N.Y. Workers' Compensation Law § 222: Technical rules of evidence or procedure not required

§ 222. Technical rules of evidence or procedure not required. The

chair, the board or the chair's designee, pursuant to section two

hundred twenty-one of this article, in making an investigation or

inquiry or conducting a hearing shall not be bound by common law or

statutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of

procedure, except as provided by this chapter; but may make such

investigation or inquiry or conduct such hearing in such manner as to

ascertain the substantial rights of the parties.