SECTION 810:10-1-7. Forms and other documents generally

(a)   All forms, pleadings, proposed orders, correspondence or other documents submitted to the Commission shall:

(1)   be typewritten or printed legibly on 8 ½" by 11" paper, unless electronically filed;

(2)   refer to the Commission file number if assigned;

(3)   bear the typed or printed name, mailing address, telephone number, and signature, of the person who prepared the document, including the firm name if applicable; and

(4)   include the attorney's Oklahoma Bar Association number, if the document is submitted by an attorney licensed to practice law in Oklahoma.

(b)   The signature of an attorney or party constitutes the following:

(1)   a certification that the claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, controversion of benefits, request for a hearing, pleading, form, motion, or other paper has been read;

(2)   that to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law; and

(3)   that it is not brought for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.

(c)   If a claim, request for benefits, request for additional benefits, request for hearing, pleading, motion, or other paper:

(1)   is not signed, it shall be stricken unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant; or

(2)   is signed in violation of the AWCA, the Commission, including Administrative Law Judges, on motion or on their own initiative, shall impose an appropriate sanction as prescribed in 85A O.S. § 83.

(d)   An electronic signature using acceptable electronic signature technology may be used to sign a document or a form and shall have the same force and effect as a hand written signature.

(e)   All documents filed with the Commission shall be served on all parties and shall have a certificate of service setting forth the manner of such service. A copy of all correspondence addressed to the Commission with respect to a pending matter shall be sent to all parties at the time it is sent to the Commission and shall list the parties to whom copies were sent.

(f)   All forms filed with the Commission, except forms submitted electronically, shall be file-stamped by the Clerk of the Commission on the date of receipt.

(g)   All FROI and SROI filings properly submitted through EDI according to the standards specified in 810:1-1-8 shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 468, eff 2-4-14 (emergency); Added at 32 Ok Reg 1461, eff 8-27-15; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 2207, eff 9-11-17; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 237, eff 11-17-17 (emergency); Amended at 35 Ok Reg 2303, eff 9-14-18]