### SERVE D MAY 28 , 201 0 U.S . DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N OFFIC EO FHEARING S • ':;> ! WASHINGTON , D.C . I N TH EMATTE RO F CIT Y O FBRIDGEPORT , CONNECTICUT ,

Respondent . DOCKE T NO . CP09NE000 1 (Civi l Penalt y Proceeding ) DM S NO . FAA-2009-097 7 ADMINISTRATIV ELA WJUDGE' S ORDE RDENYIN GMOTIO N

FO RRECONSIDERATIO N Th e Responden t

ha s filed amotion , askin g m e t o reconside r my orde r o f Apri l 29 , 2010 , grantin g th e motio n o f th e Complainan t

t o impos e sanction s o n th e Responden t for failure t o respon dt o discover y requests . Th e Complainan t

ha s filedan objection , askin g m e t o den y th e motion . Th e motio n mus t

b e denied . Th e recor dshow s tha t

th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n serve d discovery requests , consistin g o f interrogatorie s an drequest s for productio n o f documents , upo n th e Responden t o n February 12 , 2010 . Th e 30-da y deadlin e for

Responden t

t o answe r

thos e request s cam e an dwent , an dther e wa s n o repl y fromth e Respondent . The n counse l for th e FA A wrot e alette r t o counse l for

th e Responden t

City , callin g it s attentio n t o it s obligatio n t o respon dt o th e pendin g discovery an daskin g for arespons e b y Marc h29 , 2010 . N o respons e wa s received . A s aresult , th e Complainan t filed a motio n askin g m e t o compe l th e City t o answe r it s discover y requests . Ther e wa s n o answe r

t o tha t motio n b y th e Respondent . O n Apri l 15 , 2010 , I issueda n orde r

compellin g th e Responden t t o answe r

th e motio n o r

submi t th e informatio n sough t

b y th e FA A n o late r

tha n Apri l 26 , 2010 . Again , th eCit

y wa s no t hear dfrom . Therefore , o n Apri l 29 , 2010, 1 issue dan orde r imposin g upo n th e City th e followin g sanction : i t wa s barre dfrom submittin g durin g th e hearin g case-in-chie f evidenc e o n th e issu e o f whethe r i t ha dviolate dth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulations . Now , som e thre e month s after it s receip t

o f th e Complainant' s interrogatorie s an drequest s for documents , th e Responden t want s m e t o overturn thos e sanction s an dleav e i t scot-fre e o f

an y consequence s for

it s persisten t disregar do f

th e Procedura l Rule s an dmy orders . Thi s I wil l no t do . Th e sanctio n wa s impose dafter fair warning . I t

i s appropriat e t o th e offense , i n tha t

aparty wh o ha s hidde n it s informatio n fro mth e othe r party cannot , in al l fairness , b e permitte dt o uncloak relevan t informatio n o n th e ev e o f th e hearing . Finally , I can thin k

o f n o lesse r sanctio n tha t

woul db e appropriat e in th e circumstances , an dth e Responden t ha s suggeste dnone . T o delay th e hearing , whic hha s bee n delaye donc e before , i s no t in th e interes t

o f eithe r o f th e parties . Thi s hearin g i s th e resul t o f an airfiel dinspectio n tha t too k plac e i n 2007 , over

tw o year s ago . I f

th e FA A i s correc t

i n it s allegations , th e airport

at issu e may b e unsafe . Thus , th e quicke r thi s matte r

i s resolved , th e bette r of f th e publi c wil l be . Ther e i s n o publi c interes t i n continuin g thi s cas e an dlengthenin g th e perio ddurin g whic hth e allegedl y unsaf e condition s at

Sikorsky Fiel dpersist . Fo r thes e reasons , th e motio n t o reconside r i s denied .

I Isaa c D . Benki n Administrativ e La w Judg eFA A Docke t No . CP09NE000 1 (Civi l Penalty Action ) SERVIC ELIS T ORIGINA L& ON ECOP Y Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC^3 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Suit e 2W100 0

ON ECOP Y Honorabl e Bil l Finch , Mayo r City o f Bridgeport , Responden t City Hal l Anne x 99 9 Broa dStree t Bridgeport , C T 0660 4 Mar k T . Anastasi , Respondent' s Counse l City Attorney , City o f

Bridgeport 99 9 Broa dStree t

2"' * Floo r Bridgeport , C T 06604-432 8 TEL : 203-576-808 2 FAX : 203-576-825 2 Th e Honorabl e Isaa c D . Benkin , Administrativ e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mEl2-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 TEL : Attorne y 202-366-213 9 Lega l Assistan t

202-366-213 2 FAX : 202-366-753 6
Richar dG . Kascak , Jr . Associat e City Attorne y Offic e o f th e City Attorne y

n d 99 9 Broa dStreet , 2" " Floo r Bridgeport , C T 06604-432 8 TEL : 203-576-392 8 FAX : 203-576-825 2 Joh n R . Donnelly , Complainant' s Counse l Offic e o f th e Regiona l Counsel , ANE- 7 New Englan dRegio n Federal Aviatio n Administratio n 1 2 Ne w Englan dExecutiv e Park Burlington , MA 01803-529 9 TEL : 781-238-704 3 FAX : 781-238-705 5