[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR33.10]

[Page 76]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
PART 33--PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 33.10  Default upon failure to file an answer.

    (a) If the defendant does not file an answer within the time 
prescribed in Sec. 33.9(a), the reviewing official may refer the 
complaint to the ALJ.
    (b) Upon the referral of the complaint, the ALJ shall promptly serve 
on defendant in the manner prescribed in Sec. 33.8, a notice that an 
initial decision will be issued under this section.
    (c) The ALJ shall assume the facts alleged in the complaint to be 
true and, if those facts establish liability under Sec. 33.3, the ALJ 
shall issue an initial decision imposing the maximum amount of penalties 
and assessments allowed under the statute.
    (d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, by failing to file 
a timely answer the defendant waives any right to further review of the 
penalties and assessments imposed under paragraph (c) of this section, 
and the initial decision becomes final and binding upon the parties 30 
days after it is issued.
    (e) If, before such an initial decision becomes final, the defendant 
files a motion with the ALJ seeking to reopen on the grounds that 
extraordinary circumstances prevented the defendant from filing an 
answer, the initial decision must be stayed pending the ALJ's decision 
on the motion.
    (f) If, on such a motion, the defendant can demonstrate 
extraordinary circumstances excusing the failure to file a timely 
answer, the ALJ shall withdraw the initial decision under paragraph (c) 
of this section, if such a decision has been issued, and shall grant the 
defendant an opportunity to answer the complaint.
    (g) A decision of the ALJ denying a defendant's motion under 
paragraph (e) of this section is not subject to reconsideration under 
Sec. 33.38.
    (h) The defendant may appeal to the Department head the decision 
denying a motion to reopen by filing a notice of appeal with the 
Department head within 15 days after the ALJ denies the motion. The 
timely filing of a notice of appeal stays the initial decision until the 
Department head decides the issue.
    (i) If the defendant files a timely notice of appeal with the 
Department head, the ALJ shall forward the record of the proceeding to 
the Department head.
    (j) The Department head decides expeditiously whether extraordinary 
circumstances excuse the defendant's failure to file a timely answer 
based solely on the record before the ALJ.
    (k) If the Department head decides that extraordinary circumstances 
excuse the defendant's failure to file a timely answer, the Department 
head remands the case to the ALJ with instructions to grant the 
defendant an opportunity to answer.
    (l) If the Department head decides that the defendant's failure to 
file a timely answer is not excused, the Department head reinstates the 
initial decision of the ALJ, which becomes final and binding upon the 
parties 30 days after the Department head issues that decision.

(Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3809)