404.02 Who May be Deposed
Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a). Depositions by Oral Examination. When a Deposition May Be Taken.
- (1) Without Leave. A party may, by oral questions, depose any person, including a party, without leave of court except as provided in Rule 30(a)(2). The deponent’s attendance may be compelled by subpoena under Rule 45.
- (2) With Leave. A party must obtain leave of court, and the court must grant leave to the extent consistent with Rule 26(b)(1) and (2):
- (A) if the parties have not stipulated to the deposition and:
- (i) the deposition would result in more than 10 depositions being taken under this rule or Rule 31 by the plaintiffs, or by the defendants, or by the third-party defendants;
- (ii) the deponent has already been deposed in the case; or
- (iii) the party seeks to take the deposition before the time specified in Rule 26(d), unless the party certifies in the notice, with supporting facts, that the deponent is expected to leave the United States and be unavailable for examination in this country after that time; or
- (B) if the deponent is confined in prison.
- (A) if the parties have not stipulated to the deposition and:
A discovery deposition generally may be taken of any person, whether or not the person is a party, and whether or not the person resides in the United States. However, the Board’s permission must be obtained under the following circumstances:
- (1) If without written stipulation of the parties, (i) a proposed deposition would result in more than ten discovery depositions being taken by the plaintiff(s) or by the defendant(s), or (ii) the person to be examined already has been deposed in the case, or
- (2) If the person to be examined is confined in prison.
[ Note 1.]
Deposition of a non-party witness residing in the United States may be taken by subpoena under Fed. R. Civ. P. 45, or on notice alone if the non-party witness agrees to appear voluntarily. See TBMP § 404.03(a)(2).
For information concerning limitations on the right to discovery depositions, see TBMP § 402.01. For information on depositions of a party or non-party that does not reside in the United States, see TBMP § 404.03(b), TBMP § 404.03(c), and TBMP § 404.07 (Discovery Depositions on Written Questions).
NOTES:
1. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a).