Guidelines: Conducting Panel Hearings and Appeals

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Jerry Moll
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Guidelines: Conducting Panel Hearings and Appeals

Postby Jerry Moll » Mon Oct 11, 2010 3:13 pm

Guidelines for conducting a panel hearing on a question:

1. Seat the panel and cast members and introduce panel members.

2. Advise cast members of who will be the panel foreman, and request that he be seated in the middle of the other two panel members.

3. Determine if there is a problem/conflict with any panel members, replace if needed.

4. Panel Charmin should read the following rule out loud:
#16.F. Panel Hearing Conduct - All cast members and panel members are required to conduct themselves professionally during panel hearings. The panel members will call upon each cast member to speak, one at a time. While one cast member speaks, all other cast members are to remain respectful and quiet. Raised voices, vulgar, threatening, intimidating or insulting language will not be tolerated. Violators should be warned once, but if they continue, should be immediately excused from the panel hearing, possibly scratched from the cast and misconduct charges filed by the panel.

5. Keep the scorecard facedown at all times, make sure question section is filled out properly and $25 deposit has been paid, if required.

6. Ask the judge if this situation was voted on (under open event rules) and/or questioned with a deposit (or IOU) at the appropriate time (2-2 vote - no deposit required).

7. If question was not presented properly, explain that the question cannot be heard and excuse the cast.

8. If question was presented properly, continue.

9. Ask the cast member with the question to explain the situation, quoting the rule infraction if possible and state the remedy being sought.

10. Allow the remaining cast members to explain their side of the story, starting with the judge.

11. Panel members should ask any/all follow up questions needed to clear up details of the cast, but DO NOT offer any input, answers or suggestions at this time.

12. Ask for any further input from cast members before ending discussion.

13. Panel members should excuse themselves to speak privately about the question.

14. Panel members may seek council from PKC staff on specific rule interpretations, but may not discuss the question at hand or details of the cast.

15. Panel members should return, sit with the cast members and state the decision followed by quoting the PKC rule(s) used.

16. Return or retain cash deposit, fill out the panel portion on the back of the scorecard, have all panel members sign and list their PKC number.

17. Ask the judge to make any/all corrections needed.

18. Make any appropriate suggestions or recommendations warranted to help judge and/or cast members in future situations.

19. If the Question Panel's decision is appealed, the appealing member must immediately place a $100 deposit. Please contact a member of the PKC Staff right away. The appealing member must state the specific rule infraction by the panel to PKC Staff.

Jerry Moll
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Postby Jerry Moll » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:13 am

16.H. Appeal Of A Question Panel's Decision - Any cast member who believes a panel has made a gross misapplication of a rule may request an appeal of the panel's decision by immediately placing a $100 deposit with the Panel Chairman or Hunt Director. Hunt Director should then contact a member of PKC management for a determination of the validity of the appeal request. If the cast member can quote the specific rule violation and explain the gross error to the contacted PKC Representative, the appeal request will be considered. If the appeal request is accepted it will be passed on to a panel consisting of PKC Staff and/or PKC National Directors for a decision. If the appeal panel upholds the question panel's decision, the $100 deposit will be forfeited. Only if the appeal is accepted and the appeal panel overturns the question panel's decision will the $100 deposit be returned to the cast member. If the appeal panel overturns the original panel's decision the host club may request a detailed explanation if written request is received by PKC within ten days.

Here are two scenarios utilizing rule #11.E. as an example. The first scenario an appeal is not granted and the second scenario an appeal is granted.

11.E. Quitting Trail - When a dog quits a trail, strike points will be minused. When a dog strikes back on a trail that is being worked, he will receive a maximum of 25 points, unless all dogs are competing for 100 strike points.

Scenario #1
Three dog cast, dogs A and B are struck in that order. Dog A comes by the cast and is not minused by the judge. Handlers B and C believe dog A’s strike points should be minused in accordance with rule #11.E. and ask for a cast vote. The vote is taken and Handler A is overruled 2:1, dog a is minused. Handler A puts up $25 to question the call to be taken back to a panel following the conclusion of the cast.

The question is brought to the hunt director, the $25 is presented and a three person panel is assembled. The panel then listens carefully to the cast member’s testimony concerning the details surrounding the dog being minused for quitting a trail. The panel comes back with the decision to not minus dog A’s strike points based upon the cast member testimony, thereby changing the cast winner. Handler B becomes upset because he now has lost the cast and he knows rule #11.E. requires dog A to be minused, so he asks for a Panel Appeal.

A member of the PKC staff is contacted and the appeal is requested. Handler B is asked to state a specific rule violation and/or misapplication and he states that rule #11.E. was applied properly by the cast vote, but violated by the panel. The request for an appeal was considered and denied because minusing a dog for quitting a trail is a subjective judgment call and the panel had reached their decision based upon the testimony and judgment of the cast members. The $100 appeal fee was not accepted.

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Scenario #2
Three dog cast, dogs A and B are struck in that order. Dog A comes by the cast and is minused 100 points by the judge. After a few minutes dog A opens again and is re-struck for 50. Handlers B and C believe dog A’s strike points should be 25 points in accordance with rule #11.E. and ask for a cast vote. The vote is taken and Handler A is overruled 2:1, dog A is put in for 25 strike points. Handler A puts up $25 to question the call and take it back to a panel following the conclusion of the cast.

The question is brought to the hunt director, the $25 is presented and a three person panel is assembled. The panel then listens carefully to the cast member’s testimony concerning the details surrounding dog A being minused for and restruck after quitting a trail. The panel comes back with the decision to agree with handler A and put the dog back in for 50 strike points based upon the cast member testimony, thereby changing the cast winner. Handler B becomes upset because he now has lost the cast and he knows rule #11.E. requires dog A to be re-struck for 25, so he asks for a Panel Appeal.

A member of the PKC staff is contacted and the appeal is requested. Handler B is asked to state a specific rule violation and/or misapplication and he states that rule #11.E. was applied properly by the cast vote, but violated by the panel. The request for an appeal is considered and accepted because the number of strike points a dog is eligible to receive after being minused is objective and not open to cast member or panel member judgment. Handler B’s $100 appeal fee is accepted and the appeal panel is assembled.

Mark Coovert
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Re: Guidelines: Conducting Panel Hearings and Appeals

Postby Mark Coovert » Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:19 pm

What if theres no one to form a panel

Jerry Moll
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Re: Guidelines: Conducting Panel Hearings and Appeals

Postby Jerry Moll » Tue Apr 10, 2018 11:25 pm

From Page #3 in the Blue Book

PKC CLUB LICENSING REQUIREMENTS. CLUBS MUST:
 be over 25 miles from the nearest active PKC club
 be held at a "neutral" location, not at a place of residence or a business
 have club officers, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer
 have a minimum of ten (10) club members to assist in conducting events
 provide two approved "Certified Hunt Directors" to conduct events
 provide a qualified Guide for each cast (prefer Hunting Guide)
 provide a qualified non-hunting judge for final cast
provide a 3 person panel to resolve questions; if not on site, must be on call
Prepare yourself and your hound. Hunt the dog, read the Blue Book, and your Good Book!

Charles E Craig
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Re: Guidelines: Conducting Panel Hearings and Appeals

Postby Charles E Craig » Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:33 am

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