Title 14

SECTION 13.208

13.208 Complaint.

§ 13.208 Complaint.

(a) Filing. The agency attorney shall file the original and one copy of the complaint with the hearing docket clerk, or may file a written motion pursuant to § l3.218(f)(2)(i) of this subpart instead of filing a complaint, not later than 20 days after receipt by the agency attorney of a request for hearing. The agency attorney should suggest a location for the hearing when filing the complaint.

(b) Service. An agency attorney shall personally deliver or mail a copy of the complaint on the respondent, the president of the corporation or company named as a respondent, or a person designated by the respondent to accept service of documents in the civil penalty action.

(c) Contents. A complaint shall set forth the facts alleged, any regulation allegedly violated by the respondent, and the proposed civil penalty in sufficient detail to provide notice of any factual or legal allegation and proposed civil penalty.

(d) Motion to dismiss allegations or complaint. Instead of filing an answer to the complaint, a respondent may move to dismiss the complaint, or that part of the complaint, alleging a violation that occurred on or after August 2, 1990, and more than 2 years before an agency attorney issued a notice of proposed civil penalty to the respondent.

(1) An administrative law judge may not grant the motion and dismiss the complaint or part of the complaint if the administrative law judge finds that the agency has shown good cause for any delay in issuing the notice of proposed civil penalty.

(2) If the agency fails to show good cause for any delay, an administrative law judge may dismiss the complaint, or that part of the complaint, alleging a violation that occurred more than 2 years before an agency attorney issued the notice of proposed civil penalty to the respondent.

(3) A party may appeal the administrative law judge's ruling on the motion to dismiss the complaint or any part of the complaint in accordance with § 13.219(b) of this subpart.

[Amdt. 13-21, 55 FR 27575, July 3, 1990, as amended by Amdt. 13-22, 55 FR 31176, Aug. 1, 1990]

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