[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR209.313]

[Page 30]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 209--RAILROAD SAFETY ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart D--Disqualification Procedures
 
Sec. 209.313  Discovery.

    (a) Disqualification proceedings shall be conducted as expeditiously 
as possible with due regard to the rights of the parties. Discovery is 
designed to enable a party to obtain relevant information needed for 
preparation of the party's case. These regulations are intended to 
provide a simple, timely, and relatively economical system for 
discovery. They shall be interpreted and applied so as to avoid delay 
and facilitate adjudication of the case.
    (b) Discovery may be obtained by requests for admission under 
Sec. 209.6, requests for production of documentary or other tangible 
evidence under Sec. 209.7, and depositions under Sec. 209.8.
    (c) A party may initiate the methods of discovery permitted under 
paragraph (b) of this section at any time after respondent requests a 
hearing under Sec. 209.311.
    (d) Discovery shall be completed within 90 days after receipt of 
respondent's request for a hearing under Sec. 209.311. Upon motion for 
good cause shown, the presiding officer may extend this time period for 
an additional 30 days. The presiding officer may grant an additional 30 
day extension only when the party requesting the extension shows by 
clear and convincing evidence that the party was unable to complete 
discovery within the prescribed time period through no fault or lack of 
due diligence of such party, and that denial of the request would result 
in irreparable prejudice.
    (e) If a party fails to comply with a discovery order or an order to 
compel, the presiding officer may:
    (1) Strike any appropriate part of the pleadings or other 
submissions of the party failing to comply with such order;
    (2) Prohibit the party failing to comply with such order from 
introducing evidence relating to the information sought;
    (3) Draw an inference in favor of the requesting party with regard 
to the information sought; and
    (4) Permit the requesting party to introduce secondary evidence 
concerning the information sought.