Sec.17-210a-19. Pre-hearing conferences

(a) Informal dispositions. The commissioner may call and hold conferences to consider simplifying, clarifying or joining issues, and disposing of any action by consent order or license, unless prohibited by statute. Within a reasonable time prior to any such conference, the commissioner shall notify the parties of it. If the parties who attend the conference agree to a disposition of the action, the commissioner shall issue a consent order or license which shall embody the terms of such disposition, and which shall be a final decision of the department.

(b) Pre-hearing conferences. The commissioner may direct the parties to appear at specified times and places for conferences to consider (1) simplification and clarification of issues for hearing; (2) consolidation or joinder of parties; (3) stipulations and admissions of fact and of documents; (4) limitation of expert witnesses, exchange of lists of witnesses and summaries of testimony, and other steps to expedite the presentation of evidence; and (5) such other matters as may aid in the orderly disposition of the hearing. The commissioner shall notify the parties of the date, time, and place of the conference. Following any conference, the commissioner may enter an order which (1) recites the action taken at the conference, and any agreements made by the parties as to any of the matters considered; (2) states the issues for the hearing; (3) consolidates parties at hearing; or (4) otherwise aids in the orderly disposition of the hearing. Any such order shall control the subsequent course of the action unless modified by the commissioner for good cause.

(Effective April 13, 1978)