Removal of a claim proceeding and Depositions. Documents in a foreign language. Motions. AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 502 issued under 40 Stat. 411, as amended, 69 Stat. 562; 50 U.S.C. App. 1-40; 22 U.S.C. 1631. E.O. 9193. July 6, 1942, 7 F.R. 5205, 3 CFR, 1943 Cum. Supp.; E.O. 9725, May 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 5381, 3 CFR, 1946 Supp.; E.O. 9788, Oct. 14, 1946, 11 F.R. 11981, 3 CFR, 1946 Supp.; E.O. 10254, June 15, 1951, 16 F.R. 5829, 3 CFR 1951 Supp.; E.O. 10644, Nov. 7, 1955, 20 FR. 8363, 3 CFR, 1955 Supp. Sec. 502.10 502.16 502.17 502.18 502.19 502.20 502.21 502.22 502.23 502.24 502.27 502.28 502.29 502.30 502.31 502.100 502.101 502.102 502.103 Withdrawal of papers. Proposed findings and conclusions. Review of the Hearing Examiner's recommended decision. Computation of time. Continuances and extensions. Filing of claim as condition prece dent to suit under the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended. Effect of disallowance of claim in determining period of limitations for filing suit under the Trading With the Enermy Act, as amended. Subpart B-Title Claims Definitions. Order of processing. Procedure for allowance without hearing. Requirement for hearing. 502.104 Hearing calendar. 502.105 National interest under the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended. 502.106 Publication of notice of intention to return vested property under the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended. 502.107 Revocation of notice of intention to return vested property under the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended. SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 502 appear at 25 F.R. 2152, Mar. 16, 1960. Subpart A-General Rules § 502.1 Scope of part. (a) Sections 502.1 to 502.31 shall be applicable solely to title and to debt claims. (b) Sections 502.100 to 502.110 shall be applicable solely to title claims. (c) Sections 502.200 to 502.205 shall be applicable solely to debt claims. (d) Section 502.300 shall be applicable to all claims other than title and debt claims as defined in § 502.2 (e) and (f). § 502.2 Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) The term "act" means the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, or the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended. The term "section" refers to a section of either act. (b) the term "Office" means the Office of Alien Property. (c) The term "rules" means the rules of the Office set forth in this part. (d) The term "Director" means the Director, Office of Alien Property, or other person duly authorized to perform his functions. (e) The term "title claim" means a claim under section 9(a) of the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, filed more than two years after the date of vesting in or transfer to the Alien Property Custodian or Attorney General of the property or interest in respect of which the claim is made, or a claim under section 32 of the Act, as amended, or under section 207(b) of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended. (f) The term "debt claim" means a claim under section 34 of the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, or section 208(a) of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended. (g) The term "claim" refers to a title claim or a debt claim and shall include the Notice of Claim form, any amendment thereto, and such other material as may have been filed by the claimant with respect to the claim. (h) The term "excepted claim" means (1) any title claim which involves the return of assets having a value of $50,000 or more, and any debt claim in the amount of $50,000 or more; (2) any title claim which the Director finds will, as a practical matter, control the disposition of related title claims involving, with the principal claim, assets having a value of $50,000 or more; and any debt claim which the Director finds will, as a practical matter control the disposition of related debt claims in the aggregate amount, including the principal claim, of $50,000 or more; (3) any title claim or debt claim presenting a novel question of law or a question of policy which, in the opinion of the Director, should receive the personal attention of the Attorney General. (i) The term "non-excepted claim" shall mean any claim other than an "excepted claim." (j) The term "claimant" means the person in whose behalf a claim is filed. (k) The term "claim proceeding" means the administrative processing of a claim and includes the claim. (1) The term "parties" includes the claimant on the one hand and the Chief of the Claims Section on the other. (m) The term "vested property" means any property or interest vested in or transferred to the Alien Property Custodian or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to the act (other than any property or interest so acquired by the United States prior to December 18, 1941), or the net proceeds thereof. (n) The term "filing" means receipt by the Office or appropriate officer or employee thereof. (o) The term "Chief Hearing Examiner" refers to the hearing examiner designated as such by the Director. (p) The term "docketed claim" means a claim which has been referred by the Director or the Chief of the Claims Section to the Chief Hearing Examiner for hearing and has been given a docket number. (q) The term "hearing" means the proceedings upon a docketed claim. § 502.3 Indispensable party. The Chief of the Claims Section shall be a necessary party in all claims proceedings. § 502.4 Appearance.1 (a) A claimant may appear in a claim proceeding in person or may be represented by an agent, attorney in fact or at law. A member of a partnership may represent the partnership; an officer of a corporation, trust or association may represent the corporation, trust or association, and an officer or employee of a federal, state or territorial agency, office or department may represent the agency, office or department. (b) Any person appearing in a claim proceeding in a representative capacity may be required to file a power of attorney showing his authority to act in such capacity. (a) Claims shall be filed on forms authorized or prescribed by the rules of this Office. (b) Subject to the provisions of sections 33 and 34 of the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, or sections 208(b) and 210 of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, the Director or the Chief of the Claims Section may expressly waive the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section. § 502.7 Amendment and withdrawal of claim. (a) Subject to the provisions of sections 33 and 34(b) of the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, or sections 208(b) and 210 of the International 1 CROSS REFERENCE: For limitations on reprepresentative activities, see § 505.60 of this chapter. For powers of attorney see §505.1 (d) of this chapter. Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, the claimant may amend his claim prior to hearing or after the opening of a hearing in a claim proceeding by consent of the Chief of the Claims Section or as allowed by the Hearing Examiner or the Director. (b) The claimant may at any time withdraw his claim by notice in writing to that effect. § 502.8 Order for hearing. The Director, or the Hearing Examiner in any docketed claim proceeding, may issue an order for hearing. In fixing the time for hearing, due regard shall be given to the status of the claim proceeding and the convenience of the parties. The order shall specify the time, place, and nature of the hearing. The order shall be served on all parties a reasonable time, but not less than ten (10) days in advance of the hearing, unless the parties shall agree to a shorter time. § 502.9 Designation of Hearing Examiner. Prior to a hearing, a Hearing Examiner shall be designated by the Chief Hearing Examiner. § 502.10 Removal of a claim proceeding and hearing by the Director. The Director may personally conduct a hearing and may exercise the other functions appropriate to the Hearing Examiner. The Director at any stage of a claim proceeding before a Hearing Examiner, may remove the claim proceeding from the Hearing Examiner. Decisions of the Director under this section shall first be issued in tentative form and the Director shall fix a time within which all parties may submit exceptions and briefs with reference thereto and after which he shall render his final decision. In the case of non-excepted claims, this decision shall be the decision of the Office. In the case of excepted claims, the Director shall deliver a copy of this decision to the Attorney General immediately upon its issuance, together with the record and all exceptions and briefs. Such decision shall become the decision of the Office unless within 60 days from the date thereof the Attorney General by order directs review thereof. An order for review shall fix a time within which the parties may submit exceptions and briefs with reference to the decision of the Director. After the expiration of such time the Attorney General shall render a final decision which shall be the decision of the Office. The decision of the Attorney General shall be returned to the Director for service on all parties and for the Director's further action in accordance with the rules in this part. § 502.11 Pre-hearing conferences. (a) At any time after a claim has been docketed with the Chief Hearing Examiner and prior to hearing, the Hearing Examiner may arrange for the parties to appear before him at a designated time and place for the purpose of determining the issues between the parties and obtaining admissions or stipulations with respect to any matters, records, or documents which will be relied upon by any party at the hearing. (b) At the conclusion of the conference, the Hearing Examiner shall prepare an order setting forth the issue or issues to be determined at the hearing and describing the matters, records, or documents which the parties have admitted or stipulated. Such order shall be presented to each of the parties for their approval and when approved by them shall be made a part of the record in the claim proceeding and shall be conclusive as to the action embodied therein. § 502.12 Consolidation of claims. The Director, the Chief Hearing Examiner, or the designated Hearing Examiner, may, where such action will expedite the disposition of claims and further the ends of justice, consolidate docketed claims. (a) All hearings, except hearings before the Director, shall be conducted by a Hearing Examiner. At any time prior to a hearing, a Hearing Examiner may be designated to take the place of the Hearing Examiner previously designated to conduct the hearing. In the case of the death, illness, disqualification or unavailability of the Hearing Examiner presiding in any claim proceeding, another Hearing Examiner may be designated to take his place. Hearing Examiners shall, so far as practicable, be assigned to cases in rotation. (b) The Hearing Examiner may withdraw from a case when he deems himself disqualified or he may be withdrawn by the Director after affidavits alleging personal bias or other disqualifications have been filed with the Director and the matter has been considered by the Director or by a Hearing Examiner upon referral by the Director. (c) Hearings shall be open to the public unless otherwise ordered by the Director or the Hearing Examiner. (d) Subject to the rules of this Office, including this part, Hearing Examiners presiding at hearings shall have the hearing powers set forth in section 7(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act. (e) Hearing Examiners shall act independently in the performance of their duties as examiners and perform no duties inconsistent with their duties and responsibilities as examiners. Save to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte matters, no Hearing Examiner shall consult any person or party as to any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. (f) The claimant shall be the moving party and shall have the burden of proof on all the issues involved in the claim proceeding. The claimant shall proceed first at the hearing. (g) A presumption of the accuracy and the validity of the findings in a vesting order as to ownership of the property immediately prior to vesting shall be operative in all claims. Such findings shall be deemed accurate and valid unless contested or put in issue by a party, in which event such party shall have the burden of proving his allegations as to ownership of the property involved immediately prior to vesting. (h) Any party and the Hearing Examiner shall have the right and power to call examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce into the record documentary or other evidence. (i) In a claim proceeding, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law and equity shall not be controlling. However, it shall be the policy to exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence. (j) Any record, document, or other writing, or any portion thereof, from the files of any foreign industrial, business or commercial enterprise, or from the official files of a foreign government, or any subdivision or agency thereof, shall, if otherwise relevant, be admissible in evidence in a claim proceeding as competent evidence of the matters therein contained, when authenticated by a certificate of an investigator of this Office or any other agency of the United States, or by a duly designated representative of the allied military or civilian authority 86-023-68-12 of occupation, stating that such record, document or other writing came from the files of such enterprise, or from the official files of such foreign government. All circumstances in the making of such record, document or writing, as well as the lack of opportunity for cross-examination shall be considered by the Attorney General, the Director or the Hearing Examiner in determining its weight, but shall not affect its admissibility. A copy of such record, document or writing shall be equally admissible as the original when accompanied by a certificate of any of the persons hereinabove designated, stating that it conforms to the original. The methods of authentication provided for in this rule shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, other methods of authentication. (k) All investigative reports, affidavits, or other written statements of persons that reside at a distance of more than 100 miles from the place of a hearing or are otherwise unavailable as witnesses, when signed by an investigator of this Office or any other agency of the United States, or by the person making such affidavit or statement, shall be accepted as evidence and made a part of the record in a claim proceeding. All circumstances in the making of such investigative report, affidavit, or other written statement, as well as the lack of opportunity for cross-examination shall be considered by the Attorney General, the Director or the Hearing Examiner in determining its weight, but shall not affect its admissibility. A copy of any investigative report shall be equally admissible as the original when accompanied by a statement of an official of this Office or other agency of the United States that it is a copy of such report. (1) In the discretion of the Hearing Examiner, the hearing may be adjourned from day to day or adjourned to a later date or to a different place by announcement thereof at the hearing by the Hearing Examiner or by appropriate notice. (m) In the discretion of the Hearing Examiner, any witness may be excluded until he is called upon to testify. Contemptuous conduct at any hearing before a Hearing Examiner shall be ground for exclusion from the hearing. Failure or refusal of a witness to appear at any such hearing or to answer any question which has been ruled to be proper may be ground for the striking out of all testimony which may have been previously given by such witness on related matters. (n) Hearings shall be stenographically reported by a reporter designated by the Director or Chief Hearing Examiner and a transcript of such report shall be a part of the record and the sole official transcript of the proceeding. Such transcript shall include a verbatim report of the hearings. Nothing shall be omitted therefrom except as directed on the record by the Director or the Hearing Examiner. Corrections in the official transcript may be made with the consent of the Hearing Examiner to make it conform to the evidence presented at the hearing. Parties desiring copies of the transcript may obtain such copies from the official reporter upon payment of the fees fixed therefor. (0) Hearings may be waived by the parties and the claim submitted to the Hearing Examiner, or to the Director, with his consent, on a stipulated record or an agreed statement of facts. (a) Witnesses shall be examined orally under oath or affirmation, to be administered by the Hearing Examiner, except that for good cause testimony may be taken by deposition. (b) Witnesses summoned before the Director or the Hearing Examiner shall be paid the same fees and mileage which are paid witnesses in the Courts of the United States. Witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witnesses appear. § 502.15 Subpoenas. (a) The Director, or in the case of any docketed claim the Chief Hearing Examiner or the Hearing Examiner, shall upon application by any party, and upon a showing of general relevance and reasonable scope of the evidence sought, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath, including books, records, correspondence or documents. Application for the issuance of subpoenas duces tecum shall specify the books, records, correspondence or other documents sought. (b) The Director, Chief Hearing Examiner or the Hearing Examiner before issuing any subpoena, may require a deposit of an amount adequate to cover the fees and mileage involved. § 502.16 Depositions. such deposition should be taken, the name and residence of the witness the matters concerning which it is expected the witness will testify, and the time and place proposed for the taking of the deposition. Thereupon, the Director, or in the case of a docketed claim the Chief Hearing Examiner or the Hearing Examiner, may, in his discretion, issue an order which will name the witness whose deposition is to be taken, state the scope of the testimony to be taken and specify the time when, the place where, and the officer before whom the witness is to testify. Such order shall be served upon all parties by the Director, the Chief Hearing Examiner, or the Hearing Examiner, as the case may be, a reasonable time in advance of the time fixed for taking testimony. (b) The testimony shall be taken under oath or affirmation and shall be reduced to writing by the officer or under his direction, after which the deposition shall be subscribed by the witness and certified by the officer. (c) Depositions may also be taken and submitted on written interrogatories in substantially the same manner as depositions taken by oral examination. When a deposition is taken upon written interrogatories and cross-interrogatories, none of the parties shall be present or represented, and no person, other than the witness, a stenographic reporter, and the officer shall be present at the examination of the witness, which fact shall be certified by the officer, who shall propound the interrogatories and crossinterrogatories to the witness in their order and reduce the testimony to writing in the witnesses' own words. (d) Where the deposition is taken in a foreign country and the officer designated in the authorization is unavailable, it may be taken before a secretary of an embassy or legation, consul general, consul, vice consul, or consular agent of the United States, or before such person as may be agreed upon by the parties stipulating in writing. (e) A witness whose deposition is taken pursuant to the rules in this part and the officer taking the deposition, unless he be employed by the Office, shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage paid for like service in the Courts of the United States, which fees shall be paid by the party at whose instance the deposition is taken, who may be required to deposit in advance an amount adequate to cover the fees and mileage involved. (a) Any party desiring to take a deposition shall make application therefor in writing, setting forth the reasons why |