The Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure seeks comments on proposed amendments to Mass. R. Civ. P. 30 and 30A. As explained in the Committee's Report found at the link below, the amendments incorporate the provisions of Mass. R. Civ. P. 30A on audiovisual depositions into Mass. R. Civ. P. 30, and would result in a single combined rule and the repeal of Rule 30A. The purpose of the amendments is to streamline and modernize the provisions of the current rules.
Although comments are solicited on all the proposed revisions described in the Committee's Report, the Committee is particularly interested in comments on the following provisions:
Proposed Rule 30(a)(2)(C), requiring a stipulation of the parties or leave of court if “the deposition would result in more than ten total depositions being taken by the plaintiffs, or by the defendants, or by the third-party defendants, or by any group of parties which share a common interest in the litigation”; and
Proposed Rule 30(d)(1), which provides "Unless otherwise stipulated or ordered by the court, a deposition is limited to 1 day of 7 hours. The court must allow additional time if needed to fairly examine the deponent or if the deponent, another person, or any other circumstance impedes or delays the examination."
The Committee's report and a proposed new Mass. R. Civ. P. 30 appear at the links below. Comments should be directed to Christine P. Burak, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before February 17, 2021 (please note that this is an extension of the previous deadline of January 31, 2021). Comments may also be emailed to christine.burak@sjc.state.ma.us. Comments received will be made available to the public.
Proposed Amendments to Mass. R. Civ. P. 30 and 30A - Standing Advisory Committee's Report
Proposed Amendments to Mass. R. Civ. P. 30 and 30A - Proposed Revisions