Rule 194 - [Effective until 12/1/2024] Required Disclosures in Suits Not Governed by The Family Code194.1Duty to Disclose; Production.(a)Duty to Disclose. Except in a suit governed by the Family Code, as exempted by Rule 194.2(c), or as otherwise agreed by the parties or ordered by the court, a party must, without awaiting a discovery request, provide to the other parties the information or material described in Rule 194.2, 194.3, and 194.4.(b)Production. If a party does not produce copies of all responsive documents, electronically stored information, and tangible things with the response, the response must state a reasonable time and method for the production of these items. The responding party must produce the items at the time and in the method stated, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or ordered by the court, and must provide the requesting party a reasonable opportunity to inspect them.194.2Initial Disclosures.(a)Time for Initial Disclosures. A party must make the initial disclosures within 30 days after the filing of the first answer or general appearance unless a different time is set by the parties' agreement or court order. A party that is first served or otherwise joined after the filing of the first answer or general appearance must make the initial disclosures within 30 days after being served or joined, unless a different time is set by the parties' agreement or court order. (b)Content. Without awaiting a discovery request, a party must provide to the other parties: (1) the correct names of the parties to the lawsuit;(2) the name, address, and telephone number of any potential parties;(3) the legal theories and, in general, the factual bases of the responding party's claims or defenses (the responding party need not marshal all evidence that may be offered at trial);(4) the amount and any method of calculating economic damages;(5) the name, address, and telephone number of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, and a brief statement of each identified person's connection with the case;(6) a copy-or a description by category and location-of all documents, electronically stored information, and tangible things that the responding party has in its possession, custody, or control, and may use to support its claims or defenses, unless the use would be solely for impeachment;(7) any indemnity and insuring agreements described in Rule 192.3(f);(8) any settlement agreements described in Rule 192.3(g);(9) any witness statements described in Rule 192.3(h);(10) in a suit alleging physical or mental injury and damages from the occurrence that is the subject of the case, all medical records and bills that are reasonably related to the injuries or damages asserted or, in lieu thereof, an authorization permitting the disclosure of such medical records and bills;(11) in a suit alleging physical or mental injury and damages from the occurrence that is the subject of the case, all medical records and bills obtained by the responding party by virtue of an authorization furnished by the requesting party; and(12) the name, address, and telephone number of any person who may be designated as a responsible third party.(c)Proceedings Exempt from Initial Disclosure. The following proceedings are exempt from initial disclosure, but a court may order the parties to make particular disclosures and set the time for disclosure: (1) an action for review on an administrative record;(2) a forfeiture action arising from a state statute; and(3) a petition for habeas corpus;(4) an action involving domestic violence; and(5) an action on appeal from a justice court.194.3Testifying Expert Disclosures. In addition to the disclosures required by Rule 194.2, a party must disclose to the other parties testifying expert information as provided by Rule 195.194.4Pretrial Disclosures.(a)In General. In addition to the disclosures required by Rule 194.2 and 194.3, a party must provide to the other parties and promptly file the following information about the evidence that it may present at trial other than solely for impeachment: (1) the name and, if not previously provided, the address, and telephone number of each witness-separately identifying those the party expects to present and those it may call if the need arises;(2) an identification of each document or other exhibits, including summaries of other evidence-separately identifying those items the party expects to offer and those it may offer if the need arises.(b)Time for Pretrial Disclosures. Unless the court orders otherwise, these disclosures must be made at least 30 days before trial.194.5No Objection or Assertion of Work Product.No objection or assertion of work product is permitted to a disclosure under this rule.
194.6 Certain Responses Not Admissible.A disclosure under Rule 194.2(b)(3) and (4) that has been changed by an amended or supplemental response is not admissible and may not be used for impeachment.
Amended August 21, 2020, effective 1/1/2021; amended December 23, 2020, effective 1/1/2021; Amended August 7, 2023, effective 9/1/2023; amended November 17, 2023, effective 11/17/2023.Comment to 2021 change: Rule 194 is amended to implement section 22.004(h-1) of the Texas Government Code, which calls for rules "to promote the prompt, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions filed in county courts at law in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $250,000" that "balance the need for lowering discovery costs in these actions against the complexity of and discovery needs in these actions." Rule 194 is amended based on Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a) to require disclosure of basic discovery automatically, without awaiting a discovery request. A party is not excused from making its disclosures because it has not fully investigated the case or because it challenges the sufficiency of another party's disclosures or because another party has not made its disclosures. As with other written discovery responses, required disclosures must be signed under Rule 191.3, complete under Rule 193.2, served under Rule 191.5, and timely amended or supplemented under Rule 193.5.
Comment to 2023 change: Rule 194 is amended to implement chapter 301 of the Family Code.