Sec.  76.6  General pleading requirements.

    (a) General pleading requirements. All written submissions, both 
substantive and procedural, must conform to the following standards:
    (1) A pleading must be clear, concise, and explicit. All matters 
concerning a claim, defense or requested remedy, should be pleaded fully 
and with specificity.
    (2) Pleadings must contain facts which, if true, are sufficient to 
warrant a grant of the relief requested.
    (3) Facts must be supported by relevant documentation or affidavit.
    (4) The original of all pleadings and submissions by any party shall 
be signed by that party, or by the party's attorney. Complaints must be 
signed by the complainant. The signing party shall state his or her 
address and telephone number and the date on which the document was 
signed. Copies should be conformed to the original. Each submission must 
contain a written verification that the signatory has read the 
submission and to the best of his or her knowledge, information and 
belief formed after reasonable inquiry, it is well grounded in fact and 
is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, 
modification or reversal of existing law; and that it is not interposed 
for any improper purpose. If any pleading or other submission is signed 
in violation of this provision, the Commission shall upon motion or upon 
its own initiative impose appropriate sanctions.

[[Page 571]]

    (5) Legal arguments must be supported by appropriate judicial, 
Commission, or statutory authority. Opposing authorities must be 
distinguished. Copies must be provided of all non-Commission authorities 
relied upon which are not routinely available in national reporting 
systems, such as unpublished decisions or slip opinions of courts or 
administrative agencies.
    (6) Parties are responsible for the continuing accuracy and 
completeness of all information and supporting authority furnished in a 
pending complaint proceeding. Information submitted, as well as relevant 
legal authorities, must be current and updated as necessary and in a 
timely manner at any time before a decision is rendered on the merits of 
the complaint.
    (b) Copies to be Filed. Unless otherwise directed by specific 
regulation or the Commission, an original and two (2) copies of all 
pleadings shall be filed in accordance with Sec.  0.401(a) of this 
chapter, except that petitions requiring fees as set forth at part 1, 
subpart G of this chapter must be filed in accordance with Sec.  
0.401(b) of this chapter.
    (c) Frivolous pleadings. It shall be unlawful for any party to file 
a frivolous pleading with the Commission. Any violation of this 
paragraph shall constitute an abuse of process subject to appropriate 
sanctions.

[ 64 FR 6569 , Feb. 10, 1999]