Staff and the respondents agreed to adjourn the start of a complex insider trading merits hearing to allow Staff to present investigator evidence by affidavit, reducing the number of hearing days required.
The Commission held that while a formal motion for an adjournment was not required in these circumstances, the parties still had to establish 'exceptional circumstances' under Rule 29(1) despite their agreement.
The Commission found that the pandemic and the efficient use of affidavit evidence to eliminate eight days of live testimony constituted exceptional circumstances.
The adjournment was granted.
