12 C.F.R. PART 1780—RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE


Title 12 - Banks and Banking


Title 12: Banks and Banking


PART 1780—RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Section Contents

Subpart A—General Rules

§ 1780.1   Scope.
§ 1780.2   Rules of construction.
§ 1780.3   Definitions.
§ 1780.4   Authority of the Director.
§ 1780.5   Authority of the presiding officer.
§ 1780.6   Public hearings.
§ 1780.7   Good faith certification.
§ 1780.8   Ex parte communications.
§ 1780.9   Filing of papers.
§ 1780.10   Service of papers.
§ 1780.11   Computing time.
§ 1780.12   Change of time limits.
§ 1780.13   Witness fees and expenses.
§ 1780.14   Opportunity for informal settlement.
§ 1780.15   OFHEO's right to conduct examination.
§ 1780.16   Collateral attacks on adjudicatory proceeding.

Subpart B—Prehearing Proceedings

§ 1780.20   Commencement of proceeding and contents of notice of charges.
§ 1780.21   Answer.
§ 1780.22   Amended pleadings.
§ 1780.23   Failure to appear.
§ 1780.24   Consolidation and severance of actions.
§ 1780.25   Motions.
§ 1780.26   Discovery.
§ 1780.27   Request for document discovery from parties.
§ 1780.28   Document subpoenas to nonparties.
§ 1780.29   Deposition of witness unavailable for hearing.
§ 1780.30   Interlocutory review.
§ 1780.31   Summary disposition.
§ 1780.32   Partial summary disposition.
§ 1780.33   Scheduling and prehearing conferences.
§ 1780.34   Prehearing submissions.
§ 1780.35   Hearing subpoenas.

Subpart C—Hearing and Posthearing Proceedings

§ 1780.50   Conduct of hearings.
§ 1780.51   Evidence.
§ 1780.52   Post hearing filings.
§ 1780.53   Recommended decision and filing of record.
§ 1780.54   Exceptions to recommended decision.
§ 1780.55   Review by Director.
§ 1780.56   Exhaustion of administrative remedies.
§ 1780.57   Stays pending judicial review.

Subpart D—Rules of Practice Before the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight

§ 1780.70   Scope.
§ 1780.71   Definitions.
§ 1780.72   Appearance and practice in adjudicatory proceedings.
§ 1780.73   Conflicts of interest.
§ 1780.74   Sanctions.
§ 1780.75   Censure, suspension, disbarment and reinstatement.

Subpart E—Civil Money Penalty Inflation Adjustments

§ 1780.80   Inflation adjustments.
§ 1780.81   Applicability.


Authority:  12 U.S.C. 4501, 4513(b), 4517, 4521, 4631–4641.

Source:  62 FR 68154, Dec. 31, 1997, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General Rules
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Source:  64 FR 72510, Dec. 28, 1999, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1780.1   Scope.
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(a) Types of proceedings governed by these rules. This part prescribes rules of practice and procedure applicable to the following adjudicatory proceedings:

(1) Cease-and-desist proceedings under sections 1371 and 1373, title XIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Pub. L. No. 102–550, entitled The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (1992 Act) (12 U.S.C. 4631 and 4633);

(2) Civil money penalty assessment proceedings under sections 1373 and 1376 of the 1992 Act (12 U.S.C. 4633 and 4636);

(3) Civil money penalty assessment proceedings under section 102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4012a; and

(4) Other adjudications required by statute to be determined on the record after opportunity for hearing, except to the extent otherwise provided for in the regulations specifically governing such an adjudication.

(b) Cease and desist orders. (1) Grounds for instituting proceedings. Sections 1371(a) and (b) of the 1992 Act specify when the Director of OFHEO may issue a notice of charges instituting cease and desist proceedings, to be conducted according to the procedural rules in this part. The Director may issue a notice of charges as described in §1780.20 if the Director determines, or the Director has reasonable cause to believe that, an Enterprise or an executive officer or director thereof has engaged in, or it is about to engage in, any of the following conduct or violations:

(i) For an adequately capitalized Enterprise, any conduct which threatens to cause a significant depletion of the Enterprise's core capital; or for an Enterprise which is not in the adequately capitalized category, any conduct that is likely to result in a material depletion of the Enterprise's core capital;

(ii) Any conduct that may result in the issuance of a cease and desist order that requires an executive officer or director of an Enterprise to make restitution, provide reimbursement, indemnification or guarantee against loss to the Enterprise, where such person was either unjustly enriched or engaged in knowing misconduct likely to cause substantial loss to the Enterprise;

(iii) Any conduct that violates a written agreement entered into by an Enterprise with the Director; or

(iv) Any conduct that violates the 1992 Act, the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1716 et seq.), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), or any regulation, rule, or order under such Acts, or any unsafe and unsound practice (in that it is contrary to prudent standards of operation which might cause loss or damage to the Enterprise, or is likely to cause such loss or damage if continued unabated), or any unsafe and unsound condition, except that the Director may not enforce compliance with housing goals established under subpart B of part 2 of subtitle A of the 1992 Act (12 U.S.C. 4561 through 4567), with section 1336 or 1337 of the 1992 Act (12 U.S.C. 4566 or 4567), or with subsection (m) or (n) of section 309 of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 4566 or 4567), or subsection (e) or (f) of section 307 of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1456(e) or (f)).

(2) Remedial provisions of cease and desist orders. As provided by sections 1371(c) and (d) of the 1992 Act, a cease and desist order issued as set out in §1780.55 may require the Enterprise, or an executive officer or director thereof, to refrain from engaging in conduct or violations specified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section and/or require correction of an unsafe or unsound condition specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, as found by the Director, and may also require the Enterprise, an executive officer, or director thereof to take such action as the Director determines to be appropriate to correct or remedy the conditions resulting from such conduct or violation. This may include, but is not limited to, provisions to:

(i) Require the Enterprise to seek restitution, or to obtain reimbursement, indemnification, or guarantee against loss;

(ii) Require the Enterprise to obtain new capital;

(iii) Restrict asset or liability growth of the Enterprise;

(iv) Require the Enterprise to dispose of any asset involved;

(v) Require the Enterprise to improve design or implementation of internal policies, compliance efforts, internal controls, risk measurement and limits, and management reporting systems;

(vi) Require the Enterprise to employ qualified officers or employees (who may be subject to approval by the Director at the direction of the Director);

(vii) Require the Enterprise, an executive officer or director thereof to adhere to limits on activities or functions; or

(viii) Require the Enterprise to take such other action as the Director determines appropriate.

(3) Restitution and indemnification by executive officers and directors. As part of the affirmative relief described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, section 1371(d)(1) of the 1992 Act provides that the Director may require an executive officer or director of an Enterprise to make restitution or reimbursement to the Enterprise, or to provide indemnification or guarantee against loss, to the extent such person was:

(i) Unjustly enriched in connection with the conduct or violation in question; or

(ii) Engaged in such conduct or violation knowingly, and such conduct or violation caused or would be likely to cause a substantial loss to the Enterprise.

(4) Temporary cease and desist orders. (i) Under sections 1372(a) and (b) of the 1992 Act, if the Director determines that any conduct or violation or threatened conduct or violation described in the notice of charges in cease and desist proceedings described under §1780.20 is likely to cause insolvency, to cause significant depletion of core capital, or to cause other irreparable harm to an Enterprise before proceedings described in this part will be completed, the Director may issue a temporary cease and desist order. Such order may direct the Enterprise, executive officer or director thereof to refrain from the conduct or violation, and to take whatever affirmative action the Director determines to be appropriate to prevent or remedy such insolvency, depletion, or harm pending completion of such cease and desist proceedings.

(ii) In addition, section 1372(c) of the 1992 Act addresses cases in which the Director determines that the books and records of an Enterprise are so incomplete or inaccurate that the Director is unable through normal supervisory processes to determine either the financial condition of the Enterprise or the details or purpose of transactions that may have a material effect on the financial condition of the Enterprise. In connection with issuance of the notice of charges in cease and desist proceedings specified by §1780.20, the Director may issue a temporary order directing the Enterprise to cease the activity or practice that gave rise, whether in whole or in part, to the incomplete or inaccurate state of the records, and may require the Enterprise to take affirmative action to make the records complete and accurate.

(c) Civil money penalties—(1) First tier CMPs. Section 1736 of the 1992 Act authorizes the Director to assess civil money penalties against an Enterprise, in proceedings to be conducted according to the procedural rules in this part. The Director may issue a notice of charges to an Enterprise, as described in §1780.20, to impose money penalties of up to $5,000 (adjusted for inflation as described in §1780.80) for each day that the Enterprise engages in conduct that violates:

(i) The 1992 Act, the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, or any regulation, rule, or order under such Acts, except with regard to housing goals established under subpart B of part 2 of subtitle A of the 1992 Act, with section 1336 or 1337 of the 1992 Act, or with subsection (m) or (n) of section 309 of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, or subsection (e) or (f) of section 307 of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act;

(ii) Any written agreement entered into by the Enterprise with the Director; or

(iii) Any permanent or temporary cease and desist order entered under sections 1371 or 1372 of the 1992 Act, or sections 1365 (12 U.S.C. 4615, setting out supervisory actions applicable to undercapitalized Enterprises) or 1366 (12 U.S.C. 4616, setting out supervisory actions applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions) of the 1992 Act.

(2) Second tier CMPs. The Director may issue a notice of charges to an Enterprise to impose money penalties of up to $25,000 (adjusted for inflation as described in §1780.80) for each day that the Enterprise engages in the following violation or conduct, or to an executive officer or director of an Enterprise to impose money penalties of up to $10,000 (adjusted for inflation as described in §1780.80) for each day such person or persons engages in the following violation or conduct, if the Director finds that the violation or conduct was either part of a pattern of misconduct or involved recklessness and causes or is likely to cause a material loss to the Enterprise:

(i) Any violation described in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section; or

(ii) Any conduct that causes or is likely to cause a loss to the Enterprise.

(3) Third tier CMPs. The Director may issue a notice of charges to an Enterprise to impose money penalties of up to $1,000,000 (adjusted for inflation as described in §1780.80) for each day that the Enterprise engages in a violation or conduct described in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section, or to an executive officer or director of an Enterprise to impose money penalties of up to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation as described in §1780.80) for each day such person or persons engages in such violation or conduct described in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section, if the Director finds that the violation or conduct was knowing and caused or is likely to cause a substantial loss to the Enterprise.

(4) Amount of CMPs. In determining the amount of a civil money penalty within the range of penalties described in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this section, the Director may fashion sanctions in any such amount as deemed to be appropriate taking into consideration such factors as:

(i) The gravity of the violation or conduct;

(ii) Any loss or risk of loss to the Enterprise;

(iii) Any benefits received;

(iv) Any attempts at concealment;

(v) Any history of prior violations or conduct;

(vi) Any related or unrelated previous supervisory actions;

(vii) Any injury to the public;

(viii) Deterrence of future violations or conduct;

(ix) The effect of the penalty on the safety and soundness of the Enterprise;

(x) Any circumstances of hardship upon an executive officer or director;

(xi) Promptness and effectiveness of any efforts to ameliorate the consequences of the violations or conduct; and

(xii) Candor and cooperation after the fact.

(d) Coordination with other supervisory actions. In addition to cease and desist and/or civil money penalty proceedings under this part, the 1992 Act grants the Director other authority to take supervisory action, including requiring mandatory and discretionary supervisory actions against an Enterprise that fails to remain adequately capitalized; appointment of a conservator for an Enterprise; entering into a written agreement the violation of which is actionable through proceedings under this part, or any other formal or informal agreement with an Enterprise as may be deemed by the Director to be appropriate. Under the 1992 Act, the selection of the form of supervisory action is within the Director's discretion, and the selection of one form of action or a combination of actions does not foreclose the Director from pursuing any other supervisory action.

(e) Proceedings against affiliates. Under subtitle C of the 1992 Act, the Director may institute proceedings as described under this part against an affiliate of an Enterprise as well as an executive officer or director of such affiliate. An entity is affiliated with an Enterprise if the entity controls the Enterprise, is controlled by the Enterprise, or is under common control with the Enterprise. For purposes of this part, control means the ability to exercise a controlling influence over the management and policies of the entity or Enterprise, whether it be by ownership of or the power to vote a concentration of any class of voting securities, the ability to elect or appoint members of the board of directors or officers of the entity, or otherwise.

(f) Public nature of proceedings. As described in §1780.6 of this part, all hearings shall be open to the public unless the Director in his discretion determines to the contrary based on public interest. The Director shall also make final orders available to the public, as well as modifications to or terminations thereof, except that the Director may determine in writing to delay public disclosure of such final orders for a reasonable time if immediate disclosure would seriously threaten the financial health or security of the Enterprise.

[66 FR 18043, Apr. 5, 2001]

§ 1780.2   Rules of construction.
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For purposes of this part—

(a) Any term in the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular, if such use would be appropriate;

(b) Any use of a masculine, feminine, or neuter gender encompasses all three, if such use would be appropriate; and

(c) Unless the context requires otherwise, a party's representative of record, if any, may, on behalf of that party, take any action required to be taken by the party.

§ 1780.3   Definitions.
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For purposes of this part, unless explicitly stated to the contrary—

(a) Adjudicatory proceeding means a proceeding conducted pursuant to these rules and leading to the formulation of a final order other than a regulation;

(b) Decisional employee means any member of the Director's or the presiding officer's staff who has not engaged in an investigative or prosecutorial role in a proceeding and who may assist the Director or the presiding officer, respectively, in preparing orders, recommended decisions, decisions and other documents under this subpart.

(c) Director means the Director of OFHEO.

(d) Enterprise means the Federal National Mortgage Association and any affiliate thereof and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and any affiliate thereof.

(e) OFHEO means the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(f) Party means OFHEO and any person named as a party in any notice.

(g) Person means an individual, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, trust, joint venture, pool, syndicate, agency, or other entity or organization.

(h) Presiding officer means an administrative law judge or any other person appointed by the Director under applicable law to conduct a hearing.

(i) Representative of record means an individual who is authorized to represent a person or is representing himself and who has filed a notice of appearance in accordance with §1780.72.

(j) Respondent means any party other than OFHEO.

(k) Violation includes any action (alone or with another or others) for or toward causing, bringing about, participating in, counseling, or aiding or abetting a violation.

(l) The 1992 Act is title XIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Pub. L. No. 102–550, known as the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (1992 Act) (12 U.S.C. 4501–4641).

§ 1780.4   Authority of the Director.
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The Director may, at any time during the pendency of a proceeding, perform, direct the performance of, or waive performance of any act that could be done or ordered by the presiding officer.

§ 1780.5   Authority of the presiding officer.
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(a) General rule. All proceedings governed by this subpart shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. chapter 5. The presiding officer shall have complete charge of the hearing, conduct a fair and impartial hearing, avoid unnecessary delay and assure that a record of the proceeding is made.

(b) Powers. The presiding officer shall have all powers necessary to conduct the proceeding in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section and 5 U.S.C. 556(c). The presiding officer is authorized to—

(1) Set and change the date, time and place of the hearing upon reasonable notice to the parties;

(2) Continue or recess the hearing in whole or in part for a reasonable period of time;

(3) Hold conferences to identify or simplify the issues, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the proceeding;

(4) Administer oaths and affirmations;

(5) Issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, and protective orders, as authorized by this part, and to revoke, quash, or modify such subpoenas;

(6) Take and preserve testimony under oath;

(7) Rule on motions and other procedural matters appropriate in an adjudicatory proceeding, except that only the Director shall have the power to grant any motion to dismiss the proceeding or make a final determination of the merits of the proceeding;

(8) Regulate the scope and timing of discovery;

(9) Regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of representatives and parties;

(10) Examine witnesses;

(11) Receive, exclude, limit, or otherwise rule on evidence;

(12) Upon motion of a party, take official notice of facts;

(13) Recuse himself upon motion made by a party or on his own motion;

(14) Prepare and present to the Director a recommended decision as provided in this part;

(15) To establish time, place and manner limitations on the attendance of the public and the media for any public hearing; and

(16) Do all other things necessary and appropriate to discharge the duties of a presiding officer.

§ 1780.6   Public hearings.
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(a) General rule. All hearings shall be open to the public, unless the Director, in his discretion, determines that holding an open hearing would be contrary to the public interest. The Director may make such determination sua sponte at any time by written notice to all parties.

(b) Motion for closed hearing. Within 20 days of service of the notice of charges, any party may file with the presiding officer a motion for a private hearing and any party may file a pleading in reply to the motion. The presiding officer shall forward the motion and any reply, together with a recommended decision on the motion, to the Director, who shall make a final determination. Such motions and replies are governed by §1780.25.

(c) Filing documents under seal. OFHEO's counsel of record, in his discretion, may file any document or part of a document under seal if such counsel makes a written determination that disclosure of the document would be contrary to the public interest. The presiding officer shall take all appropriate steps to preserve the confidentiality of such documents or parts thereof, including closing portions of the hearing to the public.

§ 1780.7   Good faith certification.
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(a) General requirement. Every filing or submission of record following the issuance of a notice by the Director shall be signed by at least one representative of record in his individual name and shall state that representative's address and telephone number and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all other representatives of record for the person making the filing or submission.

(b) Effect of signature. (1) By signing a document, the representative of record or party certifies that—

(i) The representative of record or party has read the filing or submission of record;

(ii) To the best of his knowledge, information and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, the filing or submission of record is well-grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good faith, nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law; and

(iii) The filing or submission of record is not made for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.

(2) If a filing or submission of record is not signed, the presiding officer shall strike the filing or submission of record, unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant.

(c) Effect of making oral motion or argument. The act of making any oral motion or oral argument by any representative or party shall constitute a certification that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief, formed after reasonable inquiry, his statements are well-grounded in fact and are warranted by existing law or a good faith, nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law and are not made for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.

§ 1780.8   Ex parte communications.
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(a) Definition. (1) Ex parte communication means any material oral or written communication relevant to the merits of an adjudicatory proceeding that was neither on the record nor on reasonable prior notice to all parties that takes place between—

(i) An interested person outside OFHEO (including the person's representative); and

(ii) The presiding officer handling that proceeding, the Director, a decisional employee assigned to that proceeding, or any other person who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process.

(2) A communication that does not concern the merits of an adjudicatory proceeding, such as a request for status of the proceeding, does not constitute an ex parte communication.

(b) Prohibition of ex parte communications. From the time the notice commencing the proceeding is issued by the Director until the date that the Director issues his final decision pursuant to §1780.55, no person referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section shall knowingly make or cause to be made an ex parte communication. The Director, presiding officer, or a decisional employee shall not knowingly make or cause to be made an ex parte communication.

(c) Procedure upon occurrence of ex parte communication. If an ex parte communication is received by any person identified in paragraph (a) of this section, that person shall cause all such written communications (or, if the communication is oral, a memorandum stating the substance of the communication) to be placed on the record of the proceeding and served on all parties. All parties to the proceeding shall have an opportunity, within ten days of receipt of service of the ex parte communication, to file responses thereto and to recommend any sanctions, in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, that they believe to be appropriate under the circumstances.

(d) Sanctions. Any party or representative for a party who makes an ex parte communication, or who encourages or solicits another to make any such communication, may be subject to any appropriate sanction or sanctions imposed by the Director or the presiding officer, including, but not limited to, exclusion from the proceedings and an adverse ruling on the issue that is the subject of the prohibited communication.

(e) Consultations by presiding officer. Except to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte matters as authorized by law, the presiding officer may not consult a person or party on any matter relevant to the merits of the adjudication, unless on notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.

(f) Separation of functions. An employee or agent engaged in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions for OFHEO in a case may not, in that or a factually related case, participate or advise in the decision, recommended decision, or Director review under §1780.55 of the recommended decision, except as witness or counsel in public proceedings.

§ 1780.9   Filing of papers.
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(a) Filing. Any papers required to be filed shall be addressed to the presiding officer and filed with OFHEO, 1700 G Street, NW., Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20552.

(b) Manner of filing. Unless otherwise specified by the Director or the presiding officer, filing shall be accomplished by:

(1) Personal service;

(2) Delivery to the U.S. Postal Service or to a reliable commercial delivery service for same day or overnight delivery;

(3) Mailing by first class, registered, or certified mail; or

(4) Transmission by electronic media, only if expressly authorized by and upon any conditions specified by the Director or the presiding officer. All papers filed by electronic media shall also concurrently be filed in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Formal requirements as to papers filed—(1) Form. All papers must set forth the name, address and telephone number of the representative or party making the filing and must be accompanied by a certification setting forth when and how service has been made on all other parties. All papers filed must be double-spaced and printed or typewritten on 81/2×11-inch paper and must be clear and legible.

(2) Signature. All papers must be dated and signed as provided in §1780.7.

(3) Caption. All papers filed must include at the head thereof, or on a title page, the name of OFHEO and of the filing party, the title and docket number of the proceeding and the subject of the particular paper.

(4) Number of copies. Unless otherwise specified by the Director or the presiding officer, an original and one copy of all documents and papers shall be filed, except that only one copy of transcripts of testimony and exhibits shall be filed.

§ 1780.10   Service of papers.
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(a) By the parties. Except as otherwise provided, a party filing papers or serving a subpoena shall serve a copy upon the representative of record for each party to the proceeding so represented and upon any party not so represented.

(b) Method of service. Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(2) and (d) of this section, a serving party shall use one or more of the following methods of service:

(1) Personal service;

(2) Delivery to the U.S. Postal Service or to a reliable commercial delivery service for same day or overnight delivery;

(3) Mailing by first class, registered, or certified mail; or

(4) Transmission by electronic media, only if the parties mutually agree. Any papers served by electronic media shall also concurrently be served in accordance with the requirements of §1780.9(c).

(c) By the Director or the presiding officer. (1) All papers required to be served by the Director or the presiding officer upon a party who has appeared in the proceeding in accordance with §1780.72 shall be served by any means specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) If a notice of appearance has not been filed in the proceeding for a party in accordance with §1780.72, the Director or the presiding officer shall make service upon the party by any of the following methods:

(i) By personal service;

(ii) If the person to be served is an individual, by delivery to a person of suitable age and discretion at the physical location where the individual resides or works;

(iii) If the person to be served is a corporation or other association, by delivery to an officer, managing or general agent, or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service and, if the agent is one authorized by statute to receive service and the statute so requires, by also mailing a copy to the party;

(iv) By registered or certified mail addressed to the person's last known address; or

(v) By any other method reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

(d) Subpoenas. Service of a subpoena may be made:

(1) By personal service;

(2) If the person to be served is an individual, by delivery to a person of suitable age and discretion at the physical location where the individual resides or works;

(3) If the person to be served is a corporation or other association, by delivery to an officer, managing or general agent, or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service and, if the agent is one authorized by statute to receive service and the statute so requires, by also mailing a copy to the party; or

(4) By registered or certified mail addressed to the person's last known address; or

(5) By any other method reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

(e) Area of service. Service in any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia on any person doing business in any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, or on any person as otherwise permitted by law, is effective without regard to the place where the hearing is held.

(f) Proof of service. Proof of service of papers filed by a party shall be filed before action is taken thereon. The proof of service, which shall serve as prima facie evidence of the fact and date of service, shall show the date and manner of service and may be by written acknowledgment of service, by declaration of the person making service, or by certificate of a representative of record. However, failure to file proof of service contemporaneously with the papers shall not affect the validity of actual service. The presiding officer may allow the proof to be amended or supplied, unless to do so would result in material prejudice to a party.

§ 1780.11   Computing time.
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(a) General rule. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this subpart, the date of the act or event that commences the designated period of time is not included. The last day so computed is included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. When the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday, the period shall run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. Intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays are included in the computation of time. However, when the time period within which an act is to be performed is 10 days or less, not including any additional time allowed for in paragraph (c) of this section, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays are not included.

(b) When papers are deemed to be filed or served. (1) Filing and service are deemed to be effective—

(i) In the case of personal service or same day reliable commercial delivery service, upon actual service;

(ii) In the case of U.S. Postal Service or reliable commercial overnight delivery service, or first class, registered, or certified mail, upon deposit in or delivery to an appropriate point of collection; or

(iii) In the case of transmission by electronic media, as specified by the authority receiving the filing in the case of filing, and as agreed among the parties in the case of service.

(2) The effective filing and service dates specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be modified by the Director or the presiding officer in the case of filing or by agreement of the parties in the case of service.

(c) Calculation of time for service and filing of responsive papers. Whenever a time limit is measured by a prescribed period from the service of any notice or paper, the applicable time limits shall be calculated as follows:

(1) If service was made by first class, registered, or certified mail, or by delivery to the U.S. Postal Service for longer than overnight delivery service, add three calendar days to the prescribed period for the responsive filing.

(2) If service was made by U.S. Postal Service or reliable commercial overnight delivery service, add 1 calendar day to the prescribed period for the responsive filing.

(3) If service was made by electronic media transmission, add one calendar day to the prescribed period for the responsive filing, unless otherwise determined by the Director or the presiding officer in the case of filing, or by agreement among the parties in the case of service.

§ 1780.12   Change of time limits.
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Except as otherwise provided by law, the presiding officer may, for good cause shown, extend the time limits prescribed above or prescribed by any notice or order issued in the proceedings. After the referral of the case to the Director pursuant to §1780.53, the Director may grant extensions of the time limits for good cause shown. Extensions may be granted on the motion of a party after notice and opportunity to respond is afforded all nonmoving parties, or on the Director's or the presiding officer's own motion.

§ 1780.13   Witness fees and expenses.
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Witnesses (other than parties) subpoenaed for testimony or depositions shall be paid the same fees for attendance and mileage as are paid in the United States district courts in proceedings in which the United States is a party, provided that, in the case of a discovery subpoena addressed to a party, no witness fees or mileage shall be paid. Fees for witnesses shall be tendered in advance by the party requesting the subpoena, except that fees and mileage need not be tendered in advance where OFHEO is the party requesting the subpoena. OFHEO shall not be required to pay any fees to or expenses of any witness not subpoenaed by OFHEO.

§ 1780.14   Opportunity for informal settlement.
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Any respondent may, at any time in the proceeding, unilaterally submit to OFHEO's counsel of record written offers or proposals for settlement of a proceeding without prejudice to the rights of any of the parties. No such offer or proposal shall be made to any OFHEO representative other than OFHEO's counsel of record. Submission of a written settlement offer does not provide a basis for adjourning or otherwise delaying all or any portion of a proceeding under this part. No settlement offer or proposal, or any subsequent negotiation or resolution, is admissible as evidence in any proceeding.

§ 1780.15   OFHEO's right to conduct examination.
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Nothing contained in this part limits in any manner the right of OFHEO to conduct any examination, inspection, or visitation of any Enterprise or affiliate, or the right of OFHEO to conduct or continue any form of investigation authorized by law.

§ 1780.16   Collateral attacks on adjudicatory proceeding.
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If an interlocutory appeal or collateral attack is brought in any court concerning all or any part of an adjudicatory proceeding, the challenged adjudicatory proceeding shall continue without regard to the pendency of that court proceeding. No default or other failure to act as directed in the adjudicatory proceeding within the times prescribed in this subpart shall be excused based on the pendency before any court of any interlocutory appeal or collateral attack.

Subpart B—Prehearing Proceedings
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Source:  64 FR 72513, Dec. 28, 1999, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1780.20   Commencement of proceeding and contents of notice of charges.
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Proceedings under this subpart are commenced by the issuance of a notice of charges by the Director, which must be served upon the respondent. Such notice shall state all of the following:

(a) The legal authority for the proceeding and for OFHEO's jurisdiction over the proceeding;

(b) A statement of the matters of fact or law showing that OFHEO is entitled to relief;

(c) A proposed order or prayer for an order granting the requested relief;

(d) The time, place and nature of the hearing;

(e) The time within which to file an answer;

(f) The time within which to request a hearing; and

(g) The address for filing the answer and/or request for a hearing.

§ 1780.21   Answer.
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(a) When. Unless otherwise specified by the Director in the notice, respondent shall file an answer within 20 days of service of the notice.

(b) Content of answer. An answer must respond specifically to each paragraph or allegation of fact contained in the notice and must admit, deny, or state that the party lacks sufficient information to admit or deny each allegation of fact. A statement of lack of information has the effect of a denial. Denials must fairly meet the substance of each allegation of fact denied; general denials are not permitted. When a respondent denies part of an allegation, that part must be denied and the remainder specifically admitted. Any allegation of fact in the notice that is not denied in the answer is deemed admitted for purposes of the proceeding. A respondent is not required to respond to the portion of a notice that constitutes the prayer for relief or proposed order. The answer must set forth affirmative defenses, if any, asserted by the respondent.

(c) Default. Failure of a respondent to file an answer required by this section within the time provided constitutes a waiver of such respondent's right to appear and contest the allegations in the notice. If no timely answer is filed, OFHEO's counsel of record may file a motion for entry of an order of default. Upon a finding that no good cause has been shown for the failure to file a timely answer, the presiding officer shall file with the Director a recommended decision containing the findings and the relief sought in the notice. Any final order issued by the Director based upon a respondent's failure to answer is deemed to be an order issued upon consent.

§ 1780.22   Amended pleadings.
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(a) Amendments. The notice or answer may be amended or supplemented at any stage of the proceeding. The respondent must answer an amended notice within the time remaining for the respondent's answer to the original notice, or within ten days after service of the amended notice, whichever period is longer, unless the Director or presiding officer orders otherwise for good cause shown.

(b) Amendments to conform to the evidence. When issues not raised in the notice or answer are tried at the hearing by express or implied consent of the parties, they will be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the notice or answer, and no formal amendments are required. If evidence is objected to at the hearing on the ground that it is not within the issues raised by the notice or answer, the presiding officer may admit the evidence when admission is likely to assist in adjudicating the merits of the action. The presiding officer will do so freely when the determination of the merits of the action is served thereby and the objecting party fails to satisfy the presiding officer that the admission of such evidence would unfairly prejudice that party's action or defense upon the merits. The presiding officer may grant a continuance to enable the objecting party to meet such evidence.

§ 1780.23   Failure to appear.
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Failure of a respondent to appear in person at the hearing or by a duly authorized representative constitutes a waiver of respondent's right to a hearing and is deemed an admission of the facts as alleged and consent to the relief sought in the notice. Without further proceedings or notice to the respondent, the presiding officer shall file with the Director a recommended decision containing the findings and the relief sought in the notice.

§ 1780.24   Consolidation and severance of actions.
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(a) Consolidation. On the motion of any party, or on the presiding officer's own motion, the presiding officer may consolidate, for some or all purposes, any two or more proceedings, if each such proceeding involves or arises out of the same transaction, occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences, or involves at least one common respondent or a material common question of law or fact, unless such consolidation would cause unreasonable delay or injustice. In the event of consolidation under this section, appropriate adjustment to the prehearing schedule must be made to avoid unnecessary expense, inconvenience, or delay.

(b) Severance. The presiding officer may, upon the motion of any party, sever the proceeding for separate resolution of the matter as to any respondent only if the presiding officer finds that undue prejudice or injustice to the moving party would result from not severing the proceeding and such undue prejudice or injustice would outweigh the interests of judicial economy and expedition in the complete and final resolution of the proceeding.

§ 1780.25   Motions.
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(a) In writing. (1) Except as otherwise provided herein, an application or request for an order or ruling must be made by written motion.

(2) All written motions must state with particularity the relief sought and must be accompanied by a proposed order.

(3) No oral argument may be held on written motions except as otherwise directed by the presiding officer. Written memoranda, briefs, affidavits, or other relevant material or documents may be filed in support of or in opposition to a motion.

(b) Oral motions. A motion may be made orally on the record unless the presiding officer directs that such motion be reduced to writing.

(c) Filing of motions. Motions must be filed with the presiding officer, except that following the filing of a recommended decision, motions must be filed with the Director.

(d) Responses. (1) Except as otherwise provided herein, any party may file a written response to a motion within ten days after service of any written motion, or within such other period of time as may be established by the presiding officer or the Director. The presiding officer shall not rule on any oral or written motion before each party has had an opportunity to file a response.

(2) The failure of a party to oppose a written motion or an oral motion made on the record is deemed a consent by that party to the entry of an order substantially in the form of the order accompanying the motion.

(e) Dilatory motions. Frivolous, dilatory, or repetitive motions are prohibited. The filing of such motions may form the basis for sanctions.

(f) Dispositive motions. Dispositive motions are governed by §§1780.31 and 1780.32.

§ 1780.26   Discovery.
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(a) Limits on discovery. Subject to the limitations set out in paragraphs (b), (d), and (e) of this section, a party to a proceeding under this subpart may obtain document discovery by serving a written request to produce documents. For purposes of a request to produce documents, the term “documents” may be defined to include drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, recordings, data stored in electronic form, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained or translated, if necessary, by the parties through detection devices into reasonably usable form, as well as written material of all kinds.

(b) Relevance. A party may obtain document discovery regarding any matter not privileged that has material relevance to the merits of the pending action. Any request to produce documents that calls for irrelevant material, that is unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, unduly burdensome, or repetitive of previous requests, or that seeks to obtain privileged documents will be denied or modified. A request is unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, or unduly burdensome if, among other things, it fails to include justifiable limitations on the time period covered and the geographic locations to be searched, the time provided to respond in the request is inadequate, or the request calls for copies of documents to be delivered to the requesting party and fails to include the requestor's written agreement to pay in advance for the copying, in accordance with §1780.27.

(c) Forms of discovery. Discovery shall be limited to requests for production of documents for inspection and copying. No other form of discovery shall be allowed. Discovery by use of interrogatories is not permitted. This paragraph shall not be interpreted to require the creation of a document.

(d) Privileged matter. Privileged documents are not discoverable. Privileges include the attorney-client privilege, work-product privilege, any government's or government agency's deliberative process privilege and any other privileges provided by the Constitution, any applicable act of Congress, or the principles of common law.

(e) Time limits. All discovery, including all responses to discovery requests, shall be completed at least 20 days prior to the date scheduled for the commencement of the hearing. No exception to this time limit shall be permitted, unless the presiding officer finds on the record that good cause exists for waiving the requirements of this paragraph.

§ 1780.27   Request for document discovery from parties.
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(a) General rule. Any party may serve on any other party a request to produce for inspection any discoverable documents that are in the possession, custody, or control of the party upon whom the request is served. Copies of the request shall be served on all other parties. The request must identify the documents to be produced either by individual item or by category and must describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. Documents must be produced as they are kept in the usual course of business or they shall be labeled and organized to correspond with the categories in the request.

(b) Production or copying. The request must specify a reasonable time, place and manner for production and performing any related acts. In lieu of inspecting the documents, the requesting party may specify that all or some of the responsive documents be copied and the copies delivered to the requesting party. If copying of fewer than 250 pages is requested, the party to whom the request is addressed shall bear the cost of copying and shipping charges. If a party requests more than 250 pages of copying, the requesting party shall pay for copying and shipping charges. Copying charges are at the current rate per page imposed by OFHEO at §1710.22(b)(2) of this chapter for requests for documents filed under the Freedom of Information Act, 12 U.S.C. 552. The party to whom the request is addressed may require payment in advance before producing the documents.

(c) Obligation to update responses. A party who has responded to a discovery request is not required to supplement the response, unless:

(1) The responding party learns that in some material respect the information disclosed is incomplete or incorrect, and

(2) The additional or corrective information has not otherwise been made known to the other parties during the discovery process or in writing.

(d) Motions to strike or limit discovery requests. (1) Any party that objects to a discovery request may, within ten days of being served with such request, file a motion in accordance with the provisions of §1780.25 to strike or otherwise limit the request. If an objection is made to only a portion of an item or category in a request, the objection shall specify that portion. Any objections not made in accordance with this paragraph and §1780.25 are waived.

(2) The party who served the request that is the subject of a motion to strike or limit may file a written response within five days of service of the motion. No other party may file a response.

(e) Privilege. At the time other documents are produced, all documents withheld on the grounds of privilege must be reasonably identified, together with a statement of the basis for the assertion of privilege. When similar documents that are protected by deliberative process, attorney work-product, or attorney-client privilege are voluminous, these documents may be identified by category instead of by individual document. The presiding officer has discretion to determine when the identification by category is insufficient.

(f) Motions to compel production. (1) If a party withholds any documents as privileged or fails to comply fully with a discovery request, the requesting party may, within ten days of the assertion of privilege or of the time the failure to comply becomes known to the requesting party, file a motion in accordance with the provisions of §1780.25 for the issuance of a subpoena compelling production.

(2) The party who asserted the privilege or failed to comply with the request may, within five days of service of a motion for the issuance of a subpoena compelling production, file a written response to the motion. No other party may file a response.

(g) Ruling on motions. After the time for filing responses to motions pursuant to this section has expired, the presiding officer shall rule promptly on all such motions. If the presiding officer determines that a discovery request or any of its terms calls for irrelevant material, is unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, unduly burdensome, or repetitive of previous requests, or seeks to obtain privileged documents, he may deny or modify the request and may issue appropriate protective orders, upon such conditions as justice may require. The pendency of a motion to strike or limit discovery or to compel production shall not be a basis for staying or continuing the proceeding, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this part, the presiding officer may not release, or order a party to produce, documents withheld on grounds of privilege if the party has stated to the presiding officer its intention to file a timely motion for interlocutory review of the presiding officer's order to produce the documents, until the motion for interlocutory review has been decided.

(h) Enforcing discovery subpoenas. If the presiding officer issues a subpoena compelling production of documents by a party, the subpoenaing party may, in the event of noncompliance and to the extent authorized by applicable law, apply to any appropriate United States district court for an order requiring compliance with the subpoena. A party's right to seek court enforcement of a subpoena shall not in any manner limit the sanctions that may be imposed by the presiding officer against a party who fails to produce or induces another to fail to produce subpoenaed documents.

§ 1780.28   Document subpoenas to nonparties.
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(a) General rules. (1) Any party may apply to the presiding officer for the issuance of a document discovery subpoena addressed to any person who is not a party to the proceeding. The application must contain a proposed document subpoena and a brief statement showing the general relevance and reasonableness of the scope of documents sought. The subpoenaing party shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner for production in response to the subpoena.

(2) A party shall only apply for a document subpoena under this section within the time period during which such party could serve a discovery request under §1780.27. The party obtaining the document subpoena is responsible for serving it on the subpoenaed person and for serving copies on all parties. Document subpoenas may be served in any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or as otherwise provided by law.

(3) The presiding officer shall issue promptly any document subpoena applied for under this section; except that, if the presiding officer determines that the application does not set forth a valid basis for the issuance of the subpoena, or that any of its terms are unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, or unduly burdensome, he may refuse to issue the subpoena or may issue it in a modified form upon such conditions as may be determined by the presiding officer.

(b) Motion to quash or modify. (1) Any person to whom a document subpoena is directed may file a motion to quash or modify such subpoena, accompanied by a statement of the basis for quashing or modifying the subpoena. The movant shall serve the motion on all parties and any party may respond to such motion within ten days of service of the motion.

(2) Any motion to quash or modify a document subpoena must be filed on the same basis, including the assertion of privilege, upon which a party could object to a discovery request under §1780.27 and during the same time limits during which such an objection could be filed.

(c) Enforcing document subpoenas. If a subpoenaed person fails to comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this section or any order of the presiding officer that directs compliance with all or any portion of a document subpoena, the subpoenaing party or any other aggrieved party may, to the extent authorized by applicable law, apply to an appropriate United States district court for an order requiring compliance with the subpoena. A party's right to seek court enforcement of a document subpoena shall in no way limit the sanctions that may be imposed by the presiding officer on a party who induces a failure to comply with subpoenas issued under this section.

§ 1780.29   Deposition of witness unavailable for hearing.
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(a) General rules. (1) If a witness will not be available for the hearing, a party desiring to preserve that witness' testimony for the record may apply in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section to the presiding officer for the issuance of a subpoena, including a subpoena duces tecum, requiring the attendance of the witness at a deposition. The presiding officer may issue a deposition subpoena under this section upon a showing that—

(i) The witness will be unable to attend or may be prevented from attending the hearing because of age, sickness, or infirmity, or will be otherwise unavailable;

(ii) The witness' unavailability was not produced or caused by the subpoenaing party;

(iii) The testimony is reasonably expected to be material; and

(iv) Taking the deposition will not result in any undue burden to any other party and will not cause undue delay of the proceeding.

(2) The application must contain a proposed deposition subpoena and a brief statement of the reasons for the issuance of the subpoena. The subpoena must name the witness whose deposition is to be taken and specify the time and place for taking the deposition. A deposition subpoena may require the witness to be deposed anywhere within the United States and its possessions and territories in which that witness resides or has a regular place of employment or such other convenient place as the presiding officer shall fix.

(3) Subpoenas must be issued promptly upon request, unless the presiding officer determines that the request fails to set forth a valid basis under this section for its issuance. Before making a determination that there is no valid basis for issuing the subpoena, the presiding officer shall require a written response from the party requesting the subpoena or require attendance at a conference to determine whether there is a valid basis upon which to issue the requested subpoena.

(4) The party obtaining a deposition subpoena is responsible for serving it on the witness and for serving copies on all parties. Unless the presiding officer orders otherwise, no deposition under this section shall be taken on fewer than 10 days' notice to the witness and all parties. Deposition subpoenas may be served anywhere within the United States or its possessions or territories on any person doing business anywhere within the United States or its possessions or territories, or as otherwise permitted by law.

(b) Objections to deposition subpoenas. (1) The witness and any party who has not had an opportunity to oppose a deposition subpoena issued under this section may file a motion under §1780.25 with the presiding officer to quash or modify the subpoena prior to the time for compliance specified in the subpoena, but not more than 10 days after service of the subpoena.

(2) A statement of the basis for the motion to quash or modify a subpoena issued under this section must accompany the motion. The motion must be served on all parties.

(c) Procedure upon deposition. (1) Each witness testifying pursuant to a deposition subpoena must be duly sworn and each party shall have the right to examine the witness. Objections to questions or documents must be in short form, stating the grounds for the objection. Failure to object to questions or documents is not deemed a waiver except where the ground for objection might have been avoided if the objection had been presented timely. All questions, answers and objections must be recorded.

(2) Any party may move before the presiding officer for an order compelling the witness to answer any questions the witness has refused to answer or submit any evidence that, during the deposition, the witness has refused to submit.

(3) The deposition must be subscribed by the witness, unless the parties and the witness, by stipulation, have waived the signing, or the witness is ill, cannot be found, or has refused to sign. If the deposition is not subscribed by the witness, the court reporter taking the deposition shall certify that the transcript is a true and complete transcript of the deposition.

(d) Enforcing subpoenas. If a subpoenaed person fails to comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this section or with any order of the presiding officer made upon motion under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the subpoenaing party or other aggrieved party may, to the extent authorized by applicable law, apply to an appropriate United States district court for an order requiring compliance with the portions of the subpoena that the presiding officer has ordered enforced. A party's right to seek court enforcement of a deposition subpoena in no way limits the sanctions that may be imposed by the presiding officer on a party who fails to comply with or induces a failure to comply with a subpoena issued under this section.

§ 1780.30   Interlocutory review.
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(a) General rule. The Director may review a ruling of the presiding officer prior to the certification of the record to the Director only in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.

(b) Scope of review. The Director may exercise interlocutory review of a ruling of the presiding officer if the Director finds that—

(1) The ruling involves a controlling question of law or policy as to which substantial grounds exist for a difference of opinion;

(2) Immediate review of the ruling may materially advance the ultimate termination of the proceeding;

(3) Subsequent modification of the ruling at the conclusion of the proceeding would be an inadequate remedy; or

(4) Subsequent modification of the ruling would cause unusual delay or expense.

(c) Procedure. Any motion for interlocutory review shall be filed by a party with the presiding officer within ten days of his ruling. Upon the expiration of the time for filing all responses, the presiding officer shall refer the matter to the Director for final disposition. In referring the matter to the Director, the presiding officer may indicate agreement or disagreement with the asserted grounds for interlocutory review of the ruling in question.

(d) Suspension of proceeding. Neither a request for interlocutory review nor any disposition of such a request by the Director under this section suspends or stays the proceeding unless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer or the Director.

§ 1780.31   Summary disposition.
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(a) In general. The presiding officer shall recommend that the Director issue a final order granting a motion for summary disposition if the undisputed pleaded facts, admissions, affidavits, stipulations, documentary evidence, matters as to which official notice may be taken and any other evidentiary materials properly submitted in connection with a motion for summary disposition show that—

(1) There is no genuine issue as to any material fact; and

(2) The movant is entitled to a decision in its favor as a matter of law.

(b) Filing of motions and responses. (1) Any party who believes there is no genuine issue of material fact to be determined and that such party is entitled to a decision as a matter of law may move at any time for summary disposition in its favor of all or any part of the proceeding. Any party, within 20 days after service of such motion or within such time period as allowed by the presiding officer, may file a response to such motion.

(2) A motion for summary disposition must be accompanied by a statement of material facts as to which the movant contends there is no genuine issue. Such motion must be supported by documentary evidence, which may take the form of admissions in pleadings, stipulations, written interrogatory responses, depositions, investigatory depositions, transcripts, affidavits and any other evidentiary materials that the movant contends support its position. The motion must also be accompanied by a brief containing the points and authorities in support of the contention of the movant. Any party opposing a motion for summary disposition must file a statement setting forth those material facts as to which such party contends a genuine dispute exists. Such opposition must be supported by evidence of the same type as that submitted with the motion for summary disposition and a brief containing the points and authorities in support of the contention that summary disposition would be inappropriate.

(c) Hearing on motion. At the request of any party or on his own motion, the presiding officer may hear oral argument on the motion for summary disposition.

(d) Decision on motion. Following receipt of a motion for summary disposition and all responses thereto, the presiding officer shall determine whether the movant is entitled to summary disposition. If the presiding officer determines that summary disposition is warranted, the presiding officer shall submit a recommended decision to that effect to the Director, under §1780.53. If the presiding officer finds that the moving party is not entitled to summary disposition, the presiding officer shall make a ruling denying the motion.

§ 1780.32   Partial summary disposition.
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If the presiding officer determines that a party is entitled to summary disposition as to certain claims only, he shall defer submitting a recommended decision to the Director as to those claims. A hearing on the remaining issues must be ordered. Those claims for which the presiding officer has determined that summary disposition is warranted will be addressed in the recommended decision filed at the conclusion of the hearing.

§ 1780.33   Scheduling and prehearing conferences.
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(a) Scheduling conference. Within 30 days of service of the notice or order commencing a proceeding or such other time as the parties may agree, the presiding officer shall direct representatives for all parties to meet with him in person at a specified time and place prior to the hearing or to confer by telephone for the purpose of scheduling the course and conduct of the proceeding. This meeting or telephone conference is called a “scheduling conference.” The identification of potential witnesses, the time for and manner of discovery and the exchange of any prehearing materials including witness lists, statements of issues, stipulations, exhibits and any other materials may also be determined at the scheduling conference.

(b) Prehearing conferences. The presiding officer may, in addition to the scheduling conference, on his own motion or at the request of any party, direct representatives for the parties to meet with him (in person or by telephone) at a prehearing conference to address any or all of the following:

(1) Simplification and clarification of the issues;

(2) Stipulations, admissions of fact and the contents, authenticity and admissibility into evidence of documents;

(3) Matters of which official notice may be taken;

(4) Limitation of the number of witnesses;

(5) Summary disposition of any or all issues;

(6) Resolution of discovery issues or disputes;

(7) Amendments to pleadings; and

(8) Such other matters as may aid in the orderly disposition of the proceeding.

(c) Transcript. The presiding officer, in his discretion, may require that a scheduling or prehearing conference be recorded by a court reporter. A transcript of the conference and any materials filed, including orders, becomes part of the record of the proceeding. A party may obtain a copy of the transcript at such party's expense.

(d) Scheduling or prehearing orders. Within a reasonable time following the conclusion of the scheduling conference or any prehearing conference, the presiding officer shall serve on each party an order setting forth any agreements reached and any procedural determinations made.

§ 1780.34   Prehearing submissions.
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(a) Within the time set by the presiding officer, but in no case later than 10 days before the start of the hearing, each party shall serve on every other party the serving party's—

(1) Prehearing statement;

(2) Final list of witnesses to be called to testify at the hearing, including name and address of each witness and a short summary of the expected testimony of each witness;

(3) List of the exhibits to be introduced at the hearing along with a copy of each exhibit; and

(4) Stipulations of fact, if any.

(b) Effect of failure to comply. No witness may testify and no exhibits may be introduced at the hearing if such witness or exhibit is not listed in the prehearing submissions pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, except for good cause shown.

§ 1780.35   Hearing subpoenas.
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(a) Issuance. (1) Upon application of a party showing general relevance and reasonableness of scope of the testimony or other evidence sought, the presiding officer may issue a subpoena or a subpoena duces tecum requiring the attendance of a witness at the hearing or the production of documentary or physical evidence at such hearing. The application for a hearing subpoena must also contain a proposed subpoena specifying the attendance of a witness or the production of evidence from any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or as otherwise provided by law at any designated place where the hearing is being conducted. The party making the application shall serve a copy of the application and the proposed subpoena on every other party.

(2) A party may apply for a hearing subpoena at any time before the commencement of or during a hearing. During a hearing, a party may make an application for a subpoena orally on the record before the presiding officer.

(3) The presiding officer shall promptly issue any hearing subpoena applied for under this section; except that, if the presiding officer determines that the application does not set forth a valid basis for the issuance of the subpoena, or that any of its terms are unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, or unduly burdensome, he may refuse to issue the subpoena or may issue the subpoena in a modified form upon any conditions consistent with this subpart. Upon issuance by the presiding officer, the party making the application shall serve the subpoena on the person named in the subpoena and on each party.

(b) Motion to quash or modify. (1) Any person to whom a hearing subpoena is directed or any party may file a motion to quash or modify such subpoena, accompanied by a statement of the basis for quashing or modifying the subpoena. The movant must serve the motion on each party and on the person named in the subpoena. Any party may respond to the motion within ten days of service of the motion.

(2) Any motion to quash or modify a hearing subpoena must be filed prior to the time specified in the subpoena for compliance, but no more than 10 days after the date of service of the subpoena upon the movant.

(c) Enforcing subpoenas. If a subpoenaed person fails to comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this section or any order of the presiding officer that directs compliance with all or any portion of a hearing subpoena, the subpoenaing party or any other aggrieved party may seek enforcement of the subpoena pursuant to §1780.28(c). A party's right to seek court enforcement of a hearing subpoena shall in no way limit the sanctions that may be imposed by the presiding officer on a party who induces a failure to comply with subpoenas issued under this section.

Subpart C—Hearing and Posthearing Proceedings
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Source:  64 FR 72518, Dec. 28, 1999, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1780.50   Conduct of hearings.
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(a) General rules. (1) Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. chapter 5 and other applicable law and so as to provide a fair and expeditious presentation of the relevant disputed issues. Except as limited by this subpart, each party has the right to present its case or defense by oral and documentary evidence and to conduct such cross examination as may be required for full disclosure of the facts.

(2) Order of hearing. OFHEO's counsel of record shall present its case-in-chief first, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer or unless otherwise expressly specified by law or regulation. OFHEO's counsel of record shall be the first party to present an opening statement and a closing statement and may make a rebuttal statement after the respondent's closing statement. If there are multiple respondents, respondents may agree among themselves as to their order or presentation of their cases, but if they do not agree, the presiding officer shall fix the order.

(3) Examination of witnesses. Only one representative for each party may conduct an examination of a witness, except that in the case of extensive direct examination, the presiding officer may permit more than one representative for the party presenting the witness to conduct the examination. A party may have one representative conduct the direct examination and another representative conduct re-direct examination of a witness, or may have one representative conduct the cross examination of a witness and another representative conduct the re-cross examination of a witness.

(4) Stipulations. Unless the presiding officer directs otherwise, all documents that the parties have stipulated as admissible shall be admitted into evidence upon commencement of the hearing.

(b) Transcript. The hearing shall be recorded and transcribed. The transcript shall be made available to any party upon payment of the cost thereof. The presiding officer shall have authority to order the record corrected, either upon motion to correct, upon stipulation of the parties, or following notice to the parties upon the presiding officer's own motion.

§ 1780.51   Evidence.
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(a) Admissibility. (1) Except as is otherwise set forth in this section, relevant, material and reliable evidence that is not unduly repetitive is admissible to the fullest extent authorized by the Administrative Procedure Act and other applicable law.

(2) Evidence that would be admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence is admissible in a proceeding conducted pursuant to this subpart.

(3) Evidence that would be inadmissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence may not be deemed or ruled to be inadmissible in a proceeding conducted pursuant to this subpart if such evidence is relevant, material, reliable and not unduly repetitive.

(b) Official notice. (1) Official notice may be taken of any material fact that may be judicially noticed by a United States district court and any material information in the official public records of any Federal or State government agency.

(2) All matters officially noticed by the presiding officer or the Director shall appear on the record.

(3) If official notice is requested of any material fact, the parties, upon timely request, shall be afforded an opportunity to object.

(c) Documents. (1) A duplicate copy of a document is admissible to the same extent as the original, unless a genuine issue is raised as to whether the copy is in some material respect not a true and legible copy of the original.

(2) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, any document, including a report of examination, oversight activity, inspection, or visitation, prepared by OFHEO or by another Federal or State financial institutions regulatory agency is admissible either with or without a sponsoring witness.

(3) Witnesses may use existing or newly created charts, exhibits, calendars, calculations, outlines, or other graphic material to summarize, illustrate, or simplify the presentation of testimony. Such materials may, subject to the presiding officer's discretion, be used with or without being admitted into evidence.

(d) Objections. (1) Objections to the admissibility of evidence must be timely made and rulings on all objections must appear in the record.

(2) When an objection to a question or line of questioning is sustained, the examining representative of record may make a specific proffer on the record of what he expected to prove by the expected testimony of the witness. The proffer may be by representation of the representative or by direct interrogation of the witness.

(3) The presiding officer shall retain rejected exhibits, adequately marked for identification, for the record and transmit such exhibits to the Director.

(4) Failure to object to admission of evidence or to any ruling constitutes a waiver of the objection.

(e) Stipulations. The parties may stipulate as to any relevant matters of fact or the authentication of any relevant documents. Such stipulations must be received in evidence at a hearing and are binding on the parties with respect to the matters therein stipulated.

(f) Depositions of unavailable witnesses. (1) If a witness is unavailable to testify at a hearing and that witness has testified in a deposition in accordance with §1780.29, a party may offer as evidence all or any part of the transcript of the deposition, including deposition exhibits, if any.

(2) Such deposition transcript is admissible to the same extent that testimony would have been admissible had that person testified at the hearing, provided that if a witness refused to answer proper questions during the depositions, the presiding officer may, on that basis, limit the admissibility of the deposition in any manner that justice requires.

(3) Only those portions of a deposition received in evidence at the hearing constitute a part of the record.

§ 1780.52   Post hearing filings.
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(a) Proposed findings and conclusions and supporting briefs. (1) Using the same method of service for each party, the presiding officer shall serve notice upon each party that the certified transcript, together with all hearing exhibits and exhibits introduced but not admitted into evidence at the hearing, has been filed. Any party may file with the presiding officer proposed findings of fact, proposed conclusions of law and a proposed order within 30 days after the parties have received notice that the transcript has been filed with the presiding officer, unless otherwise ordered by the presiding officer.

(2) Proposed findings and conclusions must be supported by citation to any relevant authorities and by page references to any relevant portions of the record. A posthearing brief may be filed in support of proposed findings and conclusions, either as part of the same document or in a separate document.

(3) Any party is deemed to have waived any issue not raised in proposed findings or conclusions timely filed by that party.

(b) Reply briefs. Reply briefs may be filed within 15 days after the date on which the parties' proposed findings and conclusions and proposed order are due. Reply briefs must be limited strictly to responding to new matters, issues, or arguments raised in another party's papers. A party who has not filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law or a posthearing brief may not file a reply brief.

(c) Simultaneous filing required. The presiding officer shall not order the filing by any party of any brief or reply brief supporting proposed findings and conclusions in advance of the other party's filing of its brief.

§ 1780.53   Recommended decision and filing of record.
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(a) Filing of recommended decision and record. Within 45 days after expiration of the time allowed for filing reply briefs under §1780.52(b), the presiding officer shall file with and certify to the Director, for decision, the record of the proceeding. The record must include the presiding officer's recommended decision, recommended findings of fact and conclusions of law, and proposed order; all prehearing and hearing transcripts, exhibits and rulings; and the motions, briefs, memoranda and other supporting papers filed in connection with the hearing. The presiding officer shall serve upon each party the recommended decision, recommended findings and conclusions, and proposed order.

(b) Filing of index. At the same time the presiding officer files with and certifies to the Director, for final determination, the record of the proceeding, the presiding officer shall furnish to the Director a certified index of the entire record of the proceeding. The certified index shall include, at a minimum, an entry for each paper, document or motion filed with the presiding officer in the proceeding, the date of the filing, and the identity of the filer. The certified index shall also include an exhibit index containing, at a minimum, an entry consisting of exhibit number and title or description for: Each exhibit introduced and admitted into evidence at the hearing; each exhibit introduced but not admitted into evidence at the hearing; each exhibit introduced and admitted into evidence after the completion of the hearing; and each exhibit introduced but not admitted into evidence after the completion of the hearing.

§ 1780.54   Exceptions to recommended decision.
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(a) Filing exceptions. Within 30 days after service of the recommended decision, recommended findings and conclusions, and proposed order under §1780.53, a party may file with the Director written exceptions to the presiding officer's recommended decision, recommended findings and conclusions, or proposed order; to the admission or exclusion of evidence; or to the failure of the presiding officer to make a ruling proposed by a party. A supporting brief may be filed at the time the exceptions are filed, either as part of the same document or in a separate document.

(b) Effect of failure to file or raise exceptions. (1) Failure of a party to file exceptions to those matters specified in paragraph (a) of this section within the time prescribed is deemed a waiver of objection thereto.

(2) No exception need be considered by the Director if the party taking exception had an opportunity to raise the same objection, issue, or argument before the presiding officer and failed to do so.

(c) Contents. (1) All exceptions and briefs in support of such exceptions must be confined to the particular matters in or omissions from the presiding officer's recommendations to which that party takes exception.

(2) All exceptions and briefs in support of exceptions must set forth page or paragraph references to the specific parts of the presiding officer's recommendations to which exception is taken, the page or paragraph references to those portions of the record relied upon to support each exception and the legal authority relied upon to support each exception. Exceptions and briefs in support shall not exceed a total of 30 pages, except by leave of the Director on motion.

(3) One reply brief may be submitted by each party within ten days of service of exceptions and briefs in support of exceptions. Reply briefs shall not exceed 15 pages, except by leave of the Director on motion.

§ 1780.55   Review by Director.
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(a) Notice of submission to the Director. When the Director determines that the record in the proceeding is complete, the Director shall serve notice upon the parties that the proceeding has been submitted to the Director for final decision.

(b) Oral argument before the Director. Upon the initiative of the Director or on the written request of any party filed with the Director within the time for filing exceptions under §1780.54, the Director may order and hear oral argument on the recommended findings, conclusions, decision and order of the presiding officer. A written request by a party must show good cause for oral argument and state reasons why arguments cannot be presented adequately in writing. A denial of a request for oral argument may be set forth in the Director's final decision. Oral argument before the Director must be transcribed.

(c) Director's final decision. (1) Decisional employees may advise and assist the Director in the consideration and disposition of the case. The final decision of the Director will be based upon review of the entire record of the proceeding, except that the Director may limit the issues to be reviewed to those findings and conclusions to which opposing arguments or exceptions have been filed by the parties.

(2) The Director shall render a final decision and issue an appropriate order within 90 days after notification of the parties that the case has been submitted for final decision, unless the Director orders that the action or any aspect thereof be remanded to the presiding officer for further proceedings. Copies of the final decision and order of the Director shall be served upon each party to the proceeding and upon other persons required by statute.

§ 1780.56   Exhaustion of administrative remedies.
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To exhaust administrative remedies as to any issue on which a party disagrees with the presiding officer's recommendations, a party must file exceptions with the Director under §1780.54. A party must exhaust administrative remedies as a precondition to seeking judicial review of any decision issued under this subpart.

§ 1780.57   Stays pending judicial review.
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The commencement of proceedings for judicial review of a final decision and order of the Director may not, unless specifically ordered by the Director or a reviewing court, operate as a stay of any order issued by the Director. The Director may, in his discretion and on such terms as he finds just, stay the effectiveness of all or any part of an order of the Director pending a final decision on a petition for review of that order.

Subpart D—Rules of Practice Before the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
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Source:  64 FR 72520, Dec. 28, 1999, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1780.70   Scope.
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This subpart contains rules governing practice by parties or their representatives before OFHEO. This subpart addresses the imposition of sanctions by the presiding officer or the Director against parties or their representatives in an adjudicatory proceeding under this part. This subpart also covers other disciplinary sanctions—censure, suspension or disbarment—against individuals who appear before OFHEO in a representational capacity either in an adjudicatory proceeding under this part or in any other matters connected with presentations to OFHEO relating to a client's or other principal's rights, privileges, or liabilities. This representation includes, but is not limited to, the practice of attorneys and accountants. Employees of OFHEO are not subject to disciplinary proceedings under this subpart.

§ 1780.71   Definitions.
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Practice before OFHEO for the purposes of this subpart, includes, but is not limited to, transacting any business with OFHEO as counsel, representative or agent for any other person, unless the Director orders otherwise. Practice before OFHEO also includes the preparation of any statement, opinion, or other paper by a counsel, representative or agent that is filed with OFHEO in any certification, notification, application, report, or other document, with the consent of such counsel, representative or agent. Practice before OFHEO does not include work prepared for an Enterprise solely at the request of the Enterprise for use in the ordinary course of its business.

§ 1780.72   Appearance and practice in adjudicatory proceedings.
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(a) Appearance before OFHEO or a presiding officer—(1) By attorneys. A party may be represented by an attorney who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia and who is not currently suspended or disbarred from practice before OFHEO.

(2) By nonattorneys. An individual may appear on his own behalf. A member of a partnership may represent the partnership and a duly authorized officer, director, employee, or other agent of any corporation or other entity not specifically listed herein may represent such corporation or other entity; provided that such officer, director, employee, or other agent is not currently suspended or disbarred from practice before OFHEO. A duly authorized officer or employee of any Government unit, agency, or authority may represent that unit, agency, or authority.

(b) Notice of appearance. Any person appearing in a representative capacity on behalf of a party, including OFHEO, shall execute and file a notice of appearance with the presiding officer at or before the time such person submits papers or otherwise appears on behalf of a party in the adjudicatory proceeding. Such notice of appearance shall include a written declaration that the individual is currently qualified as provided in paragraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section and is authorized to represent the particular party. By filing a notice of appearance on behalf of a party in an adjudicatory proceeding, the representative thereby agrees and represents that he is authorized to accept service on behalf of the represented party and that, in the event of withdrawal from representation, he or she will, if required by the presiding officer, continue to accept service until a new representative has filed a notice of appearance or until the represented party indicates that he or she will proceed on a pro se basis. Unless the representative filing the notice is an attorney, the notice of appearance shall also be executed by the person represented or, if the person is not an individual, by the chief executive officer, or duly authorized officer of that person.

§ 1780.73   Conflicts of interest.
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(a) Conflict of interest in representation. No representative shall represent another person in an adjudicatory proceeding if it reasonably appears that such representation may be limited materially by that representative's responsibilities to a third person or by that representative's own interests. The presiding officer may take corrective measures at any stage of a proceeding to cure a conflict of interest in representation, including the issuance of an order limiting the scope of representation or disqualifying an individual from appearing in a representative capacity for the duration of the proceeding.

(b) Certification and waiver. If any person appearing as counsel or other representative represents two or more parties to an adjudicatory proceeding or also represents a nonparty on a matter relevant to an issue in the proceeding, that representative must certify in writing at the time of filing the notice of appearance required by §1780.72—

(1) That the representative has personally and fully discussed the possibility of conflicts of interest with each such party and nonparty;

(2) That each such party and nonparty waives any right it might otherwise have had to assert any known conflicts of interest or to assert any non-material conflicts of interest during the course of the proceeding.

§ 1780.74   Sanctions.
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(a) General rule. Appropriate sanctions may be imposed during the course of any proceeding when any party or representative of record has acted or failed to act in a manner required by applicable statute, regulation, or order, and that act or failure to act—

(1) Constitutes contemptuous conduct. Contemptuous conduct includes dilatory, obstructionist, egregious, contumacious, unethical, or other improper conduct at any phase of any adjudicatory proceeding;

(2) Has caused some other party material and substantive injury, including, but not limited to, incurring expenses including attorney's fees or experiencing prejudicial delay;

(3) Is a clear and unexcused violation of an applicable statute, regulation, or order; or

(4) Has delayed the proceeding unduly.

(b) Sanctions. Sanctions that may be imposed include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:

(1) Issuing an order against a party;

(2) Rejecting or striking any testimony or documentary evidence offered, or other papers filed, by the party;

(3) Precluding the party from contesting specific issues or findings;

(4) Precluding the party from offering certain evidence or from challenging or contesting certain evidence offered by another party;

(5) Precluding the party from making a late filing or conditioning a late filing on any terms that are just;

(6) Assessing reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by any other party as a result of the improper action or failure to act.

(c) Procedure for imposition of sanctions. (1) The presiding officer, on the motion of any party, or on his own motion, and after such notice and responses as may be directed by the presiding officer, may impose any sanction authorized by this section. The presiding officer shall submit to the Director for final ruling any sanction that would result in a final order that terminates the case on the merits or is otherwise dispositive of the case.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no sanction authorized by this section, other than refusing to accept late papers, shall be imposed without prior notice to all parties and an opportunity for any representative or party against whom sanctions would be imposed to be heard. The presiding officer shall determine and direct the appropriate notice and form for such opportunity to be heard. The opportunity to be heard may be limited to an opportunity to respond verbally immediately after the act or inaction in question is noted by the presiding officer.

(3) For purposes of interlocutory review, motions for the imposition of sanctions by any party and the imposition of sanctions shall be treated the same as motions for any other ruling by the presiding officer.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be read to preclude the presiding officer or the Director from taking any other action or imposing any other restriction or sanction authorized by any applicable statute or regulation.

(d) Sanctions for contemptuous conduct. If, during the course of any proceeding, a presiding officer finds any representative or any individual representing himself to have engaged in contemptuous conduct, the presiding officer may summarily suspend that individual from participating in that or any related proceeding or impose any other appropriate sanction.

§ 1780.75   Censure, suspension, disbarment and reinstatement.
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(a) Discretionary censure, suspension and disbarment. (1) The Director may censure any individual who practices or attempts to practice before OFHEO or suspend or revoke the privilege to appear or practice before OFHEO of such individual if, after notice of and opportunity for hearing in the matter, that individual is found by the Director—

(i) Not to possess the requisite qualifications or competence to represent others;

(ii) To be seriously lacking in character or integrity or to have engaged in material unethical or improper professional conduct;

(iii) To have caused unfair and material injury or prejudice to another party, such as prejudicial delay or unnecessary expenses including attorney's fees;

(iv) To have engaged in, or aided and abetted, a material and knowing violation of the 1992 Act, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act or the rules or regulations issued under those statutes or any other law or regulation governing Enterprise operations;

(v) To have engaged in contemptuous conduct before OFHEO;

(vi) With intent to defraud in any manner, to have willfully and knowingly deceived, misled, or threatened any client or prospective client; or

(vii) Within the last 10 years, to have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or breach of trust, if the conviction has not been reversed on appeal. A conviction within the meaning of this paragraph shall be deemed to have occurred when the convicting court enters its judgment or order, regardless of whether an appeal is pending or could be taken and includes a judgment or an order on a plea of nolo contendere or on consent, regardless of whether a violation is admitted in the consent.

(2) Suspension or revocation on the grounds set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) of this section shall only be ordered upon a further finding that the individual's conduct or character was sufficiently egregious as to justify suspension or revocation. Suspension or disbarment under this paragraph shall continue until the applicant has been reinstated by the Director for good cause shown or until, in the case of a suspension, the suspension period has expired.

(3) If the final order against the respondent is for censure, the individual may be permitted to practice before OFHEO, but such individual's future representations may be subject to conditions designed to promote high standards of conduct. If a written letter of censure is issued, a copy will be maintained in OFHEO's files.

(b) Mandatory suspension and disbarment. (1) Any counsel who has been and remains suspended or disbarred by a court of the United States or of any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; any accountant or other licensed expert whose license to practice has been revoked in any State, commonwealth, possession, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; any person who has been and remains suspended or barred from practice before the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, the Federal Housing Finance Board, the Farm Credit Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is also suspended automatically from appearing or practicing before OFHEO. A disbarment or suspension within the meaning of this paragraph shall be deemed to have occurred when the disbarring or suspending agency or tribunal enters its judgment or order, regardless of whether an appeal is pending or could be taken and regardless of whether a violation is admitted in the consent.

(2) A suspension or disbarment from practice before OFHEO under paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall continue until the person suspended or disbarred is reinstated under paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(c) Notices to be filed. (1) Any individual appearing or practicing before OFHEO who is the subject of an order, judgment, decree, or finding of the types set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall file promptly with the Director a copy thereof, together with any related opinion or statement of the agency or tribunal involved.

(2) Any individual appearing or practicing before OFHEO who is or within the last 10 years has been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor that resulted in a sentence of prison term or in a fine or restitution order totaling more than $5,000 shall file a notice promptly with the Director. The notice shall include a copy of the order imposing the sentence or fine, together with any related opinion or statement of the court involved.

(d) Reinstatement. (1) Unless otherwise ordered by the Director, an application for reinstatement for good cause may be made in writing by a person suspended or disbarred under paragraph (a)(1) of this section at any time more than three years after the effective date of the suspension or disbarment and, thereafter, at any time more than one year after the person's most recent application for reinstatement. An applicant for reinstatement under this paragraph (d)(1) may, in the Director's sole discretion, be afforded a hearing.

(2) An application for reinstatement for good cause by any person suspended or disbarred under paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be filed at any time, but not less than 1 year after the applicant's most recent application. An applicant for reinstatement for good cause under this paragraph (d)(2) may, in the Director's sole discretion, be afforded a hearing. However, if all the grounds for suspension or disbarment under paragraph (b)(1) of this section have been removed by a reversal of the order of suspension or disbarment or by termination of the underlying suspension or disbarment, any person suspended or disbarred under paragraph (b)(1) of this section may apply immediately for reinstatement and shall be reinstated by OFHEO upon written application notifying OFHEO that the grounds have been removed.

(e) Conferences—(1) General. Counsel for OFHEO may confer with a proposed respondent concerning allegations of misconduct or other grounds for censure, disbarment or suspension, regardless of whether a proceeding for censure, disbarment or suspension has been commenced. If a conference results in a stipulation in connection with a proceeding in which the individual is the respondent, the stipulation may be entered in the record at the request of either party to the proceeding.

(2) Resignation or voluntary suspension. In order to avoid the institution of or a decision in a disbarment or suspension proceeding, a person who practices before OFHEO may consent to censure, suspension or disbarment from practice. At the discretion of the Director, the individual may be censured, suspended or disbarred in accordance with the consent offered.

(f) Hearings under this section. Hearings conducted under this section shall be conducted in substantially the same manner as other hearings under this part, provided that in proceedings to terminate an existing OFHEO suspension or disbarment order, the person seeking the termination of the order shall bear the burden of going forward with an application and with proof and that the Director may, in the Director's sole discretion, direct that any proceeding to terminate an existing suspension or disbarment by OFHEO be limited to written submissions. All hearings held under this section shall be closed to the public unless the Director, on the Director's own motion or upon the request of a party, otherwise directs.

Subpart E—Civil Money Penalty Inflation Adjustments
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Source:  70 FR 51243, Aug. 30, 2005, unless otherwise noted.

§ 1780.80   Inflation adjustments.
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The maximum amount of each civil money penalty within OFHEO's jurisdiction is adjusted in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note) as follows:

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                   New adjusted maximum     U.S. code citation          Description          penalty amount------------------------------------------------------------------------12 U.S.C. 4636(b)(1)........  First Tier.......                    6,50012 U.S.C. 4636(b)(2)........  Second Tier                         11,000                               (Executive                               Officer or                               Director).12 U.S.C. 4636(b)(2)........  Second Tier                         32,500                               (Enterprise).12 U.S.C. 4636(b)(3)........  Third Tier                         130,000                               (Executive                               Officer or                               Director).12 U.S.C. 4636(b)(3)........  Third Tier                       1,275,000                               (Enterprise).------------------------------------------------------------------------
§ 1780.81   Applicability.
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The inflation adjustments in §1780.80 apply to civil money penalties assessed in accordance with the provisions of 12 U.S.C. 4636 for violations occurring after the effective date, August 30, 2005.
























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