* Privacy Policy

1. Agency Notice of Action. When an Agency initiates a proceeding against a Person regarding an Agency action or intended action, the Agency shall provide the Person with notice of the action or an order to show cause why the action should not be taken. The notice or order shall state the reason for the action. It shall specify in numbered paragraphs the specific facts relied upon as the basis for the action, the statute(s) or regulations authorizing the Agency to take action, and, in the case of a notice, any right to request an Adjudicatory Proceeding.
2. Claim for Adjudicatory Proceeding. Any Person with the right to initiate an Adjudicatory Proceeding may file a notice of claim for an Adjudicatory Proceeding with the Agency within the time prescribed by statute or Agency rule. In the absence of a prescribed time, the notice of claim must be filed within 30 days from the date that the Agency notice of action is sent to a Party.
3. Form and Content of Claims. The notice of claim for an Adjudicatory Proceeding shall identify the basis for the claim. The notice shall state clearly and concisely the facts upon which the Party is relying as grounds, the relief sought and any additional information required by statute or Agency rule.
4. Answer.

1. Answer to Claim. Except as statute or Agency rule may otherwise prescribe, within 21 days of receipt of a notice of claim for an Adjudicatory Proceeding, a Respondent shall file an answer to the initiating pleading. The answer shall contain full, direct and specific answers. The answer shall admit, deny, further explain, or state that the Respondent has insufficient knowledge to answer with specificity the initiating Party's allegations or claims. An allegation of inability to admit or deny for lack of information shall be treated as a denial. The answer shall also contain all affirmative defenses which the Respondent claims and may cite any supporting statute or regulation. All allegations contained in an initiating pleading which are neither admitted nor denied in the answer shall be deemed denied.
2. Answer to Order to Show Cause. Except as statute or Agency rule may otherwise prescribe, within 21 days of receipt of an order to show cause, a Respondent shall file an answer thereto. The answer shall contain full, direct and specific answers. The answer shall admit, deny, further explain, or state that the Respondent has insufficient knowledge to answer with specificity the initiating Party's allegations or claims. An allegation of inability to admit or deny for lack of information shall be treated as a denial. The answer shall also contain all affirmative defenses which the Respondent claims and may cite any supporting statute or regulation. All allegations contained in an initiating pleading which are neither admitted nor denied in the answer shall be deemed denied.

5. Agency Answer. An Agency shall not be required to file an answer if, at the time the Agency took the action being appealed, the Agency disclosed to the Petitioner the material facts on which the Agency relied in taking such action and the statutes and/or regulations which authorized or required the Agency to take such action.
6. Joinder of Additional Parties and Amendments of Pleadings. If a Person is later joined or allowed to intervene, or allowed as a substitute Party, the Presiding Officer, upon his or her own initiative or upon the motion of any Party, may establish reasonable times for the filing of pleadings or other documents by any additional Party. The Presiding Officer may allow the amendment of any pleading previously filed by a Party upon conditions just to all Parties, and may order any Party to file an Answer or other pleading, or to reply to any pleading.
7. Withdrawal. Any Party may, by motion, apply to withdraw a claim, a defense, or a request for action or for review, upon terms established by Agency rule, or which the Presiding Officer may allow in fairness to all Parties.

Division of Administrative Law Appeals    133 Portland Street, 3rd floor    Boston, MA 02114
Telephone  (617) 727-7060    Fax  (617) 727-7248