Bureau makes changes to procedures for adjudications, with eye to ‘effective, efficient’ proceedings

An updated rule that expands the opportunities for parties in adjudication proceedings to conduct depositions was issued – and became effective – Tuesday by the federal consumer financial protection agency.

According to filings in Tuesday’s Federal Register, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) procedural rule also contains various amendments regarding procedures around adjudication proceedings. Those include: timing and deadlines, the content of answers, the scheduling conference, bifurcation of proceedings, the process for deciding dispositive motions, and requirements for issue exhaustion, as well as other technical changes, the bureau said.

“Overall, the amendments will provide the parties with earlier access to relevant information and also foster greater procedural flexibility, which should ultimately contribute to more effective and efficient proceedings,” the bureau said.

The agency is taking comments on the rule, even though it took effective immediately. Those comments are due April 8.

Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings