Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Issues 1st List of Professionalism Dos and Don'ts

The Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism has released the first of a quarterly series of "Professionalism Dos and Don'ts." This issue covers best practices regarding depositions, including recommended guidelines for scheduling, conducting and attending depositions. Examples of Dos include reviewing local rules, setting a reasonable time limit for a deposition, and providing documents to a deponent when asked. Examples of Don'ts include making rude or degrading comments to a deponent or opposing counsel, taking a deposition to harass a witness, and providing answers for a witness to give.

Changes Coming to Local Deposition Practice under Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Rule 13

The Judges of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court recently proposed amendments to Local Rule 13 governing deposition practice. Two of the major changes include limitations on the duration of a deposition and the types of objections that can be raised. The proposed amendments also identify the sources of possible sanctions (Ohio Civil Rules 26(C) and 37), which can include attorney fees. Click here to review the proposed changes. The Court Administrator is accepting comments on the changes until September 10, 2012. Send comments to:

Gregory M. Popovich
Court Administrator
Justice Center - 11th Floor
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 

New Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Took Effect This Week

Changes to Rules 8, 26 and 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure became effective this week, on Decemer 1, 2010. The new rules make changes to pleading affirmative defenses, expert witness discovery, and the procedures for summary judgment. The amendments also include an Illustrative Civil Form 52 for the "Report of the Parties' Planning Meeting." A good summary of the new rules can be found at martindale.com.