§12.26. Commencement of a reparation proceeding. — Inbound Citations

(b) An answer may include a motion for reconsideration of the determination to forward the complaint, specifying the grounds therefor, which the Director of the Office of Proceedings, in their discretion, may grant by terminating the case pursuant to § 12.27, or deny by forwarding the pleadings and matters of record for an elected decisional proceeding pursuant to § 12.26. The inclusion in an answer of a motion for reconsideration shall not preclude a respondent, if the motion is denied, from moving for dismissal at a later stage of the proceeding for the same reasons cited in a motion for reconsideration pursuant to this paragraph (b).

For purposes of this part:

(e) Nothing in this section should be construed as restricting the Commission from acting on its own motion to review on an interlocutory basis any ruling of an Administrative Law Judge, Proceedings Officer or an Administrative Judge in any proceeding commenced pursuant to § 12.26.

(a) The provisions of this section shall apply to all decisional proceedings commenced pursuant to § 12.26. For the purposes of this section, the term “decisionmaking official” shall mean an Administrative Judge or Administrative Law Judge assigned to render a decision in the proceeding.

(a) The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable only to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(a) of the Reparation Rules. The rules of subpart B permitting discovery are applicable in a voluntary decisional proceeding. Unless specifically made applicable, the rules prescribed in subparts D, E, and F shall not apply in a voluntary decisional proceeding.

If the Director of the Office of Proceedings should determine not to proceed in a manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c), consideration of the complaint and the answer (and reply, if any) shall terminate, and no proceeding shall be held on the allegations in any such pleadings. Such termination shall be regarded by the Commission as without prejudice to the right of the parties to seek such alternative forms of relief as may be available to them. If the consideration of the pleadings should be terminated, the Proceedings Clerk shall immediately notify the parties to that effect by registered or certified mail. A determination by the Director not to proceed in the manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) of these rules is not subject to appeal pursuant to subpart F of these rules.

(d) Absent an extension of time, all discovery notices or requests shall be served within (30) days (and all discovery shall be completed within (50) days) after the notification and the order required by § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) has been served on the parties. Upon motion by a party and for good cause shown, the time allowed for discovery may be enlarged for one additional period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

(e) In proceedings commenced pursuant to § 12.26 (a) and (b) of these rules, copies of all depositions on written interrogatories shall be filed by the party on whose behalf the discovery was obtained.

The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) and (c) of these rules. Except as provided in §§ 12.106(e) and 12.403(b) of these rules, the rules set forth in this subpart are not applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(a) of the Reparation Rules.

The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable only to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(b). The rules in subpart B of this part permitting discovery are applicable in a summary decisional proceeding. Unless specifically made applicable, the rules prescribed in subparts C and E of this part shall not apply to such proceedings. Parties to a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(b) may, by signed agreement filed at any time prior to the issuance of the initial decision, or of any other order disposing of all issues in the proceeding, elect to have all of the issues in the proceeding decided pursuant to the voluntary decisional procedure. Upon receiving a timely filed stipulation signed by all parties evidencing such an election, the Administrative Judge shall conduct the proceeding and render a decision pursuant to subpart C of this part.

(a) At any time after a summary decisional proceeding has been commenced pursuant to § 12.26(b), the Administrative Judge may, in their discretion, conduct one or more pre-decision conferences to be held in Washington, DC, or by telephone, with all parties, for the purposes of:

(1) Discussing the advisability of electing the voluntary decisional procedure;

(2) Encouraging settlement of the entire case, or any part thereof, (such discussions may be ex parte with the consent of all parties);

(3) Simplifying or clarifying issues;

(4) Obtaining stipulations, admissions of fact and of authenticity of documents;

(5) Discussing amendments or supplements to the pleadings;

(6) Encouraging an early settlement of disputes relating to discovery; and

If the Director of the Office of Proceedings should determine not to proceed in a manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c), consideration of the complaint and the answer (and reply, if any) shall terminate, and no proceeding shall be held on the allegations in any such pleadings. Such termination shall be regarded by the Commission as without prejudice to the right of the parties to seek such alternative forms of relief as may be available to them. If the consideration of the pleadings should be terminated, the Proceedings Clerk shall immediately notify the parties to that effect by registered or certified mail. A determination by the Director not to proceed in the manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) of these rules is not subject to appeal pursuant to subpart F of these rules.

(d) Absent an extension of time, all discovery notices or requests shall be served within (30) days (and all discovery shall be completed within (50) days) after the notification and the order required by § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) has been served on the parties. Upon motion by a party and for good cause shown, the time allowed for discovery may be enlarged for one additional period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

(e) In proceedings commenced pursuant to § 12.26 (a) and (b) of these rules, copies of all depositions on written interrogatories shall be filed by the party on whose behalf the discovery was obtained.

The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) and (c) of these rules. Except as provided in §§ 12.106(e) and 12.403(b) of these rules, the rules set forth in this subpart are not applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(a) of the Reparation Rules.

(a) Any aggrieved party to a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) or (c) of these rules may appeal to the Commission an initial decision or other disposition of the entire proceeding by complying with the requirements of this section. An appealing party shall serve upon all parties and file with the Proceedings Clerk a notice of appeal within fifteen (15) days after service of the initial decision or other order disposing of the entire proceeding. The notice need consist only of a brief statement indicating the filing party's intent to appeal the initial decision, and shall include the date upon which the initial decision was rendered, the names of all parties, and the docket number of the proceeding. A non-refundable appellate filing fee in the amount of $50 shall be paid at the time of filing a notice of appeal. The failure of a party timely to file and serve a notice of appeal, and to pay the appellate filing fee, in accordance with this paragraph, or to perfect the appeal in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, shall constitute a voluntary waiver of any objection to the initial decision, or other order disposing of the proceeding, and of all further administrative or judicial review under these rules and the Commodity Exchange Act.

(a) Where two or more different claims for relief are presented, or where multiple parties are involved, in a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(b) or (c), the Administrative Judge or Administrative Law Judge, may upon the Judge's own motion or by motion of a party, direct that an initial decision or other order disposing of one or more, but fewer than all of the claims or parties, shall be final and immediately appealable to the Commission. Such a direction may be made only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay. When such a direction is made, a party may appeal the initial decision or order in accordance with the procedure prescribed by § 12.401.

(a) The Commission may on its own motion, within 30 days after it has been served on all parties, determine to review an initial decision, or other order disposing of all issues in the proceeding as to all claims and all parties, in a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) and (c) of these rules. In such event, the Commission may determine the scope of the issues on review, and make provisions for the filing of briefs or, if deemed appropriate, such other means for the parties to present their views. The parties shall be duly notified thereof by the Proceedings Clerk.

(3) A verified statement that a judicial appeal has been filed and perfected in accordance with section 14(e) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 18(e). (This paragraph is applicable only in proceedings commenced pursuant to § 12.26 (b) or (c), and only if the person has timely filed and perfected an appeal to the Commission as prescribed in § 12.401.)

If the Director of the Office of Proceedings should determine not to proceed in a manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c), consideration of the complaint and the answer (and reply, if any) shall terminate, and no proceeding shall be held on the allegations in any such pleadings. Such termination shall be regarded by the Commission as without prejudice to the right of the parties to seek such alternative forms of relief as may be available to them. If the consideration of the pleadings should be terminated, the Proceedings Clerk shall immediately notify the parties to that effect by registered or certified mail. A determination by the Director not to proceed in the manner set forth in § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) of these rules is not subject to appeal pursuant to subpart F of these rules.

(d) Absent an extension of time, all discovery notices or requests shall be served within (30) days (and all discovery shall be completed within (50) days) after the notification and the order required by § 12.26 (a), (b), or (c) has been served on the parties. Upon motion by a party and for good cause shown, the time allowed for discovery may be enlarged for one additional period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(c) of the Reparation Rules. The rules in subpart B permitting discovery are applicable in a formal decisional proceeding, as supplemented by § 12.301. Unless specifically made applicable, the rules prescribed in subparts C and D shall not apply to formal decisional proceedings. Parties to a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(c) may, by written agreement filed at any time prior to the issuance of an initial decision, or of any other order disposing of all issues in the proceeding, elect to have all issues in the proceeding decided pursuant to the voluntary decisional procedure. Upon receiving a timely filed stipulation signed by all parties evidencing such an election, the Administrative Law Judge shall conduct the proceeding and render a decision pursuant to subpart C of these rules.

(e) In the Administrative Law Judge's discretion, to conduct pre-decision conferences, for the purposes prescribed in § 12.303, at any time after a proceeding has commenced pursuant to § 12.26(c);

The rules set forth in this subpart are applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) and (c) of these rules. Except as provided in §§ 12.106(e) and 12.403(b) of these rules, the rules set forth in this subpart are not applicable to proceedings forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(a) of the Reparation Rules.

(a) Any aggrieved party to a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) or (c) of these rules may appeal to the Commission an initial decision or other disposition of the entire proceeding by complying with the requirements of this section. An appealing party shall serve upon all parties and file with the Proceedings Clerk a notice of appeal within fifteen (15) days after service of the initial decision or other order disposing of the entire proceeding. The notice need consist only of a brief statement indicating the filing party's intent to appeal the initial decision, and shall include the date upon which the initial decision was rendered, the names of all parties, and the docket number of the proceeding. A non-refundable appellate filing fee in the amount of $50 shall be paid at the time of filing a notice of appeal. The failure of a party timely to file and serve a notice of appeal, and to pay the appellate filing fee, in accordance with this paragraph, or to perfect the appeal in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, shall constitute a voluntary waiver of any objection to the initial decision, or other order disposing of the proceeding, and of all further administrative or judicial review under these rules and the Commodity Exchange Act.

(a) Where two or more different claims for relief are presented, or where multiple parties are involved, in a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26(b) or (c), the Administrative Judge or Administrative Law Judge, may upon the Judge's own motion or by motion of a party, direct that an initial decision or other order disposing of one or more, but fewer than all of the claims or parties, shall be final and immediately appealable to the Commission. Such a direction may be made only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay. When such a direction is made, a party may appeal the initial decision or order in accordance with the procedure prescribed by § 12.401.

(a) The Commission may on its own motion, within 30 days after it has been served on all parties, determine to review an initial decision, or other order disposing of all issues in the proceeding as to all claims and all parties, in a proceeding forwarded pursuant to § 12.26 (b) and (c) of these rules. In such event, the Commission may determine the scope of the issues on review, and make provisions for the filing of briefs or, if deemed appropriate, such other means for the parties to present their views. The parties shall be duly notified thereof by the Proceedings Clerk.

(3) A verified statement that a judicial appeal has been filed and perfected in accordance with section 14(e) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 18(e). (This paragraph is applicable only in proceedings commenced pursuant to § 12.26 (b) or (c), and only if the person has timely filed and perfected an appeal to the Commission as prescribed in § 12.401.)