In Re Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Civil Practice - Recommendations to Revise Rules of Civil Procedure 3, 5, and 41 and Administrative Order No. 8

2020 Ark. 130

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: April 2, 2020
• Status: Published

Opinion

Digitally signed by Susan Williams Reason: I attest Cite as 2020 Ark. 130 to the accuracy and integrity of this document SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS Date: 2023.07.12 16:10:01 -05'00' Opinion Delivered: April 2, 2020

IN RE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON CIVIL PRACTICE – RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVISE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 3, 5, AND 41 AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 8

PER CURIAM

We publish for public comment our Committee on Civil Practice’s

recommendations for amendments to Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure 3, 5, and 41, and

Administrative Order No. 8. See the Reporter’s Notes for an explanation of the

amendments. The amendments are set out below in “line-in, line-out fashion”––new

material is underlined, and deleted material is lined through.

We solicit your comments. The deadline for responses is May 31, 2020. Please

submit in writing any comments or suggestions regarding the above-referenced rules to

Stacey Pectol, Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, 625 Marshall

Street, Suite 130, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.

RULE 3. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION--“CLERK” DEFINED

(a) Commencement of action. A civil action is commenced by filing delivering a complaint or other case initiating document with to the clerk of the court who shall must note thereon the date and precise time of filing delivery and file it with the court. The date and time of delivery shall be the date of filing the complaint or document. (b) Clerk must not refuse to accept deficient complaint or other case initiating document. The clerk must not refuse to accept a complaint or other case initiating document delivered for filing.

(c) Procedure for dismissal of deficient complaint or other case initiating document. Within 10 days of delivery to the clerk of a complaint or other case initiating document deficient as described in this rule, the clerk must give written notice to the attorney or other person responsible for delivering the complaint or document for filing that the clerk may request dismissal as provided in this rule and Rule 41(b). The notice must specifically describe the deficiency. If within 30 days of the filing date the deficiency in form is not corrected or a completed appropriate form is not delivered to the clerk, the clerk may notify the court of the deficiency and request that the court dismiss the complaint or other case initiating document for want of prosecution as provided in Rule 41(b) for failure to comply with these rules or Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 8. (b d) Clerk of court defined. The term “clerk of the court” as used in these Rules means the circuit clerk and, with respect to probate matters, any county clerk who serves as ex officio clerk of the probate division of the circuit court pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 14- 14-502(b)(2)(B). In counties where the county clerk serves as the ex officio clerk of any division of the circuit court, the filing requirement shall be is satisfied when the complaint is filed delivered for filing with either the circuit clerk or the county clerk. (c e) Clerk to assign number and charge new filing fee if case refiled. The clerk shall must assign a new case number and charge a new filing fee for the filing of any case that is refiled after having been dismissed.

(d f) Claims or counterclaims not to be asserted in Domestic Abuse Act action. No other claim or counterclaim for relief, including without limitation, divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, or paternity, shall be asserted in an action filed under the Domestic Abuse Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-101 et seq., but a separate action seeking other relief shall must be filed, and the clerk shall must assign a new case number and charge a filing fee unless the filing fee is waived pursuant to Rule 72 of these rules.

(e g) Petition for adoption not to be asserted in guardianship proceeding; separate action must be filed. A petition for adoption cannot be asserted in a guardianship proceeding, but a separate action shall must be filed, and the clerk shall must assign a new case number and charge a filing fee unless the filing fee is waived pursuant to Rule 72 of these rules.

2 Rule 41. DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS

...

(b) Involuntary Dismissal. In any case in which there has been a failure of the plaintiff to comply with these rules, Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 8, or any order of court or in which there has been no action shown on the record for the past 12 months, the court shall cause notice to be mailed to the attorneys of record, and to any party not represented by an attorney, that the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution unless on a stated day application is made, upon a showing of good cause, to continue the case on the court’s docket. A dismissal under this subdivision is without prejudice to a future action by the plaintiff unless the action has been previously dismissed, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, in which event such dismissal operates as an adjudication on the merits.

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 8.

Forms for Reporting Case Information in All Arkansas Courts

Section II. Responsibility for forms.

b. Court clerk.

The court clerk shall not accept an initial pleading or final order that is not accompanied by the appropriate form, except as provided elsewhere in this order. The clerk must not refuse to accept a complaint or other case initiating document delivered for filing. However, if within 30 days of the filing date the deficiency in form is not corrected or a completed appropriate form is not delivered to the clerk, the complaint or other case initiating document may be dismissed for want of prosecution as provided in Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). The court clerk shall maintain a supply of forms to ensure their availability to attorneys or self-represented litigants. The court clerk shall report the data electronically to the AOC.

Reporter’s Notes (20 ): Proposed changes to Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure 3 and 41(b) and Administrative Order No. 8.

3 The proposed revisions to Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure 3 and 41(b) and Administrative Order No. 8 clarify the clerk’s duties regarding the filing of complaints and other case initiating documents. Under current applicable rules and Administrative Order No. 8, guidance as to the clerk’s responsibilities is not clear if there are questions whether the complaint or other case initiating document is presented in the proper form or was accompanied by the appropriate Administrative Order No. 8 form.

Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 5(c)(1) states: “The clerk shall not refuse to accept for filing any paper presented for that purpose solely because it is not presented in the proper form.” However, the Rule 5 filing provision applies only to filings subsequent to the filing of the complaint. Rule 3 addresses the filing of the complaint but does not incorporate the Rule 5(c)(1) “shall not refuse to accept for filing” language. In addition, Section II(b) of Administrative Order No. 8 provides: “The court clerk shall not accept an initial pleading or final order that is not accompanied by the appropriate form [including the complaint cover sheet].” And, Section III(a) of the order states: “Completeness. Forms accompanying the initial pleading shall be sufficiently complete to enable identification of the parties and to provide essential case information.” Issues arising from these filing provisions can lead to statute of limitations concerns.

Revisions are proposed to Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 3 and 41(b) and Administrative Order No. 8 to address the potential limitations problems. The revisions clarify the clerk’s duties and place the ultimate propriety of filing issues before the judge.

4 RULE 5. SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND, OTHER PAPERS, AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Service.

(1) When Service Required.

(A) In General. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, and for matters that may be heard ex parte, each of the following filed subsequent to the complaint must be served on every party:

(i) Every pleading and every all other paper papers, including all written communications with the court; 1 and

[Note – The following material is moved to 5(a)(1)(A), above: , filed subsequent to the complaint, except one which may be heard ex parte, shall be served upon each of the parties, unless;]

(ii) All electronic communications with the court] orders otherwise because of numerous parties.2

(B) Service not Required on Party Who Fails to Appear. No service need be made upon on parties in default for failure to appear, except that pleadings asserting new or additional claims for relief against them shall must be served in the manner provided for service of summons in Rule 4.3

[Note – The following material is moved to 5(a)(1)(C) below: Any pleading asserting new or additional claims for relief against any party who has appeared shall be served in accordance with subdivision (b) of this rule.]

(C) Service Required When Asserting Claims for Relief Against Party Who Has Appeared. Any pleading asserting new or additional claims for relief against any party who has appeared must be served in accordance with subdivision (a)(2) of this rule.4

1 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(a), first sentence.

This provision would be new. The provision is neither part of the current Arkansas Rules of Civil 2

Procedure nor the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 3 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(a), second sentence. 4 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(a), third sentence.

5 (D) Service in Actions Begun by Seizure of Property. In an action begun by seizure of property, in which no person need be or is named as defendant, any service required to be made prior to the filing of an answer, claim or appearance shall must be made upon on the person having custody or possession of the property at the time of its seizure. when it is seized.5 (E) Service by Mail or Commercial Delivery Company if Final Judgment or Decree Entered and Court has Continuing Jurisdiction. If a final judgment or decree has been entered and the court has continuing jurisdiction, service on a party by mail or commercial delivery company must comply with the requirements of Rule 4(dg)(81)(A) and (C2), respectively.6

(b2) Service: How Made.

(A) In General. If a party is represented by an attorney, service whenever under this rule or any statute service is required or permitted to must be made upon a party represented by an attorney, the service shall be upon on the attorney, except that unless the court orders service shall be upon on the party if the court so orders or a final judgment has been entered in the action is one in which a final judgment has been entered and the court has continuing jurisdiction.7 (B) Service Procedure.

(i) Service by delivering or sending a copy to the person to be served. Except as provided in paragraph (3a)(1)(E) of this subdivision, service upon the attorney or upon the party shall be made a paper is served by delivering a copy to him or by sending it to him the person or by sending a copy to the person by regular mail or commercial delivery company at his the person’s last known address or, if no address is known, by leaving it with the clerk of the court.8

(ii) Meaning of delivery of a copy. Delivery of a copy for purposes of this paragraph rule means handing it to the attorney or to the party; by leaving it at his the person’s office with his the person’s clerk or other

5 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(a), second paragraph. 6 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(b)(3). 7 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(b)(1). 8 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(b)(2), first sentence.

6 person in charge thereof of the office; or, if the office is closed or the person has no office, leaving it at his the person's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person residing therein who is at least 14 years of age. Service by mail is presumptively complete upon on mailing, and service by commercial delivery company is presumptively complete upon on depositing the papers with the company. When service is permitted upon on an attorney, such service may be effected by electronic transmission, including e-mail, provided that the attorney being served has facilities within his or her the attorney’s office to receive and reproduce verbatim electronic transmissions. Service is complete upon on transmission but is not effective if it does not reach the person to be served. Service by a commercial delivery company shall is not be valid unless the company: (A) maintains permanent records of actual delivery, and (B) has been approved by the circuit court in which the action is filed or in the county where service is to be made.9

[Note – the following material is moved to 5(a)(2)(A), above: (3) If a final judgment or decree has been entered and the court has continuing jurisdiction, service upon a party by mail or commercial delivery company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 4(d)(8)(A) and (C), respectively.]

(3) Proof of Service. Every pleading, paper or other document required by this rule to be served on a party or the party’s attorney, must contain a statement by the party or attorney filing the pleading, paper or other document that a copy has been served in accordance with this rule, stating the date and method of service and, if by mail, the name and address of each person served.10

(4) Court not to Act on Pleadings, Motions, or Other Requests Until Service Accomplished. Except for matters that may be heard ex parte, a court must not act on a pleading, motion or other request until service has been accomplished as required by this rule.11

(cb) Filing.

9 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(b)(2) second sentence through fourth sentence. 10 Source - Identical to current ARCP 5(e).

This provision would be new. The provision is neither part of the current Arkansas Rules of Civil 11

Procedure nor the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

7 (1) Filing Requirement in General. All papers after the complaint required to be served upon on a party or his the party’s attorney shall must be filed with delivered for filing to the clerk of the court either before service or within a reasonable time thereafter. after service. The clerk shall must note the date and precise time of delivery on the paper as the date of filing thereon. However, proposed and file it with the court.12

(2) Exceptions to Filing Requirement. Proposed findings of fact, proposed conclusions of law, trial briefs, proposed jury instructions, and responses and objections thereto may but need not be filed unless ordered by the court. Disclosures under Rule 26(a)(1) or (2), depositions, interrogatories, requests for production or inspection, and answers, and responses and objections thereto shall not be filed unless ordered by the court. When such those discovery documents are relevant to a motion, they or the relevant portions thereof of the documents shall be submitted with the motion and attached as an exhibit unless such the documents have already been filed.13

(3) Clerk not to Refuse Papers Presented for Filing. The clerk shall must not refuse to accept for filing any paper presented for that purpose solely because it is not presented in the proper form. delivered for filing.14

(4) Filing in Counties where County Clerk Serves as Ex Officio Clerk of Circuit Court. In counties where the county clerk serves as the ex officio clerk of any division of the circuit court, the filing requirement for any pleading, paper, order, judgment, decree, or notice of appeal shall be is satisfied when the document is filed with either the circuit clerk or the county clerk.15

12 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(c)(1), first sentence, with the following exceptions: To make the filing provisions of the rule (filing papers after the complaint) accord with the filing provisions for proposed ARCP 3(a) (“Commencement of Action” – filing the complaint), the phrase “must be delivered for filing to the clerk of the court” is substituted for “shall be filed with the clerk of the court.” In addition, the clerk is to note the date and “precise time of delivery” on the paper. The time of delivery then constitutes the date of filing. 13 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(c)(1), second sentence through fifth sentence, with the following exceptions: “[o]bjections” is added to the list of documents in the first and second sentences and “[d]isclosures under proposed Rule 26(a)(1) or (2)” is added to the list of discovery documents that are not to be filed unless ordered by the court. The “disclosures” provision under Rule 26(a)(1) or (2) would be added to Rule 26 through a separate proposed rule revision submitted to the Arkansas Supreme Court by the court’s Committee on Civil Practice. 14 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(c)(1), sixth sentence with the exception that the phrase "solely because it is not delivered in the proper form" is deleted. 15 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(c)(1), seventh sentence. 8 (5) Confidential Information. Confidential information as defined and described in Sections III(A)(11) and VII(A) of Administrative Order 19 shall must not be included as part of a case record unless the confidential information is necessary and relevant to the case. Section III(A)(2) of the Administrative Order defines a case record as any document, information, data, or other item created, collected, received, or maintained by a court, court agency or clerk of court in connection with a judicial proceeding. If including confidential information in a case record is necessary and relevant to the case: (A) The confidential information shall must be redacted from the case record to which public access is granted pursuant to Section IV(A) of Administrative Order 19. The point in the case record at which the redaction is made shall must be indicated by striking through the redacted material with an opaque black mark or by inserting some explanatory notation in brackets, such as: [Information Redacted], [I.R.], [Confidential], or [Subject To Protective Order]. If an entire document is redacted, then the name of the document (with the number of pages redacted specified) should be noted in the publicly available court file and the entire document should be filed under seal. The requirement that the redaction be indicated in case records shall must not apply to court records rendered confidential by expungement or other legal authority that expressly prohibits disclosure of the existence of a record; and (B) An un-redacted copy of the case record with the confidential information included shall must be filed with the court under seal. The un-redacted copy of the case record shall must be retained by the court as part of the court record of the case. It is the responsibility of the attorney for a party represented by counsel and the responsibility of a party unrepresented by counsel to ensure that confidential information is omitted or redacted from all case records that they submit to a court. It is the responsibility of the court, court agency, or clerk of court to ensure that confidential information is omitted or redacted from all case records, including orders, judgments, and decrees, that they create.16 (6) Filing Facsimile Transmission Papers if Clerk’s Office has a Facsimile Machine. If the clerk's office has a facsimile machine, the clerk shall must accept facsimile transmissions of any paper filed under this rule and may charge a fee of $1.00 per page. Any signature appearing on a facsimile copy shall be is presumed authentic

Source – With the exceptions of substituting “must” for “shall” in six instances, all of proposed 16

ARCP 5(b)(5) is identical to ARCP 5(c)(2).

9 until proven otherwise. The clerk shall must stamp or otherwise mark a facsimile copy as filed on the date and time that it is received on the clerk's facsimile machine during the regular hours of the clerk's office or, if received outside those hours, at the time the office opens on the next business day.17

(d7) Filing with the Judge. The judge may permitWith the judge’s permission, papers or pleadings to may be filed with him, in which event he shall the judge. The judge must note thereon the filing date on the papers or pleadings and forthwith transmit them to the office of the clerk. If the judge permits filing by facsimile transmission, the provisions of subdivision (c)(2b)(5) of this rule shall apply.18

[Note – The following material is moved to 5(a)(3), above: (e) Proof of Service. Every pleading, paper or other document required by this rule to be served upon a party or his attorney, shall contain a statement by the party or attorney filing same that a copy thereof has been served in accordance with this rule, stating therein the date and method of service and, if by mail, the name and address of each person served.]

Reporters Notes (20 ): Proposed changes to Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 5

The proposal reformats and reorganizes the provisions of the rule into single topic subparts with titles for each subpart and updates the language of the rule. The substance of all provisions of current ARCP 5 are retained in the proposed revised rule. Changes of note:

◼ Rule 5(b)(1) is modified to track in Rule 5 the changed language of proposed Rule 3(a) regarding the clerk’s duties with respect to documents presented for filing; ◼ Rule 5(a)(1)(A)(ii) requires service on all parties of “all electronic communications with the court”; ◼ Rule 5(a)(4) provides that the court is not to act on pleadings, motions, etc. until service is accomplished; ◼ Rule 5(b)(2) “Objections” are added to the list of documents that need not be filed and disclosures under Rule 26(c)(1) or (2) to the list of documents that are not to be filed; ◼ Rule 5(a)(1)(E) corrects the cross-reference to a subsection of Rule 4; ◼ The source of each Rule 5 provision in the proposal is indicated in a footnote

17 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(c)(3). 18 Source - Substantively identical to current ARCP 5(d). 10 following the provision. The source is generally the location of the substantively identical provision in current Rule 5.

WOOD, J., dissents.