R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 16

As amended through April 4, 2024

Rule 16 - Pre-trial Procedure - Formulating Issues.

In any action the court may in its discretion direct the attorneys for the parties to appear before it for a conference to consider:

(1) The simplification of the issues;

(2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings;

(3) The possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof;

(4) The limitations of the number of expert witnesses;

(5) Matters related to electronically stored information; and/or

(6) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action.

The court shall make an order which recites the action taken at the conference, the amendments allowed to the pleadings, issues relating to electronically stored information, and the agreements made by the parties as to any of the matters considered, and which limits the issues for trial to those not disposed of by admissions or agreements of counsel; and such order when entered controls the subsequent course of the action, unless modified at the trial to prevent manifest injustice.

Each judicial officer conducting jury trials may conduct a pre-trial conference upon the day of, and prior to, the commencement of such trial in accordance with the provisions of this rule.

R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 16

Amended November 6, 2017, effective 11/6/2017.