What can the department request if a respondent fails to appear at a contested case hearing?

When a respondent fails to appear at a contested case hearing, the department can request a default judgment. This legal concept allows the administrative body to make a decision in favor of the department based on the absence of the respondent. It serves as a mechanism to ensure that cases can proceed and be resolved, even if one party does not participate.

A default judgment is significant because it helps maintain the administrative efficiency of the hearing process by preventing delays caused by non-appearance. In a default judgment scenario, the absence is treated as an implicit admission of the claims made by the party that did appear, allowing the case to move forward without needing to hear from the missing party.

This choice reflects the procedural rules that govern administrative hearings, where the presence of both parties is essential for a fair hearing, but systems are in place to deal with noncompliance to keep the process on track. Other options, while potentially related to hearing procedures, do not specifically address the implications of a respondent's failure to appear in the context of default judgment rules.