Prehearing conferences.

§ 17.21 Prehearing conferences. (a) The presiding officer may schedule prehearing conferences as appropriate. (b) Upon the motion of any party, the presiding officer shall schedule at least one prehearing conference at a reasonable time in advance of the hearing. (c) The presiding officer may use a prehearing conference to discuss the following: (1) Simplification of the issues; (2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, including the need for a more definite statement; (3) Stipulations and admissions of fact as to the contents and authenticity of documents; (4) Whether the parties can agree to submission of the case on a stipulated record; (5) Whether a party chooses to waive appearance at an oral hearing and to submit only documentary evidence (subject to the objection of the other party) and written argument; (6) Limitation of the number of witnesses; (7) Scheduling dates for the exchange of witness lists and of proposed exhibits; (8) Discovery and scheduling dates for completion of discovery; (9) The date, time, and place for the hearing; and (10) Such other matters as may tend to expedite the fair and just disposition of the proceedings. (d) The presiding officer shall issue an order containing all matters agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the presiding officer at a prehearing conference.