Rule 1 Introduction and Scope

This rule explains how Indiana's Commercial Court works and who it covers. It sets up special rules that apply to any case placed on the Commercial Court Docket, which is a separate track for business-related lawsuits.

The rule also defines some key terms. A "business entity" covers almost any kind of company or organization doing business in Indiana. This includes corporations, partnerships, LLCs, nonprofits, sole proprietorships, and similar groups, whether they were formed in Indiana or another state.

The rule defines "Commercial Court" as a court that has been officially set up to handle a specialized docket for business cases, following these rules and any orders from the Indiana Supreme Court. It also clarifies that whenever these rules mention a "rule," this can mean a rule from the Indiana Supreme Court or from a local or district court.

In short, this section lays the groundwork for the rest of the Commercial Court Rules. It tells you who these rules apply to and explains the basic terms you will see throughout the rest of the rulebook.