Sec. 1.321  Use of depositions at the hearing.

    (a) No inference concerning the admissibility of a deposition in 
evidence shall be drawn because of favorable action on the notice to 
take depositions.

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    (b) Except as provided in this paragraph and in Sec. 1.319, 
objection may be made at the hearing to receiving in evidence any 
deposition or part thereof for any reason which would require the 
exclusion of the evidence if the witness were then present and 
testifying.
    (1) Objections to the competency of a witness, or the competency, 
relevancy or materiality of testimony are waived by failure to make them 
before or during the taking of depositions if (and only if) the ground 
of the objection is one which might have been obviated or removed if 
presented at that time.
    (2) Objection on the ground of privilege is waived by failure to 
make it before or during the taking of depositions.
    (c) A party shall not be deemed to make a person his own witness for 
any purpose by taking his deposition. The introduction in evidence of 
the deposition or any part thereof for any purpose other than that of 
contradicting or impeaching the deponent makes the deponent the witness 
of the party introducing the deposition, but this shall not apply to the 
use by an adverse party of a deposition as described in paragraph (d)(2) 
of this section. At the hearing any party may rebut any relevant 
evidence contained in a deposition whether introduced by him or by any 
other party.
    (d) At the hearing (or in a pleading), any part or all of a 
deposition, so far as admissible, may be used against any party who was 
present or represented at the taking of the deposition or who had due 
notice thereof, in accordance with any one of the following provisions:
    (1) Any deposition may be used by any party for the purpose of 
contradicting or impeaching the testimony of deponent as a witness.
    (2) The deposition of a party or of any one who at the time of 
taking the deposition was an officer, director, or managing agent of a 
public or private corporation, partnership or association which is a 
party may be used by an adverse party for any purpose.
    (3) To the extent that the affirmative direct case of a party is 
made in writing pursuant to Sec. 1.248(d), the deposition of any 
witness, whether or not a party, may be used by any party for any 
purpose, provided the witness is made available for cross-examination. 
In all cases, the deposition of a witness, whether or not a party, may 
be used by any party for any purpose if the presiding officer finds: (i) 
That the witness is dead; or (ii) that the witness is out of the United 
States, unless it appears that the absence of the witness was procured 
by the party offering the deposition; or (iii) that the witness is 
unable to attend or testify because of age, sickness, infirmity, or 
imprisonment; or (iv) upon application and notice, that such exceptional 
circumstances exist as to make it desirable in the interest of justice 
and with due regard to the importance of presenting the testimony of 
witnesses orally in open hearing, to allow the deposition to be used.
    (4) If only part of a deposition is offered in evidence by a party, 
an adverse party may require him to introduce all of it which is 
relevant to the part introduced, and any party may introduce any other 
parts.
    (5) Substitution of parties does not affect the right to use 
depositions previously taken; and, when an action in any hearing has 
been dismissed and another action involving the same subject matter is 
afterward brought between the same parties or their representatives or 
successors in interest, all depositions lawfully taken and duly filed in 
the former action may be used in the latter as if originally taken 
therefor.
[ 33 FR 463 , Jan. 12, 1968, as amended at  41 FR 14874 , Apr. 8, 1976]