[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 31, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 31CFR16.10]

[Page 198-199]
 
                  TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE: TREASURY
 
PART 16--REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT OF 1986--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 16.10  Default upon failure to file an answer.

    (a) If the defendant does not file an answer within the time 
prescribed in Sec. 16.9(a), the reviewing official may refer the 
complaint to the ALJ for initial decision.
    (b) Upon the referral of the complaint, the ALJ shall promptly serve 
on defendant in the manner prescribed in Sec. 16.8, a notice that an 
initial decision will be issued under this section.
    (c) If the defendant fails to file a timely answer, the ALJ shall 
assume the facts alleged in the complaint to be true and, if such facts 
eatablish liability under Sec. 16.3, the ALJ shall issue an initial 
decision imposing the maximum amount of penalties and assessments 
allowed under the statute.
    (d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, by failing to file 
a timely answer, the defendant waives any right to further review of the 
penalties and assessments imposed under paragraph

[[Page 199]]

(c) of this section, and the initial decision shall become final and 
binding upon the parties 30 days after it is issued.
    (e) If, before such an initial decision becomes final, the defendant 
files a motion with the ALJ, and serves a copy on the agency, seeking to 
reopen on the grounds that extraordinary circumstances prevented the 
defendant from filing a timely answer, the initial decision shall be 
stayed pending the ALJ's decision on the motion. The ALJ shall permit 
the agency a reasonable amount of time, not less than 15 calendar days, 
to respond to the defendant's motion.
    (f) If, on such motion, the defendant can demonstrate extraordinary 
circumstances excusing the failure to file a timely answer, the ALJ 
shall withdraw the initial decision, if such a decision has been issued 
pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, and shall grant the defendant 
an opportunity to answer the complaint.
    (g) A decision of the ALJ denying a defendant's motion under 
paragraph (e) of this section is not subject to reconsideration under 
Sec. 16.38.
    (h) The defendant may appeal to the authority head the decision 
denying a motion to reopen by filing a notice of appeal with the 
authority head within 15 days after the ALJ denies the motion. The 
timely filing of a notice of appeal shall stay the initial decision 
until the authority head decides the issue.
    (i) If the defendant files a timely notice of appeal with the 
authority head, the ALJ shall forward the record of the proceeding to 
the authority head.
    (j) The authority head shall decide expeditiously, and based solely 
on the record before the ALJ, whether extraordinary circumstances excuse 
the defendant's failure to file a timely answer.
    (k) If the authority head decides that extraordinary circumstances 
excuse the defendant's failure to file a timely answer, the authority 
head shall remand the case to the ALJ with instructions to grant the 
defendant an opportunity to file an answer.
    (l) If the authority head decides that the defendant's failure to 
file a timely answer is not excused, the authority head shall reinstate 
the initial decision of the ALJ, which shall become final and binding 
upon the parties 30 days after the authority head issues such decision.