Parties and Representatives

29 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart B
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

29 C.F.R. § 2200.20 Party status.

(a) Affected employees. (1) Affected employees and authorized employee representatives may elect party status concerning any matter in which the Act confers a right to participate. The election shall be accomplished by filing a written notice of election at least 14 days before the hearing. A notice of election filed less than 14 days prior to the hearing is ineffective unless good cause is shown for not timely filing the notice. (2) A notice of election shall be served on all other parties in accordance with § 2200.7. (b) Employees no longer employed by cited employer. An employee of a cited employer who was exposed to or had access to the hazard arising out of the allegedly violative circumstances, conditions, practices, or operations and who is no longer employed by the cited employer is permitted to participate as a party. (c) Employee contest. (1) Where a notice of contest is filed by an employee or by an authorized employee representative with respect to the reasonableness of the period for abatement of a violation, the employer charged with the responsibility of abating the violation may elect party status by a notice filed at least 14 days before the hearing. (2) A notice of election shall be served on all other parties in accordance with § 2200.7.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.21 Intervention; appearance by non-parties.

(a) When allowed. A petition for leave to intervene may be filed at any time prior to 14 days before commencement of the hearing. A petition filed less than 14 days prior to the commencement of the hearing will be denied unless good cause is shown for not timely filing the petition. A petition shall be served on all parties in accordance with § 2200.7. (b) Requirements of petition. (1) The petition shall set forth the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding and show that the participation of the petitioner will assist in the determination of the issues in question and that the intervention will not unduly delay the proceeding. (2) If the petitioner is an employee who is not employed by the cited employer but who performed work at the cited worksite, the petition, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, shall set forth material facts sufficient to demonstrate that the petitioner was exposed to or has access to the hazard arising out of the allegedly violative circumstances, conditions, practices, or operations. (c) Ruling on petition. (1) For petitions filed by an employee, as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the Commission or the Judge shall grant the petition for intervention. (2) For all other petitions, the Commission or the Judge may grant a petition for intervention that meets the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section. (3) An order granting a petition shall specify the extent and terms of an intervenor's participation in the proceedings.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.22 Representation of parties and intervenors.

(a) Representation. Any party or intervenor may appear in person, through an attorney, or through any non-attorney representative. A representative must file an appearance in accordance with § 2200.23. In the absence of an appearance by a representative, a party or intervenor will be deemed to appear for itself. A corporation or unincorporated association may be represented by an authorized officer or agent. (b) Affected employees in collective bargaining unit. Where an authorized employee representative (see § 2200.1(g)) elects to participate as a party, affected employees who are members of the collective bargaining unit may not separately elect party status. If the authorized employee representative does not elect party status, affected employees who are members of the collective bargaining unit may elect party status in the same manner as affected employees who are not members of the collective bargaining unit. See paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Affected employees not in collective bargaining unit. Affected employees who are not members of a collective bargaining unit may elect party status under § 2200.20(a). If more than one employee so elects, the Judge shall provide for them to be treated as one party. (d) Control of proceeding. A representative of a party or intervenor shall be deemed to control all matters respecting the interest of such party or intervenor in the proceeding.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.23 Appearances and withdrawals.

(a) Entry of appearance—(1) General. A representative of a party or intervenor shall enter an appearance by signing the first document filed on behalf of the party or intervenor in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section or subsequently by filing an entry of appearance in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section. (2) Appearance in first document or pleading. If the first document filed on behalf of a party or intervenor is signed by a representative, the representative shall be recognized as representing that party. No separate entry of appearance by the representative is necessary, provided the document contains the information required by § 2200.6. (3) Subsequent appearance. Where a representative has not previously appeared on behalf of a party or intervenor, the representative shall file an entry of appearance with the Executive Secretary, or Judge if the case has been assigned. The entry of appearance shall be signed by the representative and contain the information required by § 2200.6. (b) Withdrawal of counsel. Any counsel or representatives of record desiring to withdraw their appearance, or any parties desiring to withdraw the appearance of their counsel or representatives of record, must file a motion conforming with § 2200.40 with the Commission or the Judge requesting leave to withdraw, showing that prior notice of the motion has been given by the counsel or representative or party to the client or counsel or representative, as the case may be, and providing current contact information for the client, including street address, email address, and phone number. The motion of counsel to withdraw may, in the discretion of the Commission or the Judge, be denied where it is necessary to avoid undue delay or prejudice to the rights of a party or intervenor.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.24 Brief of an amicus curiae.

The brief of an amicus curiae may be filed only by leave of the Commission or the Judge. The brief may be conditionally filed with the motion for leave conforming to § 2200.40. A motion for leave shall identify the interest of the applicant and shall state the reasons why a brief of an amicus curiae is desirable. Any amicus curiae shall file its brief within the time allowed the party whose position the amicus will support unless the Commission or the Judge, for good cause shown, grants leave for later filing. In that event, the Commission or the Judge may specify within what period an opposing party may answer. The brief of an amicus curiae shall conform to § 2200.74 or § 2200.93.

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