DOL Home > OALJ > Whistleblower > Thompson v. Houston Power & Light Co., 96-ERA-34 (ALJ Sept. 25, 1997) |
Date: SEP 25 1997
Case No. 96-ERA-34
RONALD THOMPSON,
Complainant
v.
HOUSTON LIGHT & POWER
COMPANY,
Respondent
Case No. 96-ERA-38
RONALD THOMPSON,
Complainant
v.
HOUSTON LIGHT & POWER
COMPANY and
HOUSTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Respondents
By document filed September 25, 1997, Respondents have submitted a otion to Strike Dr. Carter as a Testifying Expert Witness and Motion to Compel. Respondents have requested an expedited ruling on these Motions.
As the hearing of this matter is presently set to begin on Monday, October 6, 1997, Complainant is hereby ORDERED to submit a response, if any, to these Motions by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 1997.
The parties are hereby ADVISED that if this Judge is unable to resolve this issue prior to hearing, I may exclude the expert facet of Dr. Carter's testimony at hearing. The parties would then be granted leave of Court to depose the Doctor and any rebuttal witness on a post-hearing basis. The parties are FURTHER ADVISED, however, that this Judge, like the Secretary of Labor (now the Administrative Review Board), looks with disfavor upon the use of depositions in so-called whistleblower litigation unless it is absolutely necessary.
DAVID W. DI NARDI
Administrative Law Judge
Boston, Massachusetts
DWD:jw