May 27, 2010

 

 

Laurence R. Otto

STREET ADDRESS REDACTED

Warroad, MN  56763-9552

 

Joan Tujetsch

Attorney at Law

Minnesota Department of Revenue

600 North Robert Street

Mail Station 2220

St. Paul, Minnesota 55146-2220

 

Re:     In the Matter of the Revocation of the Master Electrician Class A License of Laurence R. Otto; OAH Docket No. 11-2700-21086-2

 

Dear Mr. Otto and Ms. Tujetsch: 

 

I have received the Respondent’s Motion for an Order to Compel Discovery and Motion for a Continuance Pending Compliance with Discovery, and the Department’s response in opposition to those motions.  This letter will constitute my Order on the Respondent’s motions.

 

The Respondent’s motions are denied.  It is evident from the Department’s submission that, to the extent that the documents requested in Respondent’s discovery request dated March 29, 2010, in fact exist, Respondent has been provided with copies.  The Department clarified in its response that the Commissioner does not file an actual return in the typical format on behalf of a taxpayer.  The Department further indicated that it had provided the Respondent by May 25, 2010, with a second copy of additional documents relating to the computation of the tax alleged by the Commissioner to be owing.  Finally, the Department provided additional information responsive to Mr. Otto’s discovery requests and noted that it did not intend to rely on those documents at the hearing.  None of the additional documents and information provided by the Department appears to have a significant bearing on any of the issues involved in this case.  Under the circumstances, neither an order compelling production of further documents nor an additional continuance of the hearing is warranted.

Letter to L. Otto and J. Tujetsch

May 27, 2010

Page Two

 

 

 

Accordingly, the hearing shall remain scheduled for Thursday, June 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. via videoconference.  To participate in the videoconference, Mr. Otto should go to the Roseau County Courthouse, 606 Fifth Avenue S.W., Roseau, and ask for assistance in locating the room where the videoconference will occur.  I will participate in the videoconference from a videoconferencing facility located in one of our courtrooms in St. Paul.  I anticipate that witnesses and counsel for the Department of Revenue will also participate from the St. Paul location. 

 

Finally, I remind both parties that they must immediately exchange final witness lists identifying the persons each of them will be calling to testify at the hearing.  In addition, any documents that either party intends to offer into evidence during the hearing must immediately be provided to the other party and filed with me.  Documents may be sent by U.S. mail, email, or fax.  My fax number is 651-361-7936. 

 

The parties may contact the Office of Administrative Hearings at 651-361-7900 and ask to speak to a staff attorney if they have further questions about this process or wish to request that a telephone conference call be held prior to the hearing.

 

                                                            Sincerely,

 

                                                            s/Barbara L. Neilson

 

 

                                                            BARBARA L. NEILSON

                                                            Administrative Law Judge

                                                            Tel. No.:  651-361-7845

                                                            Barbara.Neilson@state.mn.us