100 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 16.25 

(2) Include all documents then avail-

able in the exercise of reasonable dili-
gence, to be offered in support of the 
complaint, and to be served upon all 
persons named in the complaint as per-
sons responsible for the alleged ac-
tion(s) or omission(s) upon which the 
complaint is based; 

(3) Provide a concise but complete 

statement of the facts relied upon to 
substantiate each allegation; and 

(4) Except for complaints filed under 

49 CFR 26.105(c), describe how the com-
plainant was directly and substantially 
affected by the things done or omitted 
to be done by the respondents. 

(c) Unless the complaint is dismissed 

pursuant to § 16.25 or § 16.27, the FAA 
notifies the complainant and respond-
ent in writing within 20 days after the 
date the FAA receives the complaint 
that the complaint has been docketed. 

(d) The respondent shall file an an-

swer within 20 days of the date of serv-
ice of the FAA notification or, if a mo-
tion is filed under § 16.26, within 20 days 
of the date of service of an FAA order 
denying all or part of that motion. 

(e) The complainant may file a reply 

within 10 days of the date of service of 
the answer. 

(f) The respondent may file a rebuttal 

within 10 days of the date of service of 
the complainant’s reply. 

(g) The answer, reply, and rebuttal 

shall, like the complaint, be accom-
panied by supporting documentation 
upon which the parties rely. 

(h) The answer shall deny or admit 

the allegations made in the complaint 
or state that the person filing the doc-
ument is without sufficient knowledge 
or information to admit or deny an al-
legation, and shall assert any affirma-
tive defense. 

(i) The answer, reply, and rebuttal 

shall each contain a concise but com-
plete statement of the facts relied upon 
to substantiate the answers, admis-
sions, denials, or averments made. 

(j) Amendments or supplements to 

the pleadings described in this section 
will not be allowed without showing 
good cause through a motion and sup-
porting documents. 

(k) 

Burden of proof. Except as used in 

subpart F of this part, 

(1) The burden of proof is on the com-

plainant to show noncompliance with 

an Act or any regulation, order, agree-
ment or document of conveyance 
issued under the authority of an Act. 

(2) Except as otherwise provided by 

statute or rule, the proponent of a mo-
tion, request, or order has the burden 
of proof. 

(3) A party who has asserted an af-

firmative defense has the burden of 
proving the affirmative defense. 

(l) Except for good cause shown 

through motion and supporting docu-
ments, discovery is not permitted ex-
cept as provided in §§ 16.213 and 16.215. 

[Doc. No. 27783, 61 FR 54004, Oct. 16, 1996, as 
amended at Amdt. 16–1, 78 FR 56143, Sept. 12, 
2013] 

§ 16.25

Dismissals. 

(a) Within 20 days after the receipt of 

the complaint, unless a motion has 
been filed under § 16.26, the Director 
will dismiss a complaint, or any claim 
made in a complaint, with prejudice if: 

(1) It appears on its face to be outside 

the jurisdiction of the Administrator 
under the Acts listed in § 16.1; 

(2) On its face it does not state a 

claim that warrants an investigation 
or further action by the FAA; or 

(3) The complainant lacks standing 

to file a complaint under §§ 16.3 and 
16.23. 

(b) A dismissal under this section 

will include the reasons for the dis-
missal. 

[Amdt. 16–1, 78 FR 56144, Sept. 12, 2013] 

§ 16.26

Motions to dismiss and motions 

for summary judgment. 

(a) In lieu of an answer, the respond-

ent may file a motion to dismiss the 
complaint or a motion for summary 
judgment on the complaint. The re-
spondent may move for dismissal of the 
entire complaint or move for dismissal 
of particular issues from adjudication. 
The motion must be filed within 20 
days after the date of service of the 
FAA notification of docketing. 

(b) 

Motions to dismiss. (1) A motion to 

dismiss shall be accompanied by a con-
cise statement of the reasons for seek-
ing dismissal. The respondent must 
show that the complaint should be dis-
missed, with prejudice, if: 

(i) It appears on its face to be outside 

the jurisdiction of the Administrator 
under the Acts listed in § 16.1; 

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