Can the Ombudsman and/or Program Officer make rulings during the conference to decide who is right – and who is wrong?
No – the Ombudsman by law gives guidance to the parties deemed necessary to assist the parties in reaching a resolution of the concerns raised in the Intervention Affidavit. Any adjudication on the merits of the case must be by the Commission, its designated Administrative Law Judges, or arbitrators in the Alternate Dispute Resolution ADR program.
