42 U.S.C. 3535(d).
This part sets forth rules of procedure in certain proceedings of the Department of Housing and Urban Development presided over by a hearing officer. These rules of procedure apply to hearings with respect to determinations by the Multifamily Participation Review Committee pursuant to 24 CFR part 200, subpart H, to hearings conducted pursuant to referrals by debarring or suspending officials under 24 CFR part 24, and to hearings conducted pursuant to referrals by a hearing official under 24 CFR part 25, unless such regulations at 24 CFR parts 24, 25, or 200, provide otherwise. They also apply in any other case where a hearing is required by statute or regulation, to the extent that rules adopted under such statute or regulation are not inconsistent.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) To administer oaths and affirmations;
(2) To cause subpoenas to be issued as authorized by law;
(3) To rule upon offers of proof and receive evidence;
(4) To order or limit discovery as the interests of justice may require;
(5) To regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties and their counsel;
(6) To hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties;
(7) To consider and rule upon all procedural and other motions appropriate in adjudicative proceedings;
(8) To take notice of any material fact not appearing in evidence in the record which is properly a matter of judicial notice; and
(9) To make and file determinations.
If a party refuses or fails to comply with an order of the hearing officer, the hearing officer may enter any appropriate order necessary to the disposition of the hearing including a determination against the noncomplying party.
(a)
(b)
(1) The purpose and content of the communication have been disclosed in advance or simultaneously to all parties; or
(2) The communication is a request for information concerning the status of the case.
(c)
When a hearing officer believes there is a basis for disqualification in a particular proceeding, the hearing officer shall withdraw by notice on the record and shall notify the Secretary and the official initiating the action under appeal. Whenever any party believes that the hearing officer should be disqualified from presiding in a particular proceeding, the party may file a motion with the hearing officer requesting the hearing officer to withdraw from presiding over the proceedings. This motion shall be supported by affidavits setting forth the alleged grounds for disqualification. If the hearing officer does not withdraw, a written statement of his or her reasons shall be incorporated in the record and the hearing shall proceed.
In each case heard before a hearing officer under this part, the Department shall be represented by the General Counsel or designee.
The party against whom the administrative action is taken may be represented at hearing as follows:
(a) Individuals may appear on their own behalf;
(b) A member of a partnership or joint venture may appear on behalf of the partnership or joint venture;
(c) A bona fide officer may appear on behalf of a corporation or association upon a showing of adequate authorization;
(d) An attorney who files a notice of appearance with the hearing officer may represent any party. For purposes of this paragraph, an attorney is defined as a member of the bar of a Federal court or of the highest court of any State; or
(e) An individual not included within paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section may represent the respondent upon an adequate showing, as determined by the hearing officer, that the individual possesses the legal, technical or other qualifications necessary to advise and assist in the presentation of the case.
Attorneys shall conform to the standards of professional and ethical conduct required of practitioners in the courts of the United States and by the
In every case, there shall be a notice of administrative action. The notice shall be in writing and inform the party of the determination. The notice shall state the reasons for the proposed or imposed action except where general terms are permitted by 24 CFR part 24. The notice shall inform the party of any right to a hearing to challenge the determination, and the manner and time in which to request such hearing. A supplemental notice may be issued in the discretion of the initiating official to add to or modify the reasons for the action.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Respondent shall file an answer within thirty days of receipt of the complaint. The answer shall respond specifically to each factual allegation. A general denial shall not be permitted. Where a respondent intends to rely on an affirmative defense it shall be pleaded specifically. Allegations are admitted when not specifically denied in respondent's answer.
(a)
(2) By leave: Upon conditions as are necessary to avoid prejudicing the public interest and the rights of the parties, the hearing officer may allow amendments to pleadings upon motion of any party.
(3) Conformance to evidence: When issues not raised by the pleadings but reasonably within the scope of the proceeding initiated by the complaint are tried by express or implied consent to the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings, and amendments of the pleadings necessary to make them conform to the evidence shall be allowed at any time.
(b)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
The parties are encouraged to engage in voluntary discovery procedures. Parties may seek an order compelling discovery only upon good cause shown. Discovery shall not be permitted where
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(1) Simplification and clarification of the issues;
(2) Stipulations and admissions of fact and of the contents and authenticity of documents;
(3) The disclosure of the names of witnesses;
(4) Matters of which official notice will be taken;
(5) Other matters as may aid in the orderly disposition of the proceeding, including disclosure of the documents or other physical exhibits which will be introduced in evidence in the course of the proceeding.
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Unless otherwise specified in this title, the rules in this subpart B of this part apply to hearings that HUD is required by statute to conduct pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 554
The following definitions apply to subpart B of this part:
The ALJ shall conduct a fair and impartial hearing, avoid delay, maintain order, and ensure that a record of the proceeding is made. The ALJ is authorized to:
(a) Set and change the date, time, and place of the hearing upon reasonable notice to the parties;
(b) Continue or recess the hearing in whole or in part for a reasonable period of time;
(c) Hold conferences to identify or simplify the issues, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the proceeding;
(d) Administer oaths and affirmations;
(e) Issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents at depositions or at hearings;
(f) Rule on motions and other procedural matters;
(g) Regulate the scope and timing of discovery;
(h) Regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of representatives and parties;
(i) Examine witnesses;
(j) Receive, rule on, exclude, or limit evidence;
(k) Upon motion of a party, take official notice of facts;
(l) Upon motion of a party, decide cases, in whole or in part, by summary judgment where there is no disputed issue of material fact;
(m) Conduct any conference, argument, or hearing on motions in person or by telephone; and
(n) Exercise such other authority as is necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the ALJ under subpart B of this part.
No party or person (except employees of the ALJ's office) shall communicate in any way with the ALJ on any matter at issue in a case, unless on notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. This provision does not prohibit a person or party from inquiring about the status of a case or asking routine questions concerning administrative functions or procedures.
(a) An ALJ in a particular case may disqualify himself or herself.
(b) A party may file with the ALJ a motion for the ALJ's disqualification. The motion shall be accompanied by an affidavit alleging the grounds for disqualification.
(c) Upon the filing of a motion and affidavit, the ALJ shall proceed no further in the case until the matter of disqualification is resolved.
(a)
(b)
(1) Be accompanied, represented, and advised by a representative;
(2) Participate in any conference held by the ALJ;
(3) Conduct discovery;
(4) Agree to stipulations of fact or law, which shall be made part of the record;
(5) Present evidence relevant to the issues at the hearing;
(6) Present and cross-examine witnesses;
(7) Present oral arguments at the hearing as permitted by the ALJ; and
(8) Submit written briefs and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law after the hearing, as permitted by the ALJ.
No officer, employee, or agent of the Federal Government engaged in the performance of investigative, conciliatory, or prosecutorial functions in connection with the proceeding shall, in that proceeding or any factually related proceeding under subpart B of this part, participate or advise in the decision of the administrative law judge, except as a witness or counsel during the proceeding, or in its appellate review.
(a) In computing any period of time under subpart B of this part, the time period begins the day following the act, event, or default, and includes the last day of the period, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(a) The ALJ may sanction a person, including any party or representative, for failing to comply with an order, rule, or procedure governing the proceeding; failing to prosecute or defend an action; or engaging in other misconduct that interferes with the speedy, orderly, or fair conduct of the hearing.
(b) Any sanction, including but not limited to those listed in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section, shall reasonably relate to the severity and nature of the failure or misconduct.
(c)
(1) Draw an inference in favor of the requesting party with regard to the information sought;
(2) In the case of requests for admission, regard each matter about which an admission is requested to be admitted;
(3) Prohibit the party failing to comply with the order from introducing evidence concerning, or otherwise relying upon, testimony relating to the information sought; or
(4) Strike any part of the pleadings or other submissions of the party failing to comply with the order.
(d) If a party fails to prosecute or defend an action brought under subpart B of this part, the ALJ may dismiss the action or may issue an initial decision against the respondent.
(e) The ALJ may refuse to consider any motion, request, response, brief, or other document that is not filed in a timely fashion.
An action under subpart B of this part shall commence with the Government's filing of a complaint, together with the response thereto, as those terms are defined in § 26.28, with the Chief Docket Clerk. If the respondent fails to submit a response to the Office of General Counsel or such other office as designated in the complaint, then the Government may file a motion for a default judgment, together with a copy of the complaint, in accordance with § 26.39.
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a) The ALJ may schedule prehearing conferences as appropriate.
(b) Upon the motion of any party, the ALJ shall schedule at least one prehearing conference at a reasonable time in advance of the hearing.
(c) The ALJ may consider the following at a prehearing conference:
(1) Simplification of the issues;
(2) Stipulations of fact and of the authenticity, accuracy, and admissibility of documents;
(3) Submission of the case on briefs in lieu of an oral hearing;
(4) Limitation of the number of witnesses;
(5) The exchange of witness lists and of proposed exhibits;
(6) Discovery;
(7) The time and place for the hearing; and
(8) Such other matters as may tend to expedite the fair and just disposition of the proceedings.
(a) Parties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter involved in the adjudication, whether it relates to the case or defense of the party seeking discovery or to the case or defense of any other party. It is not grounds for objection that the information sought will be inadmissible at the hearing, if such information appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
(b) Discovery in Program Fraud Civil Remedies actions (24 CFR part 28), unless agreed to by the parties, shall be available only as ordered by the ALJ. The party opposing discovery shall have 10 days to respond to a motion for discovery. The ALJ shall grant a motion for discovery only if he or she finds that discovery is necessary for the expeditious, fair, and reasonable consideration of the issues, is not unduly costly or burdensome, will not unduly delay the proceeding, and does not seek privileged information. The ALJ may grant discovery subject to a protective order under § 26.43. The request for approval sent to the Attorney General from the General Counsel or designee, as described in § 28.20 of this title, is not discoverable under any circumstances.
(c) The following types of discovery are authorized:
(1) Requests for production of documents for inspection and copying. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to require the creation of a document.
(2) Requests for admissions.
(3) Written interrogatories. Such interrogatories shall be limited in number to 25, unless otherwise ordered by the ALJ.
(4) Depositions.
(d)
(e) Each party shall bear its own costs of discovery.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(a) A party, a prospective witness, or a deponent may file a motion for a protective order with respect to discovery sought by an opposing party or with respect to the hearing, seeking to limit the availability or disclosure of evidence.
(b) In issuing a protective order, the ALJ may issue any order that justice requires to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense, as provided in Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, testimony at the hearing shall be given orally by witnesses under oath or affirmation.
(b) At the discretion of the ALJ, testimony may be admitted in the form of a written statement or deposition. In order to be admissible, any written statement must be provided to all other parties along with the last known address of the witness, in a manner that allows sufficient time for other parties to subpoena the witness for cross-examination at the hearing.
The ALJ shall admit any relevant oral or documentary evidence that is not privileged. The ALJ may, however, exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by confusion of the issues, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.
The hearing will be recorded and transcribed. The transcript of testimony, exhibits, and other evidence admitted at the hearing and all papers and requests filed in the proceeding constitute the record for the decision by the ALJ and the Secretary or designee.
Posthearing briefs shall be filed only upon order by the ALJ.
(a) The ALJ shall issue an initial decision based only on the record, which shall contain findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the relief granted.
(b) The ALJ shall serve the initial decision on all parties within 60 days after either the close of the record or the expiration of time permitted for submission of posthearing briefs, whichever is later. The initial decision shall include a statement of each party's right to file a request for Secretarial review. The ALJ may extend the 60-day period for serving the initial decision in writing for good cause.
(c) If no appeal is timely filed with the Secretary or designee, the initial decision shall become the final agency action.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, either party may file with the Secretary a petition for review within 30 days after the ALJ issues an initial decision. The Secretary or designee may extend the 30-day period for good cause. If the Secretary or designee does not act upon the petition for review within 90 days of its service, then the initial decision shall become final.
(b) Appeals of Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act decisions (24 CFR part 28). Only the respondent may file a petition for Secretarial review. The petition must be filed within 30 days after the ALJ issues the initial decision. The Secretary or designee may extend the 30-day period for good cause. If the Secretary or designee does not act upon the petition for review within 30 days of its service, then the initial decision shall become final.
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h) There is no right to appear personally before the Secretary or designee.
(i) There is no right to appeal any interlocutory ruling by the ALJ.
(j) In reviewing the initial decision, the Secretary or designee shall not consider any objection that was not raised before the ALJ unless a demonstration is made of extraordinary circumstances causing the failure to raise the objection.
(k) The Secretary or designee shall consider only evidence contained in the record forwarded by the ALJ. However, if any party demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary or designee that additional evidence not presented at the hearing is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to present such evidence at such hearing, the Secretary or designee shall remand the matter to the ALJ for consideration of such additional evidence.
(l) The prohibitions of ex parte contacts in § 26.30 shall apply to contacts with the Secretary or designee.
(m) The Secretary or designee may affirm, reduce, reverse, compromise, remand, or settle any relief granted in the initial decision. The Secretary or designee shall consider, and include in any final determination, such factors as may be set forth in applicable statutes or regulations.
(n) The Secretary or designee shall promptly serve each party to the appeal with a copy of his or her decision and a statement describing the right to seek judicial review.
(o)
In order to fulfill the requirement of exhausting administrative remedies, a party must seek Secretarial review under § 26.50 prior to seeking judicial review of any initial decision issued under subpart B of this part.
Judicial review shall be in accordance with applicable statutory procedures and the procedures of the appropriate Federal court. The Government may not seek judicial review of an adverse determination of a Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act matter.
Collection of civil penalties and assessments shall be in accordance with applicable statutory provisions.
The amount of any penalty or assessment that has become final under § 26.49, or for which a judgment has been entered after action under §§ 26.52 or 26.53, or agreed upon in a compromise or settlement among the parties, may be collected by administrative offset under 31 U.S.C. 3716 or other applicable law. In Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act matters, an administrative offset may not be collected against a refund of an overpayment of Federal taxes then or later owing by the United States to the respondent.