(a) Persons Subject to Sanctions
If a Party, attorney for a Party, or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141, engages in conduct in violation of an order of a Hearing Officer, a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, or other contemptuous conduct during a proceeding, a Hearing Officer, Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, may:
(1) subject the Party, attorney for a Party, or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141, to the sanctions set forth in paragraph (b); and
(2) exclude an attorney for a Party, or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141, under
Rule 9150.
(b) Sanctions Other Than Exclusion
A Hearing Officer, Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, may make such orders as are just in regard to a Party, an attorney for a Party, or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141.
(1) Such orders may include:
(A) an order providing that the matters on which the order is made or any other designated facts shall be taken to be established for the purposes of the disciplinary proceeding in accordance with the claim of the Party obtaining the order;
(B) an order providing that the disobedient Party may not support or oppose designated claims or defenses, or may not introduce designated matters in evidence;
(C) an order providing that pleadings or a specified part of the pleading shall be stricken, or an order providing that the proceeding shall be stayed until the Party subject to the order obeys it;
(D) in lieu of any of the foregoing orders or in addition thereto, an order providing that contemptuous conduct includes the failure to obey any order; and
(E) an order as provided in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) where a Party has failed to comply with an order to produce a person for examination, unless the Party failing to comply shows that such Party is unable to produce such person for examination.
(2) A Party that without substantial justification fails to disclose information required by the
Rule 9240 Series and the
Rule 9250 Series or otherwise required by order of the Hearing Officer, Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, shall not, unless such failure is harmless, be permitted to use as evidence at a hearing, in a motion or in any other filing of papers, or in oral argument, any witness or information not so disclosed. In addition to, or in lieu of this sanction, the Hearing Officer, Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, on motion and after affording an opportunity to be heard, may impose other appropriate sanctions. These sanctions may include any of the sanctions provided for in paragraphs (b)(1)(A) through (C).
(c) National Adjudicatory Council Review of Exclusions
If an attorney for a Party, or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141, is excluded from a disciplinary hearing or conference, or any portion thereof, such attorney or other person may seek review of the exclusion by filing a motion to vacate with the National Adjudicatory Council. Such motion to vacate shall be filed and served on all Parties within five days after service of the exclusion order. Any response shall be filed with the National Adjudicatory Council and served on all Parties within five days after the service of the motion to vacate. The National Adjudicatory Council or the Review Subcommittee shall consider such motion on an expedited basis and promptly issue a written order. The filing of a motion to vacate shall stay all aspects of the disciplinary proceeding until at least seven days after service of the order of the National Adjudicatory Council or the Review Subcommittee. The review proceedings shall be conducted on the basis of the written record without oral argument.
(d) Adjournment
The hearing, conferences, or other activities relating to the disciplinary proceeding shall be stayed pending the review by the National Adjudicatory Council or the Review Subcommittee of an exclusion order in paragraph (c). In the event that the National Adjudicatory Council or the Review Subcommittee upholds an exclusion of an attorney or other person authorized to represent others by
Rule 9141, the Hearing Officer may, upon motion by a Party represented by an attorney or other person subject to an order of exclusion, grant an adjournment to allow the retention of new counsel or selection of a new representative. In determining whether to grant an adjournment or the length of an adjournment, the Hearing Officer shall consider whether there are other counsel or representatives of record on behalf of the Party, the availability of other counsel or other members of an excluded attorney's firm, or the availability of other representatives for the Party, and any other relevant factors.
