---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 13.53"
title: "14"
number: "13.53"
heading: "Discovery."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/13.53"
---

# §13.53. Discovery.

- (a) **Filing.** Discovery requests and responses are not filed with the FAA Hearing Docket unless in support of a motion, offered for impeachment, or other permissible circumstances as approved by the hearing officer.
- (b) **Scope of discovery.** Any party may discover any matter that is not privileged and is relevant to any party's claim or defense.
- (c) **Time for response to written discovery requests.**
  - (1) Written discovery includes interrogatories, requests for admission or stipulations, and requests for production of documents.
  - (2) Unless otherwise directed by the hearing officer, a party must serve its response to a discovery request no later than 30 days after service of the discovery request.
- (d) **Depositions.** After the respondent has filed a request for hearing and an answer, either party may take testimony by deposition.
- (e) **Limits on discovery.** The hearing officer may limit the frequency and extent of discovery upon a showing by a party that—
  - (1) The discovery requested is cumulative or repetitious;
  - (2) The discovery requested can be obtained from another less burdensome and more convenient source;
  - (3) The party requesting the information has had ample opportunity to obtain the information through other discovery methods permitted under this section; or
  - (4) **The method or scope of discovery requested by the party is unduly burdensome or expensive.**

## Notes

### Source

Source: Docket No. FAA-2018-1051; Amdt. No. 13-40, 86 FR 54532, Oct. 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 18 U.S.C. 6002; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 5121-5124, 40113-40114, 44103-44106, 44701-44704, 44709-44710, 44713, 44725, 44742, 44802 (note), 46101-46111, 46301, 46302 (for a violation of 49 U.S.C. 46504), 46304-46316, 46318-46320, 46501-46502, 46504, 46507, 47106, 47107, 47111, 47122, 47306, 47531-47532; 49 CFR 1.83.

### Source

Source: Docket No. 18884, 44 FR 63723, Nov. 5, 1979, unless otherwise noted.