Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 33 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part I - Office of the Secretary
Subpart 1 - Departmental Administrative Procedures
Chapter 3 - Adjudications
Section I-353 - Prehearing Order
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. The presiding officer may require, prior to the adjudicatory hearing, that the parties submit a joint proposed prehearing order approved and signed by all parties or their counsel of record. Except as otherwise ordered by the presiding officer, the proposed prehearing order shall set forth the following:
"We hereby certify that we have conferred for the purpose of preparing this joint proposed prehearing order and that we have no objections to the contents of this prehearing order other than those attached hereto pursuant to LAC 33:I.353.B;" and
"IT IS ORDERED that this matter be set for hearing at _________ o'clock _________.m. on the ___________ day of ____________, 20_______ and to continue thereafter until completed."
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PRESIDING OFFICER
B. In the event that the representative or counsel of any party disagrees with the proposed prehearing order, or any part thereof, he shall attach to the order a signed statement of his opposition and reasons therefor but shall, nevertheless, sign the joint proposed prehearing order which shall be deemed to be approved in all respects except those covered in the statement of opposition.
C. The representative or counsel who has certified the prehearing order as submitted to the presiding officer shall attend the prehearing conference and the adjudicatory hearing unless permission is granted by the presiding officer for a substitute to appear. Any counsel or other representative attending the conference shall be knowledgeable of all aspects of the case and shall possess the necessary authority to commit his client, associate counsel, and witnesses regarding changes, stipulations, and hearing dates.
D. At the conclusion of the prehearing conference, the presiding officer shall sign the order setting the case for the adjudicatory hearing, and it shall thereafter be filed in the adjudicatory record. No amendments to the filed prehearing order shall be made prior to the hearing except at the discretion of the presiding officer based upon consent of the parties or for good cause shown.
E. If a party fails to cooperate in preparing or filing a prehearing order, the presiding officer may proceed with the prehearing conference, sign the prehearing order as drafted, continue the prehearing conference, continue the hearing, or limit the party's right to introduce evidence, cross-examine witnesses, argue, or otherwise participate in the adjudicatory hearing.
F. The presiding officer may order such other action as he deems necessary to facilitate the hearing.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq.