WAC 44-10-160   Use of technical expert.  (1) A technical expert is assigned by the board to advise and consult with an arbitrator. Technical experts shall not be directly involved in the manufacture, distribution, sale, or warranty service of any motor vehicle.

     (2) Either party may request that a technical expert be assigned to a dispute. Such assignment, however, shall be at the discretion of the board. The board may upon their own volition assign a technical expert to a dispute.

     (3) If a technical expert is assigned to a dispute, and is requested by the arbitrator to perform an inspection of the vehicle, other than as part of the arbitration hearing, a notice of the time, date and location of the technical expert's inspection of the vehicle will be provided to both parties. This section does not confer a right, for either party, to be present during the inspection of the vehicle, however, either party may be present. Any written report or results of the expert's inspection shall be supplied to the parties as soon as it is available. The technical expert shall be present at the hearing or shall be available by telephone at the time of hearing, and may be examined by either party or the arbitrator.

     (4) The expert shall sign a written oath attesting to his or her impartiality prior to the commencement of each arbitration hearing to which he or she has been assigned.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.118.080(2), 19.118.061. 02-12-093, § 44-10-160, filed 6/4/02, effective 7/5/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.118.080 (2) and (7), 19.118.061 and 1995 c 254 § 4. 96-03-155, § 44-10-160, filed 1/24/96, effective 2/24/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.118.080 and 19.118.090. 90-19-024, § 44-10-160, filed 9/11/90, effective 10/12/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.118.061, 19.118.080 and 19.118.090. 89-16-024 (Order 89-4), § 44-10-160, filed 7/24/89, effective 8/24/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.118.080 (2) and (7). 88-04-081 (Order 88-2), § 44-10-160, filed 2/3/88.]