FOR THE TRIAL DIVISION OF THE
POHNPEI SUPREME COURT

Table Of Contents
 
 
I. SCOPE OF RULES ONE FORM OF ACTION
Rule 1.  Scope of Rules
Rule 2.  One form of Action

II.  COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION: SERVICE OF PROCESS PLEADINGS, MOTIONS AND ORDERS
Rule 3.  Commencement of Action
Rule 4.  Process
Rule 4(a)  Summons : Issuance
Rule 4(b)  Same. Form
Rule 4(c)  By Whom Served
Rule 4(d)  Summons and Complaint: Personal Service and Service by Mail
Rule 4(e)  Same: Service Upon Party not Inhabitant or Found Within State
Rule 4(f)   Territorial Limits of Effective Service
Rule 4(g)  Return
Rule 4(h)  Amendment
Rule 4(i)   Alternative Provisions for Service in a Foreign Country
Rule 4(j)   Summons: Time Limit for Service
Rule 5.  Service and Filing of Pleadings and other Papers
Rule 5(a)  Service: When Required
Rule 5(b)  Same: How Made
Rule 5(c)  Same:Numerous Defendants
Rule 5(d)  Filing
Rule 5(e)  Filing with the Court Defined
Rule 6.  Time
Rule 6(a)  Computation
Rule 6(b)  Enlargement
Rule 6(c)  Vacant
Rule 6(d)  For Motions-Affidavits
Rule 6(e)  Additional Time After Service by Mail

III.  PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS
Rule 7.  Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions
Rule 7(a)  Pleadings
Rule 7(b)  Motions and Other Papers
Rule 8.  General Rules of Pleading
Rule 8(a)  Claims for Relief
Rule 8(b)  Defenses; Form of Denials
Rule 8(c)  Affirmative Defenses
Rule 8(d)  Effect of Failure to Deny
Rule 8(e)  Pleadings to be Concise and Direct Consistency
Rule 8(f)   Construction of Pleadings
Rule 9.  Pleading Special Matters
Rule 9(a)  Capacity
Rule 9(b)  Fraud, Mistake, Condition of the Mind
Rule 9(c)  Conditions Precedent
Rule 9(d)  Official Document or Act
Rule 9(e)  Judgment
Rule 9(f)   Time and Place
Rule 9(g)  Special Damage
Rule 9(h)  Admiralty and Maritime Claims
Rule 10.  Form of Pleadings
Rule 10(a)  Caption: Name of Parties
Rule 10(b)  Paragraphs; Separate Statements
Rule 10(c)  Adoption by Reference; Exhibits
Rule 11.  Signing of Pleadings
Rule 12.   Defenses and Objections , When and How Presented,by Pleading or Motion, Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Rule 12(a)  When Presented
Rule 12(b)  How Presented
Rule 12(c)  Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Rule 12(d)  Preliminary Hearings
Rule 12(e)  Motion for More Definite Statement
Rule 12(f)   Motion to Strike
Rule 12(g)  Consolidation of Defenses in Motion
Rule 12(h)   Waiver or Preservation of Certain Defenses
Rule 13.  Counterclaim and Cross Claim
Rule 13(a)  Compulsory Counterclaims
Rule 13(b)  Permissive Counterclaims
Rule 13(c)  Counterclaim Exceeding Opposing Claim
Rule 13(d)  Counterclaim Against the FSM
Rule 13(e)  Counterclaim Maturing or Acquired After Pleading
Rule 13(f)   Omitted Counterclaim
Rule 13(g)  Cross Claim Against Co-Party
Rule 13(h)  Joinder of Additional Parties
Rule 13(i)   Separate Trials; Separate Judgments
Rule 14.  Third-Party Practice
Rule 14(a)  When Defendant May Bring in Third Party
Rule 14(b)  When Plaintiff May Bring in Third Party
Rule 14(c)  Admiralty and Maritime Claims
Rule 15.  Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
Rule 15(a)  Amendments
Rule 15(b)  Amendments to Conform to the Evidence
Rule 15(c)  Relation Back of Amendments
Rule 15(d)  Supplemental Pleadings
Rule 16.  Pre-Trial Procedure; Formulating Issues
Rule 17.  Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity
Rule 17(a)  Real Party in Interest
Rule 17(b)  Infants or Incompetent Persons      
Rule 18.  Joinder of Claims and Remedies
Rule 18(a)  Joinder of Claims
Rule 18(b)  Joinder of Remedies; Fraudulent Conveyances
Rule 19.  Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication
Rule 19(a)  Persons to be Joined if Feasible
Rule 19(b)  Determination by Court Whenever Joinder not Feasible
Rule 19(c)  Pleading Reasons for Non joinder
Rule 19(d)  Exception of Class Action
Rule 20.  Permissive Joinder of Parties
Rule 20(a)  Permissive Joinder
Rule 20(b)  Separate Trials
Rule 21.  Misjoinder and Non-Joinder of Parties
Rule 22.  Interpleader
Rule 23.  Class Actions
Rule 23(a)  Prerequisites to a Class Action
Rule 23(b)  Class Actions Maintainable
Rule 23(c)  Determination by Order Whether Class Action to be
                    Maintained; Notice; Judgment; Actions Conducted Partially as
                    Class Actions
Rule 23(d)  Orders in Conduct of Actions
Rule 23(e)  Dismissal or Compromise
Rule 23.1.  Derivative Actions by Shareholders
Rule 23.2.  Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations
Rule 24.  Intervention
Rule 24(a)  Intervention of Right
Rule 24(b)  Permissive Intervention
Rule 24(c)  Procedure
Rule 25.  Substitution of Parties
Rule 25(a)  Death
Rule 25(b)  Incompetency
Rule 25(c)  Transfer of Interest
Rule 25(d)  Public Officers; Death or Separation From Office

IV.  DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY
Rule 26.  General Provisions Governing Discovery
Rule 26(a)  Discovery Methods     
Rule 26(b)  Scope of Discovery
(1)  In General
(2)  Insurance Agreements
(3)  Trial Preparation; Materials
(4)  Trial Preparation; Experts     
Rule 26(c)  Protective Orders     
Rule 26(d)  Sequence and Timing of Discovery     
Rule 26(e)  Supplementation of Responses    
Rule 26(f)   Discovery Conference      
Rule 27.  Deposition Before Action or Pending Appeal
Rule 27(a)  Before Action
(1)  Petition
(2)  Notice of Service
(3)  Order and Examination
(4)  Use of Deposition
Rule 27(b)  Pending Appeal    
Rule 27(c)  Perpetuation by Action     
Rule 28.  Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken
Rule 28(a)  Within the State of Pohnpei
Rule 28(b)  In Other States or Foreign Countries
Rule 28(c)  Disqualification for Interest
Rule 29.  Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure
Rule 30.  Depositions Upon Oral Examination    
Rule 30(a)  When Depositions May Be Taken     
Rule 30(b)  Notice of Examination; General Requirements; Special Notice;
                    Non Stenographic Recording; Production of Documents and
                    Things; Deposition of Organization     
Rule 30(c)  Examination and Cross Examination Record of Examination;
                    Oath; Objections
Rule 30(d)  Motion to Terminate or Limit Examination     
Rule 30(e)  Submission to Witness; Changes; Signing     
Rule 30(f)   Certification and filing by officer; Exhibits; Copies; Notice of
                    Filing     
Rule 30(g)  Failure to Attend or to Serve Subpoena; Expenses
Rule 31.  Depositions Upon Written Questions
Rule 31(a)  Serving Questions; Notice     
Rule 31(b)  Officer to Take Responses and Prepare Record     
Rule 31(c)  Notice of Filing     
Rule 32.  Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings   
Rule 32(a)  Use of Depositions     
Rule 32(b)  Objections to Admissibility    
Rule 32(c)  Vacant     
Rule 32(d)  Effect of Errors and Irregularities in Depositions
(1)  As to Notice
(2)  As to Disqualification of Officer
(3)  As to taking of Deposition
(4)  As to Completion and Return of Deposition
Rule 33.  Interrogatories to Parties     
Rule 33(a)  Availability; Procedures for Use     
Rule 33(b)  Scope; Use at Trial     
Rule 33(c)  Option to Produce Business Records   
Rule 34.  Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon  Land for Inspection and Other Purposes     
Rule 34(a)  Scope     
Rule 34(b)  Procedure     
Rule 34(c)  Persons not Parties     
Rule 35.  Physical and Mental Examination of Persons
Rule 35(a)  Order for Examination
Rule 35(b)  Report for Examining Physician or Medical Officer
Rule 36.  Requests for Admission
Rule 36(a)  Request for Admission     
Rule 36(b)  Effect of Admission     
Rule 37.  Failure to Make Discovery: Sanctions
Rule 37(a)  Motion for Order Compelling Discovery
(1)  Appropriate Court
(2)  Motion
(3)  Evasive or Incomplete Answer
(4)  Award of Expenses of Motion     
Rule 37(b)  Failure to Comply with Order
(1)  Sanctions by Court in State Where Deposition is Taken
(2)  Sanctions by Court in Which Action is Pending     
Rule 37(c)  Expenses on Failure to Admit     
Rule 37(d)  Failure of Party to Attend at Own Deposition or Serve Answers
                    to Interrogatories or Respond to Request for Inspection     
Rule 37(e)  Vacant    
Rule 37(f)   Expenses Against the Ponape State Government     
Rule 37(g)  Failure to Participate in the Framing of a Discovery Plan

VI.  TRIALS
Rule 38. Vacant
Rule 39. Trial Procedure
Rule 39(a)  Order to Trial
Rule 39(b)  Examination of Witnesses
Rule 39(c)  Adjournment
Rule 40. Assignment of Cases for Trial          
Rule 41.  Dismissal of Actions     
Rule 41(a)  Voluntary Dismissal: Effect thereof
(1)  By Plaintiff; By stipulation
(2)  By Order of Court     
Rule 41(b)  Involuntary Dismissal     
Rule 41(c)  Dismissal of Counterclaim, Cross claim, or Third Party Claim     
Rule 41(d)  Costs of Previously-Dismissed Action      
Rule 42.  Consolidation; Separate Trials    
Rule 42(a)  Consolidation     
Rule 42(b)  Separate Trials     
Rule 43.  Taking of Testimony
Rule 43(a)  Form     
Rule 43(b)  Affirmation in Lieu of Oath     
Rule 43(c)  Evidence on Motions     
Rule 43(d)  Interpreters     
Rule 44.  Proof of Official Record
Rule 44(a)  Authentication
(1)  Domestic
(2)  Foreign     
Rule 44(b)   Lack of Record     
Rule 44(c)   Other Proof     
Rule 44.1  Determination of Foreign Law
Rule 45.  Subpoena
Rule 45(a)  For Attendance of Witnesses; Form Issuance     
Rule 45(b)  For Production of Documentary Evidence     
Rule 45(c)  Service     
Rule 45(d)  Subpoena for Taking Depositions; Place of Examination     
Rule 46.  Exceptions Unnecessary
Rule 47. Findings by the Court
Rule 47(a)  In all Actions Tried Upon the Facts
Rule 47(b)  Amendments
Rule 48. Masters
Rule 48(a)  Appointment and Compensations
Rule 48(b)  Reference
Rule 48(c)  Powers
Rule 48(d)  Proceedings
(1)  Meetings
(2)  Witnesses
(3)  Statement of Accounts
Rule 48(e)  Report
(1)  Contents
(2)  Objections to Report
(3)  Stipulation as to Findings
(4)  Draft Report

VII.  JUDGMENT
Rule 49.  Judgments; Costs
Rule 49(a)  Definition; Form
Rule 49(b)  Judgment Upon Multiple Claims or Involving Multiple Parties
Rule 49(c)  Demand for Judgment
Rule 49(d)  Costs
Rule 50.  Default    
Rule 50(a)  Entry     
Rule 50(b)  Judgment     
Rule 50(c)  Setting Aside Default     
Rule 50(d)  Plaintiffs, Counterclaims, Cross-Claimants     
Rule 50(e)  Judgment Against the State of Ponape     
Rule 51.  Summary Judgment
Rule 51(a)  For Claimant     
Rule 51(b)  For Defending Party     
Rule 51(c)  Motion and Proceedings Thereon     
Rule 51(d)  Case Not Fully Adjudicated on Motion    
Rule 51(e)  Form of Affidavits; Further Testimony; Defense Required     
Rule 51(f)   When Affidavits are Unavailable     
Rule 51(g)  Affidavits Made in Bad Faith     
Rule 52.  New Trials, Amendment of Judgment    
Rule 52(a)  Grounds     
Rule 52(b)  Time for Motion     
Rule 52(c)  Time for Serving Affidavits     
Rule 52(d)  On Initiative of Court     
Rule 52(e)  Motion to Alter or Amend a Judgment     
Rule 53.  Relief from Judgment or Order     
Rule 53(a)  Clerical Mistakes     
Rule 53(b)  Mistakes; Inadvertence; Excusable Neglect; Newly Discovered
                    Evidence; Fraud, Etc.     
Rule 54.  Harmless Error     
Rule 55. Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment    
Rule 55(a)  Automatic Stay; Exception - Injunctions; Receiverships, and
                    Patent Accountings
Rule 55(b)  Stay on Motion for New Trial or for Judgment
Rule 55(c)   Injunction Pending Appeal     
Rule 55(d)  Stay Upon Appeal     
Rule 55(e)  Stay in Favor of the Ponape State Government or an Agency
                     thereof
Rule 55(f)    Power of Appellate Court not Limited
Rule 55(g)  Stay of Judgment as to Multiple Claims or Multiple Parties    
Rule 56.  Disability of a Judge
Rule 57.  Seizure of Person or Property
Rule 58.  Preliminary Injunction
(1)  Notice
(2)  Consolidation of Hearing With Trial on Merits
Rule 58(b)  Temporary Restraining Order; Notice; Hearing; Duration
Rule 58(c)  Security     
Rule 58(d)  Form and Scope of Injunction or Restraining Order
Rule 58(e)  Vacant     
Rule 59.  Security: Proceedings against Sureties
Rule 60.  Receivers Appointed by Federal Courts     
Rule 61.  Deposit in Court
Rule 62.  Offer of Judgment     
Rule 63.  Execution    
Rule 63(a)  In General
Rule 64.  Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title    
Rule 65.  Process in Behalf of and Against Persons not Parties

VIII.  COURTS AND CLERKS
Rule 66.  Courts and Clerks
Rule 66(a)  Courts Always Open     
Rule 66(b)  Trial and Hearings; Orders in Chambers     
Rule 66(c)  Clerk's Office and Orders by Clerk     
Rule 66(d)  Notice of Orders or Judgments     
Rule 67.  Motion Day     
Rule 68.  Books and Records Kept by the Clerk and Entries Therein     
Rule 68(a)  Civil Docket     
Rule 68(b)  Civil Judgment and Orders     
Rule 68(c)  Indices; Calendars     
Rule 68(d)  Other Books and Records of the Clerk
Rule 69.   Stenographically or Electronically Recorded Testimony
Rule 70.  Small Claims Procedures
Rule 70(a)  Applicability
Rule 70(b)  Nature and Purposes
Rule 70(c)  Pleadings
Rule 70(d)  Small Claims Summons
Rule 70(e)  Trial
Rule 70(f)   Conduct of Trial
Rule 70(g)  Default
Rule 70(h)  Orders in Aid of Judgement
Rule 70(i)   Other Procedure
Rule 71.  Jurisdiction Unaffected
Rule 72.  Title
Rule 73.  Effective Date