Alaska

Civil Procedure

Rule 31 – Depositions Upon Written Questions

(a)Serving Questions; Notice.

(1) A party may take the testimony of any person, including a party, by deposition upon written questions without leave of court except as provided in paragraph (2). The attendance of witnesses may be compelled by the use of subpoena as provided in Rule 45.

(2) A party must obtain leave of court, which shall be granted to the extent consistent with the principles stated in Rule 26(b)(2), if the person to be examined is confined in prison or if, without the written stipulation of the parties,

(A) a proposed deposition would result in more than three depositions being taken under this rule or Rule 30 by the plaintiffs, or by the defendants, or by third-party defendants, of witnesses other than:

(i) parties, which means any individual identified as a party in the pleadings and any individual whom a party claims in its disclosure statements is covered by the attorney-client privilege;

(ii) independent expert witnesses expected to be called at trial;

(iii) treating physicians; and

(iv) document custodians whose depositions are necessary to secure the production of documents or to establish an evidentiary foundation for the admissibility of documents;

(B) the person to be examined already has been deposed in the case; or

(C) a party seeks to take a deposition before the time specified in Rule 26(d).

(3) A party desiring to take a deposition upon written questions shall serve them upon every other party with a notice stating (1) the name and address of the person who is to answer them, if known, and if the name is not known, a general description sufficient to identify the person or the particular class or group to which the person belongs, and (2) the name or descriptive title and address of the officer before whom the deposition is to be taken. A deposition upon written questions may be taken of a public or private corporation or a partnership or association or governmental agency in accordance with the provisions of Rule 30(b)(6).

(4) Within 30 days after the notice and written questions are served, a party may serve cross questions upon all other parties. Within 10 days after being served with cross questions, a party may serve redirect questions upon all other parties. Within 10 days after being served with redirect questions, a party may serve recross questions upon all other parties. The court may for cause shown enlarge or shorten the time.

(b)Officer to Take Responses and Prepare Record. A copy of the notice and copies of all questions served shall be delivered by the party taking the deposition to the officer designated in the notice, who shall proceed promptly, in the manner provided by Rule 30(c), (e), and (f), to take the testimony of the witness in response to the questions and to prepare, certify, and file or mail the deposition, attaching thereto the copy of the notice and the questions received by the officer.

(c)Notice of Filing. When the deposition is filed the party taking it shall promptly give notice thereof to all other parties.

Alaska R. Civ. P. 31

Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 158 effective February 15, 1973; by SCO 888 effective July 15, 1988; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; and by SCO 1172 effective July 15, 1995

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