THE COURTS
Title 231--RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
PART I. GENERAL
[231 PA. CODE CH. 1000]
Amendment of Rules Governing Judgment on the Pleadings and Summary Judgment; no. 255; doc. no. 5
[26 Pa.B. 862]
Order Per Curiam:
And Now, this 14th day of February, 1996, the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure are amended as follows:
1. Rule 1034 governing judgment on the pleadings is amended to read as follows.
2. Rule 1035 governing summary judgment is rescinded.
3. New Rules 1035.1 through 1035.5 governing summary judgment are promulgated to read as follows.
This Order shall be effective July 1, 1996 and shall be processed in accordance with Rule of Judicial Administration 103(b).
Annex A
TITLE 231. RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
PART I. GENERAL
CHAPTER 1000. ACTIONS AT LAW Rule 1034. Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
(a) After the relevant pleadings are closed, but within such time as not to unreasonably delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings.
Official Note: Only the pleadings between the parties to the motion for judgment on the pleadings must be closed prior to filing the motion.
(b) The court shall enter such judgment or order as shall be proper on the pleadings.
Rule 1035.1. Motion for Summary Judgment. Definition.
As used in Rule 1035.1 et seq., ''record'' includes any
(1) pleadings,
(2) depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions and affidavits, and
Official Note: See Definition Rule 76 for the definition of ''affidavit.'' See Rule 1035.4 governing affidavits supporting or defending a motion for summary judgment.
(3) reports signed by an expert witness that would, if filed, comply with Rule 4003.5(a)(1), whether or not the reports have been produced in response to interrogatories.
Rule 1035.2. Motion.
After the relevant pleadings are closed, but within such time as not to unreasonably delay trial, any party may move for summary judgment in whole or in part as a matter of law
(1) whenever there is no genuine issue of any material fact as to a necessary element of the cause of action or defense which could be established by additional discovery or expert report, or
(2) if, after the completion of discovery relevant to the motion, including the production of expert reports, an adverse party who will bear the burden of proof at trial has failed to produce evidence of facts essential to the cause of action or defense which in a jury trial would require the issues to be submitted to a jury.
Official Note: Rule 1035.2 sets forth the general principle that a motion for summary judgment is based on an evidentiary record which entitles the moving party to judgment as a matter of law.
The evidentiary record may be one of two types. Under subparagraph (1), the record shows that the material facts are undisputed and, therefore, there is no issue to be submitted to a jury.
An example of a motion under subparagraph (1) is a motion supported by a record containing an admission. By virtue of the admission, no issue of fact could be established by further discovery or expert report.
Under subparagraph (2), the record contains insufficient evidence of facts to make out a prima facie cause of action or defense and, therefore, there is no issue to be submitted to a jury. The motion in this instance is made by a party who does not have the burden of proof at trial and who does not have access to the evidence to make a record which affirmatively supports the motion. To defeat this motion, the adverse party must come forth with evidence showing the existence of the facts essential to the cause of action or defense.
Oral testimony alone, either through testimonial affidavits or depositions, of the moving party or the moving party's witnesses, even if uncontradicted, is generally insufficient to establish the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Nanty-Glo v. American Surety Co., 309 Pa. 236, 163 A. 523 (1932); Penn Center House, Inc. v. Hoffman, 520 Pa. 171, 553 A.2d 900 (1989).
Only the pleadings between the parties to the motion for summary judgment must be closed prior to filing the motion.
In asbestos litigation, a motion for summary judgment filed by one defendant alleging a ground common to one or more other defendants is deemed filed on behalf of all such defendants. See Rule 1041.1(f).
Partial summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on one or more issues of liability, defense or damages.
Rule 1035.3. Response. Judgment for Failure to Respond.
(a) The adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the pleadings but must file a response within thirty days after service of the motion identifying
(1) one or more issues of fact arising from evidence in the record controverting the evidence cited in support of the motion or from a challenge to the credibility of one or more witnesses testifying in support of the motion, or
Official Note: If the moving party has supported the motion with oral testimony only, the response may raise the defense that there is a genuine issue of material fact because the cause of action is dependent upon the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses who will testify at trial. See Nanty-Glo v. American Surety Co., 309 Pa. 236, 163 A. 523 (1932); Penn Center House, Inc. v. Hoffman, 520 Pa. 171, 553 A.2d 900 (1989).
(2) evidence in the record establishing the facts essential to the cause of action or defense which the motion cites as not having been produced.
(b) An adverse party may supplement the record or set forth the reasons why the party cannot present evidence essential to justify opposition to the motion and any action proposed to be taken by the party to present such evidence.
(c) The court may rule upon the motion for judgment or permit affidavits to be obtained, depositions to be taken or other discovery to be had or make such other order as is just.
(d) Summary judgment may be entered against a party who does not respond.
Official Note: Procedural requirements with respect to argument and briefs are governed by local rule.
In certain counties, the failure to respond to a motion may result in the motion being deemed uncontested and the entry of the judgment sought.
See Rule 1035.2 providing for the entry of judgment in whole or in part.
Rule 1035.4. Affidavits.
Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the signer is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Verified or certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served therewith. The court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, or further affidavits.
Official Note: See Section 2503 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503 for the award of counsel fees as part of taxable costs as a sanction for dilatory conduct or for conduct which is in bad faith.
See Rule of Professional Conduct 3.1 providing that a lawyer shall not assert or controvert an issue unless there is a basis for doing so that is not frivolous, Rule 3.2 providing for reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the interests of the client and Rule 3.3 prohibiting the making of false statements of material fact or law to a tribunal.
Rule 1035.5. Procedure When Judgment Is Denied or Is Not Rendered Upon the Whole Case.
If judgment is denied or is not rendered upon the whole case or for all the relief asked and a trial is necessary, the court when considering the motion may, if practicable, ascertain from the pleadings, the evidence and the parties which material facts relevant to the motion exist without controversy and which are actually controverted. It shall thereupon make an order specifying the facts that are without controversy, including the extent to which the amount of damages or other relief is not in controversy and directing such further proceedings in the action as are just. Upon the trial of the action the facts so specified shall be deemed established and the trial shall be conducted accordingly.
Explanatory Comment Introduction
New Rules of Civil Procedure 1035.1 through 1035.5 governing summary judgment replace former Rule 1035.
Rule 1035.1. Motion for Summary Judgment. Definition.
The term ''record'' as used in these rules includes: (1) ''pleadings,'' (2) discovery materials, i.e., ''depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions and affidavits,'' and (3) ''reports signed by an expert witness that would, if filed, comply with Rule 4003.5(a)(1), whether or not the reports have been produced in response to interrogatories.''
Rule 1035.2. Motion.
The essence of the revision set forth in new Rule 1035.2 is that the motion for summary judgment encompasses two concepts: (1) the absence of a dispute as to any material fact and (2) the absence of evidence sufficient to permit a jury to find a fact essential to the cause of action or defense. The former rule was unclear as to whether it encompassed the type of motion which is based upon a record which is insufficient to sustain a prima facie case. New Rule 1035.2(2) is explicit in authorizing such a motion.
The type of motion provided by Rule 1035.2(2) is not new to Pennsylvania practice. In Godlewski v. Pars Mfg. Co., 408 Pa. Superior Ct. 425, 597 A.2d 106 (1991) Judge Hester wrote:
It is clear that if a defendant is the moving party, he may make the showing necessary to support the entrance of summary judgment by pointing to materials which indicated that the plaintiff is unable to satisfy an element of this cause of action. See Eckenrod v. GAF Corp., supra (wherein, by approving grants of summary judgment on motions that were based upon the failure of the plaintiffs to satisfy an element necessary of their case, we impliedly utilized this principle); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U. S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (wherein the Supreme Court considered the language of F.R.C.P. 56(c), which is similar to that set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 1035(b) and explicitly indicated the same) . . . .
Special note should be taken of the requirement under Rule 1035.2(2) that the motion be made after completion of discovery relevant to the motion, including the production of expert reports. While Rule 1035.2(2) is prefaced with the statement that any party may file a motion after the relevant pleadings have closed, the adverse party must be given adequate time to develop the case and the motion will be premature if filed before the adverse party has completed discovery relevant to the motion. The purpose of the rule is to eliminate cases prior to trial where a party cannot make out a claim or a defense after relevant discovery has been completed; the intent is not to eliminate meritorious claims prematurely before relevant discovery has been completed.
The timing of the motion is important. Under Rule 1035.2(1), the motion is brought when there is ''no genuine issue of any material fact . . . which could be established by additional discovery or expert report.'' Under Rule 1035.2(2), the motion is brought ''after the completion of discovery relevant to the motion.''
New Rule 1035.2 provides that a party may move for summary judgment after the ''relevant'' pleadings are closed and, in order to provide discretion in the lower court, within such time so as not to ''unreasonably'' delay the trial. These revisions have been made also to Rule 1034 governing judgment on the pleadings.
Rule 1035.3. Response. Judgment for Failure to Respond.
New Rule 1035.3 requires that a response must be filed within thirty days after service of the motion and provides for supplementation of the record. The response provisions of subdivision (a)(1) and (2) correspond to the bases for summary judgment in Rule 1035.2(1) and (2). The rule permits entry of judgment for failure to respond to the motion but does not require it.
Rule 1035.4. Affidavits.
New Rule 1035.4 governing affidavits is derived verbatim from the first three sentences of prior Rule 1035(d) and therefore represents no change in practice. The note to the new rule replaces subdivision (f) of the prior rule relating to affidavits made in bad faith or for purposes of delay.
Rule 1035.5. Procedure When Judgment Is Denied or Is Not Rendered Upon the Whole Case.
New Rule 1035.5 is a rule of case management based upon former Rule 1035(c). It is related to the concept of a partial judgment set forth in Rule 1035.2 and encourages the use of the motion for summary judgment to simplify and expedite the course of litigation. If judgment is denied or not entered upon the whole case, the rule authorizes the court to simplify the future course of the
action by determining ''which material facts relevant to the motion exist without controversy and which are actually controverted.''
By the Civil Procedural Rules Committee
EDWIN L. KLETT,
Chairperson
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-283. Filed for public inspection March 1, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
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