(a) Service—(1) Service by the Office of Hearings and Appeals. The Office of Hearings and Appeals shall serve all notices, orders, decisions and other such documents by mail to each party and amicus curiae at the last known address.

(2) Service by others. A copy of each filed document shall be served on each party and each amicus curiae. Service shall be made upon counsel if a party is represented by counsel. Service on counsel shall constitute service on the party. Service may be made to the last known address by first-class mail or other more expeditious means, such as:

(i) Hand delivery to the person to be served or a person of suitable age and discretion at the place of business, residence, or usual place of abode of the person to be served;

(ii) Overnight delivery; or

(iii) Facsimile transmission or electronic means. The ALJ may place appropriate limits on service by facsimile transmission or electronic means.

(3) Certificate of service. Every document served shall be accompanied by a certificate of service containing a statement as to the date of service, the method of service, the parties served and the address at which they were served, which is signed and dated by the person making service.

(b) Filing—(1) Method. All documents shall be filed with the Docket Clerk. Filing may be by first class mail, delivery, facsimile transmission, or electronic means; however, the ALJ may place appropriate limits on filing by facsimile transmission or electronic means.

(2) Form. Every pleading, motion, brief, or other document shall contain a caption setting forth the title of the proceeding, the docket number assigned by the Office of Hearings and Appeals, and the designation of the type of document (e.g., charge, motion).

(3) Signature. Every document filed by a party shall be signed by the party or the party's attorney and must include the signer's address and telephone number. The signature constitutes a certification that: the signer has read the document; to the best of the signer's knowledge, information and belief, the statements made therein are true; and the document is not interposed for delay.

(a) In computing time under this part, the time period begins the day following the act, event, or default and includes the last day of the period, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday observed by the Federal Government, in which case the time period includes the next business day.

(b) Modification of time periods. Except for time periods required by statute, the ALJ may enlarge or reduce any time period required under this part where necessary to avoid prejudicing the public interest or the rights of the parties. Requests for extension of time should set forth the reasons for the request.

(c) Entry of orders. In computing any time period involving the date of the ALJ's issuance of an order or decision, the date of issuance is the date of service by the Docket Clerk.

(d) Computation of time for delivery by mail. When documents are filed by mail, three days shall be added to the prescribed time period for filing any responsive pleading. Documents are not filed until received by the Docket Clerk.

(e) Untimely filing. The ALJ may refuse to consider any motion or other document that is not filed in a timely fashion.

(a) Filing and service. Within 3 days after the issuance of a charge, the General Counsel shall file the charge with the Docket Clerk and serve copies (with the additional information required under paragraph (b) of this section) on all respondents and aggrieved persons.

(b) Contents. The charge shall consist of a short and plain written statement of the facts upon which reasonable cause has been found to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur. A notification shall be served with the charge containing the following information:

(1) Any complainant, respondent, or aggrieved person may elect to have the claims asserted in the charge decided in a civil action under 42 U.S.C. 3612(o), in lieu of an administrative proceeding under this part.

(2) Such election must be made not later than 20 days after receipt of service of the charge by serving written notice of such on the Docket Clerk, each respondent, each aggrieved person on whose behalf the charge was issued, the Assistant Secretary, and the General Counsel.

(3) If no person timely elects to have the claims asserted in the charge decided in a civil action under 42 U.S.C. 3612(o), an administrative proceeding will be conducted under this part.

(4) If an administrative hearing is conducted:

(i) The hearing will be held at a date and place specified.

(ii) The respondent will have an opportunity to file an answer to the charge within 30 days after service of the charge.

(iii) The aggrieved person may participate as a party to the administrative proceeding by filing a request for intervention within 50 days after service of the charge.

(iv) All discovery must be concluded 15 days before the date set for hearing.

(v) The rules in this part will govern the proceeding.

(5) If, at any time following service of the charge on the respondent, the respondent intends to enter into a contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease with any person regarding the property that is the subject of the charge, the respondent must provide a copy of the charge to such person before the respondent and the person enter into the contract, sale, encumbrance or lease.

(c) Election of judicial determination. If the complainant, the respondent, or the aggrieved person on whose behalf a complaint was filed makes a timely election to have the claims asserted in the charge decided in a civil action under 42 U.S.C. 3612(o), the administrative proceeding shall be dismissed.

(d) Effect of a civil action on administrative proceeding. An ALJ may not continue an administrative proceeding under the Fair Housing Act after the beginning of the trial of a civil action commenced by the aggrieved person under an act of Congress or a State law seeking relief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice. If such a trial is commenced, the ALJ shall dismiss the administrative proceeding. The commencement and maintenance of a civil action for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief under 42 U.S.C. 3610(e) or 42 U.S.C. 3613 does not affect administrative proceedings under this part.

(a) Filing and service. Within 10 days after a recipient/applicant has requested a hearing, as provided for in 24 CFR parts 1, 6, 8, or 146, the General Counsel shall file a notice of proposed adverse action with the Docket Clerk and serve copies (with the additional information required under paragraph (b) of this section) on all respondents and complainants.

(b) Contents. The notice of proposed adverse action shall consist of a short and plain written statement of the facts and legal authority upon which the proposed action is based. A notification shall be served with the notice containing the following information:

(1) That an administrative hearing will be held at a date and place specified.

(2) That the respondent will have an opportunity to file an answer to the notice of adverse action within 30 days after its service.

(3) That the complainant may participate as an amicus curiae by filing a timely request to do so.

(4) That discovery must be concluded by a date specified.

(5) That the rules specified in this part shall govern the proceeding.

(c) Consolidation. The ALJ may provide for non-Fair Housing Act proceedings at HUD to be joined or consolidated for hearing with proceedings in other Federal departments or agencies, by agreement with such other departments or agencies. All parties to any proceeding consolidated subsequent to service of the notice of proposed adverse action shall be promptly served with notice of such consolidation.

(a) Within 30 days after service of the charge or notice of proposed adverse action, a respondent may file an answer. The answer shall include:

(1) A statement that the respondent admits, denies, or does not have and is unable to obtain sufficient information to admit or deny, each allegation made. A statement of lack of information shall have the effect of a denial. Any allegation that is not denied shall be deemed to be admitted.

(2) A statement of each affirmative defense and a statement of facts supporting each affirmative defense.

(b) Failure to file an answer within the 30-day period following service of the charge or notice of proposed adverse action shall be deemed an admission of all matters of fact recited therein and may result in the entry of a default decision.

(a) By right. HUD may amend the charge or notice of proposed adverse action once as a matter of right prior to the filing of the answer.

(b) By leave. Upon such conditions as are necessary to avoid prejudicing the public interest and the rights of the parties, the ALJ may allow amendments to pleadings upon a motion of a party.

(c) Conformance to the evidence. When issues not raised by the pleadings are reasonably within the scope of the original charge or notice of proposed adverse action and have been tried by the express or implied consent of the parties, the issues shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings, and amendments may be made as necessary to make the pleading conform to evidence.

(d) Supplemental pleadings. The ALJ may, upon reasonable notice, permit supplemental pleadings concerning transactions, occurrences or events that have happened or been discovered since the date of the pleadings and which are relevant to any of the issues involved.

(a) Motions. Any application for an order or other request shall be made by a motion which, unless made during an appearance before the ALJ, shall be in writing and shall state the specific relief requested and the basis therefor. Motions made during an appearance before the ALJ shall be stated orally and made a part of the transcript. All parties shall be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to written or oral motions or requests.

(b) Responses to written motions. Within seven calendar days after a written motion is served, any party to the proceeding may file a response in support of, or in opposition to, the motion. Unless otherwise ordered by the ALJ, no further responsive documents may be filed. Failure to file a response within the response period constitutes a waiver of any objection to the granting of the motion.

(c) Oral argument. The ALJ may order oral argument on any motion.

(a) Before the commencement of the hearing, the ALJ may direct the parties to file prehearing statements.

(b) The prehearing statement must state the name of the party presenting the statement and, unless otherwise directed by the ALJ, briefly set forth the following:

(1) The issues involved in the proceeding;

(2) The facts stipulated by the parties and a statement that the parties have made a good faith effort to stipulate to the greatest extent possible;

(3) The facts in dispute;

(4) The witnesses (together with a summary of the testimony expected) and exhibits to be presented at the hearing;

(5) A brief statement of applicable law;

(6) Conclusions to be drawn;

(7) Estimated time required for presentation of the party's case; and

(8) Such other information as may assist in the disposition of the proceeding.

(a) Before the commencement of or during the course of the hearing, the ALJ may direct the parties to participate in a conference to expedite the hearing. Failure to attend a conference may constitute a waiver of all objections to the agreements reached at the conference and to any order with respect thereto.

(b) During the conference, the ALJ may dispose of any procedural matters on which he/she is authorized to rule. At the conference, the following matters may be considered:

(1) Pre-trial motions;

(2) Identification, simplification and clarification of the issues;

(3) Necessary amendments to the pleadings;

(4) Stipulations of fact and of the authenticity, accuracy, and admissibility of documents;

(5) Limitations on the number of witnesses;

(6) Negotiation, compromise, or settlement of issues;

(7) The exchange of proposed exhibits and witness lists;

(8) Matters of which official notice will be requested;

(9) Scheduling actions discussed at the conference; and

(10) Such other matters as may assist in the disposition of the proceeding.

(c) Conferences may be conducted by telephone or in person, but generally shall be conducted by telephone, unless the ALJ determines that this method is inappropriate. The ALJ shall give reasonable notice of the time, place and manner of the conference.

(d) Record of conference. Unless otherwise directed by the ALJ, the conference will not be stenographically recorded. The ALJ will reduce the actions taken at the conference to a written order or, if the conference takes place less than seven days before the beginning of the hearing, may make a statement at the hearing and on the record summarizing the actions taken at the conference.

(a) Appointment of settlement judge. The ALJ, upon the motion of a party or upon his or her own motion, may request the Chief Administrative Law Judge to appoint another ALJ to conduct settlement negotiations. The order shall direct the settlement judge to report to the presiding ALJ within specified time periods.

(b) Duties of settlement judge. (1) The settlement judge shall convene and preside over conferences and settlement negotiations between the parties and assess the practicalities of a potential settlement.

(2) The settlement judge shall report to the presiding ALJ describing the status of the settlement negotiations, evaluating settlement prospects, and recommending the termination or continuation of the settlement negotiations.

(c) Termination of settlement negotiations. Settlement negotiations shall terminate upon the order of the presiding ALJ issued after consultation with the settlement judge. The conduct of settlement negotiations shall not unduly delay the commencement of the hearing.

At any time before a final decision is issued, the parties may submit to the ALJ an agreement resolving the charge or notice of proposed adverse action. A charge under the Fair Housing Act can only be resolved with the agreement of the aggrieved person on whose behalf the charge was issued. If the agreement is in the public interest, the ALJ shall accept it by issuing an initial decision and consent order based on the agreement.