(a) Consolidation. If two or more actions involve common questions of law or fact, the Chief Administrative Law Judge may do the following:
- (1) Order a joint hearing or trial on any or all such questions.
- (2) Order the consolidation of such actions.
- (3) Otherwise make such orders concerning the proceedings as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.
- (b) Consolidation shall not affect the applicability of this part. Consolidation of two or more actions that individually meet the jurisdictional amounts set forth in § 1503.601(a)(2) shall not cause the resulting consolidated action to come under the exclusive jurisdiction of the district courts of the United States as specified in 49 U.S.C. 46301(d)(4)(A).
- (c) Separate trials. The Chief Administrative Law Judge, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may order a separate trial of any claim, or of any separate issue, or any number of claims or issues.