950 CMR 10.07
Motions.
(a) General Requirements.
1. Presentation/Objection to Motion. An application to the Presiding Officer should be made
by motion. Motions may be made in writing at any time after the commencement of an
Adjudicatory Proceeding, or they may be made orallyduringa hearing. Each motion shall set
forth the grounds for the desired order or action and state whether a hearing is desired. Unless
otherwise ordered by the Presiding Officer, a party opposing a motion must file its response
within 14 days after service of the motion. Any party may request a hearing on the motion.
The Presiding Officer may, in his discretion, grant or deny a request for hearing. A request for
hearing may be denied on any of the following grounds: oral argument or testimony would not
substantially advance the PresidingOfficer's understanding of the issues, a delay in deciding the
motion until hearing would severely prejudice a party, or a hearing would not be in the public
interest.
2. Action on Motions. The Presiding Officer shall, if he determines a hearing on the motion
is warranted, give at least three days notice of the time and place for hearing. The Presiding
Officer may grant requests for continuances or may in the event of unexcused absence of a
Party permit the hearing to proceed, and the unexcused Party's motion or objections will be
regarded as submitted. The Presiding Officer may act on a motion when all Parties have
responded thereto, or the deadline for response has passed, whichever comes first.
3. Factual Basis. The Parties may offer at a hearing on the motion only such evidence as is
relevant to the particular motion. This evidence may consist of facts which are presented orally
bysworn testimony, supported by affidavit, or which appear in records, files, depositions, or
answers to interrogatories.
(b) Motion for More Definite Statement. If a pleading to which a responsive pleading is required
is so vague or ambiguous that a Party cannot reasonably frame a responsive pleading, the
responding Party may within the time permitted for such responsive pleading, move for a more
definite statement before filing its responsive pleading. The motion shall set forth the defects
complained of and the details desired. If the motion is granted, the more definite statement shall
be filed within ten days of the notice of the order being sent or within such other time as may be
ordered.
(c) Motion to Strike. A Party may move to strike, or the Presiding Officer on its own motion may
strike from any pleading any insufficient allegation or defense or any redundant, immaterial,
impertinent or scandalous matter.
(d) Motion to Dismiss. Any Party may move to dismiss for failure of the other Party to prosecute
or to comply with these rules or with any order of the Division or Presiding Officer. Upon
completion by the initiating Partyofthe presentationof evidence, the responding Party may move
to dismiss on the grounds that, upon the facts and/or the law, the Division has not sustained its case.
The Presiding Officer may act upon the motion then, or may wait until the close of all the evidence.
(e) Motion for Decision on the Pleadings. After the pleadings are closed, and within such time
as not to delay the proceedings, any Party may move for judgment on the pleadings. If matters
outside the pleadings are presented, the motion shall be treated as one for summary decision.
(f) Motion for Summary Decision. Any Party may with or without supporting affidavits move for
summary decision in his favor, as to all or part of a matter. If the motion is granted as to part of
the matter and further proceedings are necessary to decide the remaining issues, a hearingshallso
be held.
(g) Briefs. The Presiding Officer may direct that the parties brief any issue presented by a motion
or a pleading or a party may upon motion request that the presiding officer direct briefing of any
appropriate issue presented.
(h) SubstitutionofParties. The Presiding Officer may, on motion, at any time in the course ofan
Adjudicatory Proceeding, permit such substitution of Parties as justice orconvenience mayrequire.
(i) Consolidation of Proceedings. In such cases as there are multiple Adjudicatory Proceedings
and where these Adjudicatory Proceedings involve common issues, a Party shall notify the
Presiding Officer of this fact, stating with particularity the common issues, and the Presiding Officer
may in his discretion consolidate the proceedings.