![]() |
Subpart D -- Prehearing Procedures and Discovery |
§2200.50 [Reserved] §2200.51 Prehearing conferences and orders. (a) Scheduling conference. (1) The Judge may, upon his or her discretion, consult with all attorneys and any unrepresented parties, by a scheduling conference, telephone, mail, or other suitable means, and within 30 days after the filing of the answer, enter a scheduling order that limits the time: (i) To join other parties and to amend the pleadings; (ii) To file and hear motions; and (iii) To complete discovery. (2) The scheduling order also may include: (i) The date or dates for conferences before hearing, a final prehearing conference, and hearing; and (b) Prehearing conference. In addition to the prehearing procedures set forth in Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Judge may upon his own initiative or on the motion of a party direct the parties to confer among themselves to consider settlement, stipulation of facts, or any other matter that may expedite the hearing. § 2200.52 General provisions governing discovery. a) General. (1) Methods and limitations. In conformity with these rules, any party may, without leave of the Commission or Judge, obtain discovery by one or more of the following methods: (i) Production of documents or things or permission to enter upon land or other property for inspection and other purposes (§2200.53); (ii) Requests for admission to the extent provided in §2200.54; and (iii) Interrogatories to the extent provided in §2200.55. Discovery is not available under these rules through depositions except to the extent provided in §2200.56. In the absence of a specific provision, procedure shall be in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, except that the provisions of Rule 26(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply to Commission proceedings. (2) Time for discovery. A party may initiate all forms of discovery in conformity with these Rules at any time after the filing of the first responsive pleading or motion that delays the filing of an answer, such as a motion to dismiss. Discovery shall be initiated early enough to permit completion of discovery no later than seven days prior to the date set for hearing, unless the Judge orders otherwise. (b) Scope of discovery. The information or response sought through discovery may concern any matter that is not privileged and that is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending case. It is not ground for objection that the information or response sought will be inadmissible at the hearing, if the information or response appears reasonably calculated to lead to discovery of admissible evidence, regardless of which party has the burden of proof. (c) Limitations. The frequency or extent of the discovery methods provided by these rules may be limited by the Commission or Judge if it is determined that: (1) the discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative, or is obtainable from some other source that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive; (2) the party seeking discovery has had ample opportunity to obtain the information sought by discovery in the action; or (3) the discovery is unduly burdensome or expensive, taking into account the needs of the case, limitations on the parties' resources, and the importance of the issues in litigation. (d) Privilege. (1) Claims of privilege. The initial claim of privilege shall specify the privilege claimed and the general nature of the material for which the privilege is claimed. In response to an order from Judge or the Commission, or in response to a motion to compel, the claim shall: Identify the information that would be disclosed; set forth the privilege that is claimed; and allege the facts showing that the information is privileged. The claim shall be supported by affidavits, depositions, or testimony and shall specify the relief sought. The claim may be accompanied by a motion for a protective order or by a motion that the allegedly privileged information be received and the claim ruled upon in camera, that is, with the record and hearing room closed to the public, or ex parte, that is, without the participation of parties and their representatives. The judge may enter an order and impose terms and conditions on his or her examination of the claim as justice may require, including an order designed to ensure that the allegedly privileged information not be disclosed until after the examination is completed. (2) Upholding or rejecting claims of privilege. If the Judge upholds the claim of privilege, the Judge may order and impose terms and conditions as justice may require, including a protective order. If the Judge overrules the claim, the person claiming the privilege may obtain as of right an order sealing from the public those portions of the record containing the allegedly privileged information pending interlocutory or final review of the ruling, or final disposition of the case, by the Commission. Interlocutory review of such an order shall be given priority consideration by the Commission. (e) Protective orders. In connection with any discovery procedures and where a showing of good cause has been made, the Commission or Judge may make any order including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: (1) That the discovery not be had; (2) That the discovery may be had only on specified terms and conditions, including a designation of the time or place; (3) That the discovery may be had only by a method of discovery other than that selected by the party seeking discovery; (4) That certain matters not be inquired into, or that the scope of the discovery be limited to certain matters; (5) That discovery be conducted with no one present except persons designated by the Commission or Judge; (6) That a deposition after being sealed be opened only by order of the Commission or Judge; (7) That a trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way; (8) That the parties simultaneously file specified documents or information enclosed in sealed envelopes to be opened as directed by the Commission or Judge. (f) Failure to cooperate; Sanctions. A party may apply for an order compelling discovery when another party refuses or obstructs discovery. For purposes of this paragraph, an evasive or incomplete answer is to be treated as a failure to answer. If a Judge enters an order compelling discovery and there is a failure to comply with that order, the Judge may make such orders with regard to the failure as are just. The orders may issue upon the initiative of a Judge, after affording an opportunity to show cause why the order should not be entered, or upon the motion of a party. The orders may include any sanction stated in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37, including the following: (1) An order that designated facts shall be taken to be established for purposes of the case in accordance with the claim of the party obtaining that order; (2) An order refusing to permit the disobedient party to support or to oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting it from introducing designated matters in evidence; (3) An order striking out pleadings or parts thereof, or staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed; and (4) An order dismissing the action or proceeding or any part thereof, or rendering a judgment by default against the disobedient party. (g) Unreasonable delays. None of the discovery procedures set forth in these rules shall be used in a manner or at a time which shall delay or impede the progress of the case toward hearing status or the hearing of the case on the date for which it is scheduled, unless, in the interests of justice, the Judge shall order otherwise. Unreasonable delays in utilizing discovery procedures may result in termination of the party's right to conduct discovery. (h) Show cause orders. All show cause orders issued by the Commission or Judge under paragraph (f) of this section shall be served upon the affected party by certified mail, return receipt requested. (i) Supplementation of responses. A party who has responded to a request for discovery with a response that was complete when made is under no duty to supplement the response to include information thereafter acquired, except as follows: (1) A party is under a duty seasonably to supplement the response with respect to any question directly addressed to: (i) The identity and location of persons having knowledge of discoverable matters; and (ii) The identity of each person expected to be called as an expert witness at the hearing, the subject matter on which the person is expected to testify, and the substance of the person's testimony. (2) A party is under a duty seasonably to amend a prior response if the party obtains information upon the basis of which: (i) The party knows that the response was incorrect when made; or (ii) The party knows that the response though correct when made is no longer true and the circumstances are such that a failure to amend the response is in substance a knowing concealment. (3) A duty to supplement responses may be imposed by order of the court, agreement of the parties, or at any time prior to the hearing through new requests for supplementation of prior responses. (j) Filing of discovery. Requests for production or inspection under §2200.53, requests for admission under §2200.54 and responses thereto, interrogatories under §2200.55 and the answers thereto, and depositions under §2200.56 shall be served upon other counsel or parties, but shall not be filed with the Commission or the Judge. The party responsible for service of the discovery material shall retain the original and become the custodian. (k) Relief from discovery requests. If relief is sought under §§2200.101 or 2200.52(e), (f), or (g) concerning any interrogatories, requests for production or inspection, requests for admissions, answers to interrogatories, or responses to requests for admissions, copies of the portions of the interrogatories, requests, answers, or responses in dispute shall be filed with the Judge or Commission contemporaneously with any motion filed under §§2200.101 or 2200.52(e), (f), or (g). (l) Use at hearing. If interrogatories, requests, answers, responses, or depositions are to be used at the hearing or are necessary to a prehearing motion which might result in a final order on any claim, the portions to be used shall be filed with the Judge or the Commission at the outset of the hearing or at the filing of the motion insofar as their use can be reasonably anticipated. (m) Use on review or appeal. When documentation of discovery not previously in the record is needed for review or appeal purposes, upon an application and order of the Judge or Commission the necessary discovery papers shall be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Commission. §2200.53 Production of documents and things. (a) Scope. At any time after the filing of the first responsive pleading or motion that delays the filing of an answer, such as a motion to dismiss, any party may serve on any other party a request to: (1) Produce and permit the party making the request, or a person acting on his or her behalf, to inspect and copy any designated documents, or to inspect and copy, test, or sample any tangible things which are in the possession, custody, or control of the party upon whom the request is served; (b) Procedure. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected, either by individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. It shall specify a reasonable time, place and manner of making the inspection and performing related acts. The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 30 days after service of the request, unless the requesting party allows a longer time. The Commission or Judge may allow a shorter time or a longer time, should the requesting party deny an extension. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to in whole or in part, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, that part shall be specified. To obtain a ruling on an objection by the responding party, the requesting party shall file a motion with the Judge and shall annex thereto his request, together with the response and objections, if any. § 2200.54 Request for admissions.(a) Scope. At any time after the filing of the first responsive pleading or motion that delays the filing of an answer, such as a motion to dismiss, any party may serve upon any other party written requests for admissions, for purposes of the pending action only, of the genuineness and authenticity of any document described in or attached to the requests, or of the truth of any specified matter of fact. Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The number of requested admissions shall not exceed 25, including subparts, without an order of the Commission or Judge. The party seeking to serve more than 25 requested admissions, including subparts, shall have the burden of persuasion to establish that the complexity of the case or the number of citation items necessitates a greater number of requested admissions. (b) Response to requests. Each matter is deemed admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the requests or within such shorter or longer time as the Commission or Judge may allow, the party to whom the requests are directed serves upon the requesting party a written answer specifically admitting or denying the matter involved in whole or in part, or asserting that it cannot be truthfully admitted or denied and setting forth in detail the reasons why this is so, or an objection, stating in detail the reasons therefor. The response shall be made under oath or affirmation and signed by the party or his representative. (c) Effect of admission. Any matter admitted under this section is conclusively established unless the Judge or Commission on motion permits withdrawal or modification of the admission. Withdrawal or modification may be permitted when the presentation of the merits of the case will be subserved thereby, and the party who obtained the admission fails to satisfy the Commission or Judge that the withdrawal or modification will prejudice him in presenting his case or defense on the merits. §2200.55 Interrogatories. (a) General. At any time after the filing of the first responsive pleading or motion that delays the filing of an answer, such as a motion to dismiss, any party may serve interrogatories upon any other party. The number of interrogatories shall not exceed 25 questions, including subparts, without an order of the Commission or Judge. The party seeking to serve more than 25 questions, including subparts, shall have the burden of persuasion to establish that the complexity of the case or the number of citation items necessitates a greater number of interrogatories. (b) Answers. All answers shall be made in good faith and as completely as the answering party's information will permit. The answering party is required to make reasonable inquiry and ascertain readily obtainable information. An answering party may not give lack of information or knowledge as an answer or as a reason for failure to answer, unless he states that he has made reasonable inquiry and that information known or readily obtainable by him is insufficient to enable him to answer the substance of the interrogatory. (c) Procedure. Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully under oath or affirmation. If the interrogatory is objected to, the objection shall be stated in lieu of the answer. The answers are to be signed by the person making them and the objections shall be signed by the party or his counsel. The party on whom the interrogatories have been served shall serve a copy of his answers or objections upon the propounding party within 30 days after the service of the interrogatories. The Judge may allow a shorter or longer time. The burden shall be on the party submitting the interrogatories to move for an order with respect to any objection or other failure to answer an interrogatory. §2200.56 Depositions. (a) General. Depositions of parties, intervenors, or witnesses shall be allowed only by agreement of all the parties, or on order of the Commission or Judge following the filing of a motion of a party stating good and just reasons. All depositions shall be before an officer authorized to administer oaths and affirmations at the place of examination. The deposition shall be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Fed.R.Civ.P. 30. (b) When to file. A motion to take depositions may be filed after the filing of the first responsive pleading or motion that delays the filing of an answer, such as a motion to dismiss. (c) Notice of taking. Any depositions allowed by the Commission or Judge may be taken after ten days' written notice to the other party or parties. The ten-day notice requirement may be waived by the parties. (d) Expenses. Expenses for a court reporter and the preparing and serving of depositions shall be borne by the party at whose instance the deposition is taken. (e) Use of depositions. Depositions taken under this rule may be used for discovery, to contradict or impeach the testimony of a deponent as a witness, or for any other purpose permitted by the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Fed.R.Civ.P. 32. (f) Excerpts from depositions to be offered at hearing. Except when used for purposes of impeachment, at least 5 working days prior to the hearing, the parties or counsel shall furnish to the Judge and all opposing parties or counsel the excerpts from depositions (by page and line number) which they expect to introduce at the hearing. Four working days thereafter, the adverse party or counsel for the adverse party shall furnish to the Judge and all opposing parties or counsel additional excerpts from the depositions (by page and line number) which they expect to be read pursuant to Rule 32(a)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as any objections (by page and line number) to opposing party's or counsel's depositions. With reasonable notice to the Judge and all parties or counsel, other excerpts may be read. (g) Telephone depositions. (1) Telephone depositions may be conducted pursuant to Rule 30(b)(7) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (2) If a party objects to a telephone deposition, he shall make known his objections at least 5 days prior to the taking of the deposition. If the objection is not resolved by the parties or the Judge before the scheduled deposition date, the deposition shall be stayed pending resolution of the dispute. (h) Video depositions. By indicating in its notice of a deposition that it wishes to record the deposition by videotape (and identifying the proposed videotape operator), a party shall be deemed to have moved for such an order under Rule 30(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Unless an objection is filed and served within 10 days after such notice is received, the Judge shall be deemed to have granted the motion pursuant to the following terms and conditions: (1) Stenographic recording. The videotaped deposition shall be simultaneously recorded stenographically by a qualified court reporter. The court reporter shall administer the oath or affirmation to the deponents on camera. The written transcript by the court reporter shall constitute the official record of the deposition for purposes of Rule 30(e) (submission to witness) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. §2200.57 Issuance of subpoenas; Petitions to revoke or modify subpoenas; Right to inspect or copy data. (a) Issuance of subpoenas. On behalf of the Commission or any member thereof, the Judge shall, on the application of any party, issue to the applying party subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence, including relevant books, records, correspondence, or documents, in his possession or under his control. The party to whom the subpoena is issued shall be responsible for its service. Applications for subpoenas, if filed prior to the assignment of the case to a Judge, shall be filed with the Executive Secretary at One Lafayette Centre, 1120 20th Street N.W., Suite 980, Washington, DC 20036-3419. After the case has been assigned to a Judge, applications shall be filed with the Judge. Applications for subpoena(s) may be made ex parte. The subpoena shall show on its face the name and address of the party at whose request the subpoena was issued. (b) Service of Subpoenas. A subpoena may be served by any person who is not a party and is not less than 18 years of age. Service of a subpoena upon a person named therein may be made by service on the person named, by certified mail return receipt requested, or by leaving a copy at the person's principal place of business or at the person's residence with some person of suitable age and discretion residing therein. (c) Revocation or modification of subpoenas. Any person served with a subpoena, whether ad testificandum or duces tecum, shall, within 5 days after the date of service of the subpoena upon him, move in writing to revoke or modify the subpoena if he does not intend to comply. All motions to revoke or modify shall be served on the party at whose request the subpoena was issued. The Judge or the Commission shall revoke or modify the subpoena if in its opinion the evidence whose production is required does not relate to any matter under investigation or in question in the proceedings or the subpoena does not describe with sufficient particularity the evidence whose production is required, or if for any other reason sufficient in law the subpoena is otherwise invalid. The Judge or the Commission, as the case may be, shall make a simple statement of procedural or other grounds for the ruling on the motion to revoke or modify. The motion to revoke or modify, any answer filed thereto, and any ruling thereon shall become a part of the record. (d) Rights of persons compelled to submit data. Persons compelled to submit data or evidence at a public proceeding are entitled to retain or, on payment of lawfully prescribed costs, to procure copies of transcripts of the data or evidence submitted by them. (e) Failure to comply with subpoena. Upon the failure of any person to comply with a subpoena issued upon the request of a party, the Commission by its counsel shall initiate proceedings in the appropriate district court for the enforcement thereof, if in its judgment the enforcement of such subpoena would be consistent with law and with policies of the Act. Neither the Commission nor its counsel shall be deemed thereby to have assumed responsibility for the effective prosecution of the same before the court.
|
Last Updated: August 1, 2005 |
![]() |
Home
| About OSHRC
| Procedural
Rules | Decisions
| Strategic
Plan | Performance
Report | Budget | Publications |