(a) Procedural schedule. Absent a specific order by the Board, the following general procedural schedule will apply in stand-alone cost cases: Day 0--Complaint filed, discovery period begins.Day 7 or before--Conference of the parties convened pursuant to Sec. 1111.10(b).Day 20--Defendant's answer to complaint due.Day 75--Discovery completed.Day 120--Complainant files opening evidence on absence of intermodal and intramodal competition, variable cost, and stand-alone cost issues. Defendant files opening evidence on existence of product and geographic competition, and revenue-variable cost percentage generated by complainant's traffic.Day 180--Complainant and defendant file reply evidence to opponent's opening evidence.Day 210--Complainant and defendant file rebuttal evidence to opponent's reply evidence.
(b) Conferences with parties. (1) The Board will convene a technical conference of the parties with Board staff prior to the filing of any evidence in a stand-alone cost rate case, for the purpose of reaching agreement on the operating characteristics that are used in the variable cost calculations for the movements at issue. The parties should jointly propose a schedule for this technical conference.
(1) The Board will convene a technical conference of the parties with Board staff prior to the filing of any evidence in a stand-alone cost rate case, for the purpose of reaching agreement on the operating characteristics that are used in the variable cost calculations for the movements at issue. The parties should jointly propose a schedule for this technical conference.
(2) In addition, the Board may convene a conference of the parties with Board staff, after discovery requests are served but before any motions to compel may be filed, to discuss discovery matters in stand-alone cost rate cases. The parties should jointly propose a schedule for this discovery conference. [61 FR 52711, Oct. 8, 1996; 61 FR 53996, Oct. 16, 1996, as amended at 63 FR 2639, Jan. 16, 1998; 68 FR 17313, Apr. 9, 2003]