101 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 16.26 

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; 

(ii) On its face it does not state a 

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

(iii) The complainant lacks standing 

to file a complaint under §§ 16.3 and 
16.23. 

(2) A motion to dismiss may seek dis-

missal of the entire complaint or the 
dismissal of specified claims in the 
complaint. A motion to dismiss shall 
be accompanied by a supporting memo-
randum of points and authorities. 

(3) A complainant may file an answer 

to the motion to dismiss within 10 days 
of the date the motion is served on the 
complainant, or within any other pe-
riod set by the Director. The answer 
shall be accompanied by a concise 
statement of reasons for opposing dis-
missal, and may be accompanied by af-
fidavits and other documentary evi-
dence in support of that contention. 

(4) Within 30 days of the date an an-

swer to a motion to dismiss is due 
under this section, the Director may 
issue an order disposing of the motion. 
If the Director denies the motion to 
dismiss in whole or in part, or grants 
the motion in part, then within 20 days 
of when the order is served on the re-
spondent, the respondent shall file an 
answer to the complaint. 

(5) If the Director does not act on the 

motion to dismiss within 30 days of the 
date an answer to a motion is due 
under this section, the respondent shall 
file an answer to the complaint within 
the next 20 days. 

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