Rule 1 Scope of Rules—Construction
I. Proceedings Before District
Rule Text
(a) Scope of Rules.
(1) The procedure in civil actions and proceedings before district judges and magistrate judges shall be governed by the rules governing the procedure in the superior court to the extent that such rules are applicable except as follows:
(A) in a civil action for personal injury or property damage, unless otherwise agreed by all parties or permitted by order of the court in exceptional cases and for good cause shown, discovery shall be limited to the disclosures required under Civil Rule 26(a) and to the taking by each party of the deposition of one or more opposing parties and of one additional person who is not a party; and
(B) in a debt collection case, the plaintiff must:
(i) designate in the complaint a person authorized to discuss the case on behalf of the plaintiff and include that person’s name, phone number, mailing address, and email address; and
(ii) serve a copy of the court system form “Answer & Counterclaim to Complaint to Collect a Debt” on the defendant with the complaint.
(2) If in any action or proceeding a magistrate judge finds it impracticable to proceed or is at a disadvantage because of the application of any of such rules, the magistrate judge may hold the action or proceeding in abeyance, without prejudice to the rights of the parties, for further action by a district judge.
(3) The following rules are inapplicable in their entirety to proceedings before district judges and magistrate judges: CIVIL RULE TITLE Rule 18(b) Joinder of Remedies— Fraudulent Conveyances. Rule 27 Deposition Before Actions or Pending Appeal. Rule 40(c) Visiting Judges. Rule 40(d) Applications for Orders. Rule 48(b) Instructions; Argument; Retirement of Jury. Rule 57(a) Declaratory Judgments. Rule 65 Injunctions. Rule 66 Receivers. Rule 70 Judgment for Specific Acts—Vesting Title. Rule 72 Eminent Domain. Rule 84 Change of Name.
(4) To the extent authorized by law, the provisions of Civil Rule 100 apply to any civil matter brought in district court.
(b) Construction. Where the words “court” or “judge” are used in these rules, they shall be construed to include a district judge or a magistrate judge, and where functions and duties are prescribed for the clerk, they shall be performed by a magistrate judge or a clerk.
Amendment history: (Amended by SCO 540 effective October 1, 1982; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1281 effective August 7, 1997; by SCO 1469 effective October 15, 2002; by SCO 1522 effective October 15, 2003; by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014; and by SCO 2022 effective October 15, 2024)