Conferences

Section 1 Section 1.42  Conferences a)         The respondent or the respondent's attorney may request verbally or in writing a conference with the Department and its administrative law judge at any time prior to or during the course of a hearing.  The administrative law judge shall direct the parties or their attorneys to appear at a specific time and place for a conference when it appears that one or more of the following may be accomplished: 1)         the simplification of issues; 2)         the necessity or desirability of amending the pleadings for the purposes of clarification, amplification or limitation; 3)         the possibility of making admissions of certain facts or stipulations concerning the use of either or both parties of matters of public record to avoid unnecessary introduction of proof; 4)         the limitation of the number of witnesses; 5)         the propriety of prior mutual exchange between or among the parties of prepared testimony and exhibits; and 6)         such other matters as may aid in the simplification of the evidence and disposition of the proceeding. b)         Action taken at a conference shall be recorded in a memorandum prepared and certified by the administrative law judge.