; Ex Parte Communications

; Ex Parte Communications. Neither a respondent nor his or her representative shall communicate with the hearing officer directly or indirectly in connection with any issue of fact or law related to a proceeding pending before the Commission, except upon notice and opportunity to all parties to participate. The hearing officer may, with the consent of the parties, confer separately with the parties and/or their lawyers in an effort to mediate or settle a pending matter. This rule shall not preclude: (A) The hearing officer from consulting with Commission counsel concerning any matter before the Commission; or (B) A party or his representative from conferring with the hearing officer or Commission counsel concerning procedural matters that do not involve issues of fact or law related to the proceeding.