(a) Time period for filing preliminary findings and conclusions. Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, the hearing officer must file preliminary findings and conclusions no later than 90 days after the deadline for filing post-hearing responsive briefs pursuant to § 1081.305(b) and in no event later than 360 days after filing of the notice of charges.

(b) Extension of deadlines. In the event the hearing officer presiding over the proceeding determines that it will not be possible to issue preliminary findings and conclusions within the time periods specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the hearing officer will submit a written request to the Director for an extension of the time period for filing the preliminary findings and conclusions. This request must be filed no later than 28 days prior to the expiration of the time for issuance of preliminary findings and conclusions. The request will be served on all parties in the proceeding, who may file with the Director briefs in support of or in opposition to the request. Any such briefs must be filed within seven days of service of the hearing officer's request and may not exceed five pages. If the Director determines that additional time is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, the Director will issue an order extending the time period for filing preliminary findings and conclusions.

(c) Content. (1) Preliminary findings and conclusions must be based on a consideration of the whole record relevant to the issues decided, and be supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. Preliminary findings and conclusions must include a statement of findings of fact (with specific page references to principal supporting items of evidence in the record) and conclusions of law, as well as the reasons or basis therefore, as to all the material issues of fact, law, or discretion presented on the record and the appropriate order, sanction, relief or denial thereof. Preliminary findings and conclusions must also state that a notice of appeal may be filed within 14 days after service of the preliminary findings and conclusions and include a statement that, unless a party timely files and perfects a notice of appeal of the preliminary findings and conclusions, the Director may adopt the preliminary findings and conclusions as the final decision and order of the Bureau without further opportunity for briefing or argument.

(2) Consistent with paragraph (a) of this section, when more than one claim for relief is presented in an adjudication proceeding, or when multiple parties are involved, the hearing officer may direct the entry of preliminary findings and conclusions as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of preliminary findings and conclusions.

(d) By whom made. Preliminary findings and conclusions must be made and filed by the hearing officer who presided over the hearings, except when that hearing officer has become unavailable to the Bureau.

(e) Reopening of proceeding by hearing officer; termination of jurisdiction. (1) At any time from the close of the hearing record pursuant to § 1081.304(c) until the filing of the hearing officer's preliminary findings and conclusions, a hearing officer may reopen the proceeding for the receipt of further evidence for good cause shown.

(2) Except for the correction of clerical errors or pursuant to an order of remand from the Director, the jurisdiction of the hearing officer is terminated upon the filing of the hearing officer's preliminary findings and conclusions with respect to those issues decided pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section.

(f) Filing, service, and publication. Upon filing by the hearing officer of preliminary findings and conclusions, the Office of Administrative Adjudication will promptly transmit the preliminary findings and conclusions to the Director and serve them upon the parties.

(a) Filing of index. At the same time the Office of Administrative Adjudication transmits preliminary findings and conclusions to the Director, the hearing officer will furnish to the Director a certified index of the entire record of the proceedings. The certified index must include, at a minimum, an entry for each paper, document or motion filed in the proceeding, the date of the filing, and the identity of the filer. The certified index must also include an exhibit index containing, at a minimum, an entry consisting of exhibit number and title or description for each exhibit introduced and admitted into evidence and each exhibit introduced but not admitted into evidence.

(b) Retention of record items by the Office of Administrative Adjudication. After the close of the hearing, the Office of Administrative Adjudication will retain originals of any motions, exhibits or any other documents filed with, or accepted into evidence by, the hearing officer, or any other portions of the record that have not already been filed with the Office of Administrative Adjudication.

(a) Notice of appeal—(1) Filing. Any party may file exceptions to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the hearing officer by filing a notice of appeal with the Office of Administrative Adjudication within 14 days after service of the preliminary findings and conclusions. The notice must specify the party or parties against whom the appeal is taken and must designate the preliminary findings and conclusions or part thereof appealed from. If a timely notice of appeal is filed by a party, any other party may thereafter file a notice of appeal within seven days after service of the first notice, or within 14 days after service of the preliminary findings and conclusions, whichever period expires last.

(2) Perfecting a notice of appeal. Any party filing a notice of appeal must perfect its appeal by filing its opening appeal brief within 28 days of service of the preliminary findings and conclusions. Any party may respond to the opening appeal brief by filing an answering brief within 28 days of service of the opening brief. Any party may file a reply to an answering brief within seven days of service of the answering brief. These briefs must conform to the requirements of § 1081.403.

(b) Director review other than pursuant to an appeal. In the event no party perfects an appeal of the hearing officer's preliminary findings and conclusions, the Director will, within 42 days after the date of service of the preliminary findings and conclusions, either issue a final decision and order adopting the preliminary findings and conclusions, or order further briefing regarding any portion of the preliminary findings and conclusions. The Director's order for further briefing must set forth the scope of review and the issues that will be considered and will make provision for the filing of briefs in accordance with the timelines set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section (except that that opening briefs will be due within 28 days of service of the order of review) if deemed appropriate by the Director.

(c) Exhaustion of administrative remedies. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 704, a perfected appeal to the Director of preliminary findings and conclusions pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is a prerequisite to the seeking of judicial review of a final decision and order, or portion of the final decision and order, adopting the preliminary findings and conclusions.

(a) Contents of briefs. Briefs must be confined to the particular matters at issue. Each exception to the findings or conclusions being reviewed should be stated succinctly. Exceptions must be supported by citation to the relevant portions of the record, including references to the specific pages relied upon, and by concise argument including citation of such statutes, decisions, and other authorities as may be relevant. If the exception relates to the admission or exclusion of evidence, the substance of the evidence admitted or excluded must be set forth in the brief, in an appendix thereto, or by citation to the record. Reply briefs must be confined to matters in answering briefs of other parties.

(b) Length limitation. Except with leave of the Director, opening and answering briefs may not exceed 30 pages, and reply briefs may not exceed 15 pages, exclusive of pages containing the table of contents, table of authorities, and any addendum that consists solely of copies of applicable cases, pertinent legislative provisions or rules, and exhibits. Motions to file briefs in excess of these limitations are disfavored.

(a) Availability. The Director will consider appeals, motions, and other matters properly before the Director on the basis of the papers filed by the parties without oral argument unless the Director determines that the presentation of facts and legal arguments in the briefs and record and decisional process would be significantly aided by oral argument, in which case the Director will issue an order setting the date on which argument will be held. A party seeking oral argument must so indicate on the first page of that party's opening or answering brief.

(b) Public arguments; transcription. All oral arguments will be public unless otherwise ordered by the Director. Oral arguments before the Director will be reported stenographically, unless otherwise ordered by the Director. Motions to correct the transcript of oral argument must be made according to the same procedure provided in § 1081.304(b).

(a) Upon appeal from or upon further review of preliminary findings and conclusions, the Director will consider such parts of the record as are cited or as may be necessary to resolve the issues presented and, in addition, will, to the extent necessary or desirable, exercise all powers which could have exercised if the Director had made the preliminary findings and conclusions. In proceedings before the Director, the record will consist of all items part of the record in accordance with § 1081.306 as follows: Any notices of appeal or order directing review; all briefs, motions, submissions, and other papers filed on appeal or review; and the transcript of any oral argument held. Review by the Director of preliminary findings and conclusions may be limited to the issues specified in the notice(s) of appeal or the issues, if any, specified in the order directing further briefing. On notice to all parties, however, the Director may, at any time prior to issuance of the Director's decision, raise and determine any other matters that the Director deems material, with opportunity for oral or written argument thereon by the parties.

(b) Decisional employees may advise and assist the Director in the consideration and disposition of the case.

(c) In rendering the Director's decision, the Director will affirm, adopt, reverse, modify, set aside, or remand for further proceedings the preliminary findings and conclusions and will include in the decision a statement of the reasons or basis for the Director's actions and the findings of fact upon which the decision is predicated.

(d) At the expiration of the time permitted for the filing of reply briefs with the Director, the Office of Administrative Adjudication will notify the parties that the case has been submitted for final Bureau decision. The Director will issue and the Office of Administrative Adjudication will serve the Director's final decision and order within 90 days after such notice, unless within that time the Director orders that the adjudication proceeding or any aspect thereof be remanded to the hearing officer for further proceedings.

(e) The Office of Administrative Adjudication will serve copies of a final decision and order of the Director upon each party to the proceeding in accordance with § 1081.113(d)(2); upon other persons required by statute, if any; and, if directed by the Director or required by statute, upon any appropriate State or Federal supervisory authority. A final decision and order will also be published on the Bureau's website or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the Bureau.

Within 14 days after service of the Director's decision and order, any party may file with the Director a petition for reconsideration, briefly and specifically setting forth the relief desired and the grounds in support thereof. Any petition filed under this section must be confined to new questions raised by the decision or order and upon which the petitioner had no opportunity to argue, in writing or orally, before the Director. No response to a petition for reconsideration may be filed unless requested by the Director, who will request such response before granting any petition for reconsideration. The filing of a petition for reconsideration does not operate to stay the effective date of the decision or order or to toll the running of any statutory period affecting such decision or order unless specifically so ordered by the Director.

(a) Other than consent orders, which become effective at the time specified therein, an order to cease and desist or for other affirmative action under section 1053(b) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5563(b)) becomes effective at the expiration of 30 days after the date of service pursuant to § 1081.113(d)(2), unless the Director agrees to stay the effectiveness of the order pursuant to this section.

(b) Any party subject to a final decision and order, other than a consent order, may apply to the Director for a stay of all or part of that order pending judicial review.

(c) A motion for stay must state the reasons a stay is warranted and the facts relied upon, and must include supporting affidavits or other sworn statements, and a copy of the relevant portions of the record. The motion must address the likelihood of the movant's success on appeal, whether the movant will suffer irreparable harm if a stay is not granted, the degree of injury to other parties if a stay is granted, and why the stay is in the public interest.

(d) A motion for stay must be filed within 28 days of service of the order on the party. Any party opposing the motion may file a response within seven days after receipt of the motion. The movant may file a reply brief, limited to new matters raised by the response, within seven days after receipt of the response.

(e) The commencement of proceedings for judicial review of a final decision and order of the Director does not, unless specifically ordered by the Director or a reviewing court, operate as a stay of any order issued by the Director. The Director has discretion, on such terms as the Director finds just, to stay the effectiveness of all or any part of an order pending a final decision on a petition for judicial review of that order.

(a) Scope. This section applies to any argument to support a party's case or defense, including any argument that could be a basis for setting aside Bureau action under 5 U.S.C. 706 or any other source of law.

(b) Duties to raise arguments. A party must raise an argument before the hearing officer, or else it is not preserved for later consideration by the Director. A party must raise an argument before the Director, or else it is not preserved for later consideration by a court.

(c) Manner of raising arguments. An argument must be raised in a manner that complies with this part and that provides a fair opportunity to consider the argument.

(d) Discretion to consider unpreserved arguments. The Director has discretion to consider an unpreserved argument, including by considering it in the alternative. If the Director considers an unpreserved argument in the alternative, the argument remains unpreserved.