Rule 2102 Style of Action

When you file a court case involving the state government, you have to use the correct name format. If the state of Pennsylvania itself is filing the lawsuit, the case must list the plaintiff as "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

If someone is suing a state agency or state official, the case name needs to clearly identify that agency or person, followed by "of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." This makes sure everyone knows exactly which part of the government is being sued.

If your case involves a local government body, like a city, county, township, or school district, you use that government's actual name in the case. For example, you would sue "City of Philadelphia" or "Montgomery County," not some other made-up title.

Getting the name right matters. Courts expect cases to be labeled correctly so there's no confusion about who is suing or being sued. If you use the wrong name format, it could cause delays or problems with your case.