# 5 CFR § 1201.130: Rights; answer to complaint

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.130

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 CFR § 1201.130
- **Heading:** Rights; answer to complaint
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 5—Administrative Personnel > CHAPTER II—MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD > SUBCHAPTER A—ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES > PART 1201—PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES > Subpart D—Procedures for Original Jurisdiction Cases > Special Counsel Corrective Actions

## Text

(a) Rights. (1) A person on whose behalf the Special Counsel brings a corrective action has a right to request intervention in the proceeding in accordance with the regulations in § 1201.34 of this part. The Clerk of the Board shall notify each such person of this right.
(2) When the Special Counsel files a complaint seeking corrective action, the judge to whom the complaint is assigned shall provide an opportunity for oral or written comments by the Special Counsel, the agency involved, and the Office of Personnel Management. 5 U.S.C. 1214(b)(3)(A).
(3) The judge to whom the complaint is assigned shall provide a person alleged to have been the subject of any prohibited personnel practice alleged in the complaint the opportunity to make written comments, regardless of whether that person has requested and been granted intervenor status. 5 U.S.C. 1214(b)(3)(B).
(b) Filing and default. An agency named as respondent in a Special Counsel corrective action complaint may file an answer with the judge to whom the complaint is assigned within 35 days of the date of service of the complaint. If the agency fails to answer, the failure may constitute waiver of the right to contest the allegations in the complaint. Unanswered allegations may be considered admitted and may form the basis of the judge's decision.
(c) Content. An answer must contain a specific denial, admission, or explanation of each fact alleged in the complaint. If the respondent agency has no knowledge of a fact, it must say so. The respondent may include statements of fact and appropriate documentation to support each denial or defense. Allegations that are unanswered or admitted in the answer may be considered true.

## Nearby sections

- [5 CFR § 1201.121 § 1201.121 Scope of jurisdiction; application of subparts B, F, and H.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.121.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.122 § 1201.122 Filing complaint; serving documents on parties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.122.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.123 § 1201.123 Contents of complaint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.123.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.124 § 1201.124 Rights; answer to complaint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.124.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.125 § 1201.125 Administrative law judge.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.125.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.126 § 1201.126 Final decisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.126.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.127 § 1201.127 Judicial review.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.127.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.128 § 1201.128 Filing complaint; serving documents on parties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.128.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.129 § 1201.129 Contents of complaint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.129.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.130 § 1201.130 Rights; answer to complaint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.130.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.131 § 1201.131 Judge.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.131.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.132 § 1201.132 Final decisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.132.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.133 § 1201.133 Judicial review.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.133.md)
- [5 CFR § 1201.134 § 1201.134 Deciding official; filing stay request; serving documents on parties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.134.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1201.130. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.