{"id":4257,"date":"2017-08-09T01:39:39","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T01:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=4257"},"modified":"2018-02-11T00:39:09","modified_gmt":"2018-02-11T00:39:09","slug":"rule-30-depositions-by-oral-examination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=4257","title":{"rendered":"Rule 30 \u2013 Depositions by Oral Examination"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This page is continued from <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=3901\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Rules of Civil Procedure <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Simplified<\/em><\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">***************************<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(a) <strong>When a Deposition May Be Taken<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Without Leave<\/em>. A party may, by oral questions, depose any person, including a party, without leave of court except as provided in Rule 30(a)(2). The deponent\u2019s attendance may be compelled by subpoena under <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-vi-trials\/rule-45-subpoena\/\">Rule 45<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>With Leave<\/em>. A party must obtain leave of court, and the court must grant leave to the extent consistent with <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-26-duty-to-disclose-general-provisions-governing-discovery\/\">Rule 26(b)(1) and (2)<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) if the parties have not stipulated to the deposition and:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(i) the deposition would result in more than 10 depositions being taken under this rule or <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-31-depositions-by-written-questions\/\">Rule 31<\/a> by the plaintiffs, or by the defendants, or by the third-party defendants;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(ii) the deponent has already been deposed in the case; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(iii) the party seeks to take the deposition before the time specified in <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-26-duty-to-disclose-general-provisions-governing-discovery\/\">Rule 26(d)<\/a>, unless the party certifies in the notice, with supporting facts, that the deponent is expected to leave the United States and be unavailable for examination in this country after that time; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) if the deponent is confined in prison.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(b) <strong>Notice of the Deposition; Other Formal Requirements<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Notice in General<\/em>. A party who wants to depose a person by oral questions must give reasonable written notice to every other party. The notice must state the time and place of the deposition and, if known, the deponent\u2019s name and address. If the name is unknown, the notice must provide a general description sufficient to identify the person or the particular class or group to which the person belongs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>Producing Documents<\/em>. If a subpoena duces tecum is to be served on the deponent, the materials designated for production, as set out in the subpoena, must be listed in the notice or in an attachment. The notice to a party deponent may be accompanied by a request under <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-34-producing-documents-electronically-stored-information-and-tangible-things-or-entering-onto-land-for-inspection-and-other-purposes\/\">Rule 34<\/a> to produce documents and tangible things at the deposition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(3) <em>Method of Recording<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) Method Stated in the Notice. The party who notices the deposition must state in the notice the method for recording the testimony. Unless the court orders otherwise, testimony may be recorded by audio, audiovisual, or stenographic means. The noticing party bears the recording costs. Any party may arrange to transcribe a deposition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) Additional Method. With prior notice to the deponent and other parties, any party may designate another method for recording the testimony in addition to that specified in the original notice. That party bears the expense of the additional record or transcript unless the court orders otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(4) <em>By Remote Means<\/em>. The parties may stipulate\u2014or the court may on motion order\u2014that a deposition be taken by telephone or other remote means. For the purpose of this rule and <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-28-persons-before-whom-depositions-may-be-taken\/\">Rules 28(a)<\/a>, <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-37-failure-to-make-disclosures-or-to-cooperate-in-discovery-sanctions\/\">37(a)(2)<\/a>, and <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-37-failure-to-make-disclosures-or-to-cooperate-in-discovery-sanctions\/\">37(b)(1)<\/a>, the deposition takes place where the deponent answers the questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(5) <em>Officer\u2019s Duties<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) Before the Deposition. Unless the parties stipulate otherwise, a deposition must be conducted before an officer appointed or designated under <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-28-persons-before-whom-depositions-may-be-taken\/\">Rule 28<\/a>. The officer must begin the deposition with an on-the-record statement that includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(i) the officer\u2019s name and business address;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(ii) the date, time, and place of the deposition;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(iii) the deponent\u2019s name;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(iv) the officer\u2019s administration of the oath or affirmation to the deponent; and<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(v) the identity of all persons present.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) Conducting the Deposition; Avoiding Distortion. If the deposition is recorded nonstenographically, the officer must repeat the items in Rule 30(b)(5)(A)(i)\u2013(iii) at the beginning of each unit of the recording medium. The deponent\u2019s and attorneys\u2019 appearance or demeanor must not be distorted through recording techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(C) After the Deposition. At the end of a deposition, the officer must state on the record that the deposition is complete and must set out any stipulations made by the attorneys about custody of the transcript or recording and of the exhibits, or about any other pertinent matters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(6) <em>Notice or Subpoena Directed to an Organization<\/em>. In its notice or subpoena, a party may name as the deponent a public or private corporation, a partnership, an association, a governmental agency, or other entity and must describe with reasonable particularity the matters for examination. The named organization must then designate one or more officers, directors, or managing agents, or designate other persons who consent to testify on its behalf; and it may set out the matters on which each person designated will testify. A subpoena must advise a nonparty organization of its duty to make this designation. The persons designated must testify about information known or reasonably available to the organization. This paragraph (6) does not preclude a deposition by any other procedure allowed by these rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(c) <strong>Examination and Cross-Examination; Record of the Examination; Objections; Written Questions<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Examination and Cross-Examination<\/em>. The examination and cross-examination of a deponent proceed as they would at trial under the <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rulesofevidence.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Rules of Evidence<\/a>, except <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rulesofevidence.org\/article-i\/rule-103\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rules 103<\/a> and <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rulesofevidence.org\/article-vi\/rule-615\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">615<\/a>. After putting the deponent under oath or affirmation, the officer must record the testimony by the method designated under Rule 30(b)(3)(A). The testimony must be recorded by the officer personally or by a person acting in the presence and under the direction of the officer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>Objections<\/em>. An objection at the time of the examination\u2014whether to evidence, to a party\u2019s conduct, to the officer\u2019s qualifications, to the manner of taking the deposition, or to any other aspect of the deposition\u2014must be noted on the record, but the examination still proceeds; the testimony is taken subject to any objection. An objection must be stated concisely in a nonargumentative and nonsuggestive manner. A person may instruct a deponent not to answer only when necessary to preserve a privilege, to enforce a limitation ordered by the court, or to present a motion under Rule 30(d)(3).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(3) <em>Participating Through Written Question<\/em>s. Instead of participating in the oral examination, a party may serve written questions in a sealed envelope on the party noticing the deposition, who must deliver them to the officer. The officer must ask the deponent those questions and record the answers verbatim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(d) <strong>Duration; Sanction; Motion to Terminate or Limit<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Duration<\/em>. Unless otherwise stipulated or ordered by the court, a deposition is limited to 1 day of 7 hours. The court must allow additional time consistent with <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-26-duty-to-disclose-general-provisions-governing-discovery\/\">Rule 26(b)(1) and (2) <\/a>if needed to fairly examine the deponent or if the deponent, another person, or any other circumstance impedes or delays the examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>Sanction<\/em>. The court may impose an appropriate sanction\u2014including the reasonable expenses and attorney\u2019s fees incurred by any party\u2014on a person who impedes, delays, or frustrates the fair examination of the deponent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(3) <em>Motion to Terminate or Limit<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) Grounds. At any time during a deposition, the deponent or a party may move to terminate or limit it on the ground that it is being conducted in bad faith or in a manner that unreasonably annoys, embarrasses, or oppresses the deponent or party. The motion may be filed in the court where the action is pending or the deposition is being taken. If the objecting deponent or party so demands, the deposition must be suspended for the time necessary to obtain an order.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) Order. The court may order that the deposition be terminated or may limit its scope and manner as provided in <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-26-duty-to-disclose-general-provisions-governing-discovery\/\">Rule 26(c)<\/a>. If terminated, the deposition may be resumed only by order of the court where the action is pending.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(C) Award of Expenses. <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalrulesofcivilprocedure.org\/frcp\/title-v-disclosures-and-discovery\/rule-37-failure-to-make-disclosures-or-to-cooperate-in-discovery-sanctions\/\">Rule 37(a)(5)<\/a> applies to the award of expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(e) <strong>Review by the Witness; Changes<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Review; Statement of Changes<\/em>. On request by the deponent or a party before the deposition is completed, the deponent must be allowed 30 days after being notified by the officer that the transcript or recording is available in which:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) to review the transcript or recording; and<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) if there are changes in form or substance, to sign a statement listing the changes and the reasons for making them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>Changes Indicated in the Officer\u2019s Certificate<\/em>. The officer must note in the certificate prescribed by Rule 30(f)(1) whether a review was requested and, if so, must attach any changes the deponent makes during the 30-day period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(f) <strong>Certification and Delivery; Exhibits; Copies of the Transcript or Recording; Filing<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) <em>Certification and Delivery<\/em>. The officer must certify in writing that the witness was duly sworn and that the deposition accurately records the witness\u2019s testimony. The certificate must accompany the record of the deposition. Unless the court orders otherwise, the officer must seal the deposition in an envelope or package bearing the title of the action and marked \u201cDeposition of [witness\u2019s name]\u201d and must promptly send it to the attorney who arranged for the transcript or recording. The attorney must store it under conditions that will protect it against loss, destruction, tampering, or deterioration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) <em>Documents and Tangible Things<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(A) Originals and Copies. Documents and tangible things produced for inspection during a deposition must, on a party\u2019s request, be marked for identification and attached to the deposition. Any party may inspect and copy them. But if the person who produced them wants to keep the originals, the person may:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(i) offer copies to be marked, attached to the deposition, and then used as originals\u2014after giving all parties a fair opportunity to verify the copies by comparing them with the originals; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(ii) give all parties a fair opportunity to inspect and copy the originals after they are marked\u2014in which event the originals may be used as if attached to the deposition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(B) Order Regarding the Originals. Any party may move for an order that the originals be attached to the deposition pending final disposition of the case.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(3) <em>Copies of the Transcript or Recording<\/em>. Unless otherwise stipulated or ordered by the court, the officer must retain the stenographic notes of a deposition taken stenographically or a copy of the recording of a deposition taken by another method. When paid reasonable charges, the officer must furnish a copy of the transcript or recording to any party or the deponent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(4) <em>Notice of Filing<\/em>. A party who files the deposition must promptly notify all other parties of the filing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(g) <strong>Failure to Attend a Deposition or Serve a Subpoena; Expenses<\/strong>. A party who, expecting a deposition to be taken, attends in person or by an attorney may recover reasonable expenses for attending, including attorney\u2019s fees, if the noticing party failed to:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(1) attend and proceed with the deposition; or<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">(2) serve a subpoena on a nonparty deponent, who consequently did not attend.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This page is continued from Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Simplified: *************************** (a) When a Deposition May Be Taken. (1) Without Leave. A party may, by oral questions, depose any person, including a party, without leave of court except as provided in Rule 30(a)(2). The deponent\u2019s attendance may be compelled by subpoena under Rule &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=4257\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Rule 30 \u2013 Depositions by Oral Examination<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4983,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4257","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4257"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13627,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4257\/revisions\/13627"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}