Section 1.42  Conferences

a)         The respondent or the respondent's attorney may request verbally or in writing a conference with the Department and its administrative law judge at any time prior to or during the course of a hearing.  The administrative law judge shall direct the parties or their attorneys to appear at a specific time and place for a conference when it appears that one or more of the following may be accomplished:

1)         the simplification of issues;

2)         the necessity or desirability of amending the pleadings for the purposes of clarification, amplification or limitation;

3)         the possibility of making admissions of certain facts or stipulations concerning the use of either or both parties of matters of public record to avoid unnecessary introduction of proof;

4)         the limitation of the number of witnesses;

5)         the propriety of prior mutual exchange between or among the parties of prepared testimony and exhibits; and

6)         such other matters as may aid in the simplification of the evidence and disposition of the proceeding.

b)         Action taken at a conference shall be recorded in a memorandum prepared and certified by the administrative law judge.

(Source:  Added at 16 Ill. Reg. 15850, effective October 5, 1992)