available alternate member: Provided, That either buyer or seller may petition the director at any time during the process upon discovering facts that establish grounds for disqualification. Such decision shall be solely at the discretion of the director.

     (3) No person may serve on the committee in any arbitration where he or she has a financial or personal interest in the result of the arbitration unless the parties, in writing, waive such disqualification.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. 00-24-077, § 16-301-125, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]