45.40—What are the requirements for prehearing conferences?
(a) Initial prehearing conference.
The ALJ will conduct an initial prehearing conference with the parties at the time specified in the docketing notice under § 45.30, on or about the 20th day after issuance of the referral notice under § 45.25(c).
(i)
To identify, narrow, and clarify the disputed issues of material fact and exclude issues that do not qualify for review as factual, material, and disputed;
(ii)
To consider the parties' motions for discovery under § 45.41 and to set a deadline for the completion of discovery;
(iv)
To discuss the submission of written testimony, briefs, or other documents in electronic form; and
(b) Other conferences.
The ALJ may in his or her discretion direct the parties to attend one or more other prehearing conferences, if consistent with the need to complete the hearing process within 90 days. Any party may by motion request a conference.
(c) Notice.
The ALJ must give the parties reasonable notice of the time and place of any conference. A conference will ordinarily be held by telephone, unless the ALJ orders otherwise.
(d) Preparation.
(1)
Each party's representative must be fully prepared for a discussion of all issues properly before the conference, both procedural and substantive. The representative must be authorized to commit the party that he or she represents respecting those issues.
(2)
Before the date set for the initial prehearing conference, the parties' representatives must make a good faith effort:
(e) Failure to attend.
Unless the ALJ orders otherwise, a party that fails to attend or participate in a conference, after being served with reasonable notice of its time and place, waives all objections to any agreements reached in the conference and to any consequent orders or rulings.
(g) Order.
Within 2 days after the conclusion of each conference, the ALJ must issue an order that recites any agreements reached at the conference and any rulings made by the ALJ during or as a result of the conference.