What are the limits on subsequent judicial proceedings?
A. There are no limits on subsequent judicial proceedings. Because the grievance procedures are voluntary, there is no requirement that anyone exhaust these procedures before filing a law suit in court. In fact, there is no requirement that any given procedure precede any other procedure or that starting one means that the matter cannot be withdrawn and a different procedure used instead. Any information or material gained through the course of the proceeding may be used in subsequent proceedings, if necessary. However, part of the papers filed to initiate the grievance procedure includes an agreement that the Ombuds and the neutrals who act as facilitators or hearing officers or hearing panel members are not subject to subpoena and cannot be made to divulge information in a subsequent judicial proceeding.
