§ RULE 4:2. DEPOSITIONS BEFORE ACTION OR PENDING APPEAL

RULE 4:2. DEPOSITIONS BEFORE ACTION OR PENDING APPEAL

(a) Before Action.

(1) Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate his own testimony or that of another person regarding any matter that may be cognizable in any court of this Commonwealth may file a verified petition in the circuit court in the county or city of the residence of any expected adverse party. The petition shall be entitled in the name of the petitioner and shall show: (A) that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action cognizable in a court of this Commonwealth but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought; (B) the subject matter of the expected action and his interest therein; (C) the facts which he desires to establish by the proposed testimony and his reasons for desiring to perpetuate it; (D) the names or a description of the persons he expects will be adverse parties and their addresses so far as known; and (E) the names and addresses of the persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony which he expects to elicit from each, and shall ask for an order authorizing the petitioner to take the depositions of the persons to be examined named in the petition, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony.

(2) Notice and Service. The petitioner shall thereafter serve a notice upon each person named in the petition as an expected adverse party, together with a copy of the petition, stating that the petitioner will apply to the court, at a time and place named therein, for the order described in the petition. At least 21 days before the date of hearing the notice shall be served either within the Commonwealth in the manner provided for service of a complaint or without the Commonwealth in the manner provided by Code § 8.01-320; but if such service cannot with due diligence be made upon any expected adverse party named in the petition, the court may make such order as is just for service by publication or otherwise, and shall appoint, for persons not so served, an attorney who shall represent them, and, in case they are not otherwise represented, shall cross-examine the deponent. If any expected adverse party is a person under a disability, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed to attend on his behalf.

(3) Order and Examination. If the court is satisfied that the perpetuation of the testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, it shall make an order designating or describing the persons whose depositions may be taken and specifying the subject matter of the examination and whether the depositions shall be taken upon oral examination or written interrogatories. The depositions may then be taken in accordance with these Rules. The attendance of witnesses may be compelled by subpoena, and the court may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 4:9 and 4:10. For the purpose of applying these Rules to depositions for perpetuating testimony, each reference therein to the court in which the action is pending shall be deemed to refer to the court in which the petition for such deposition was filed.

(4) Cost. The cost of such depositions shall be paid by the petitioner, except that the other parties in interest who produce witnesses on their behalf or who make use of witnesses produced by others shall pay their proportionate part of the cost of the transcribed testimony and evidence taken or given on behalf of each of such parties.

(5) Filing. The depositions shall be certified as prescribed in Rule 4:5 and then returned to and filed by the clerk of the court which ordered its taking.

(6) Use of Deposition. If a deposition to perpetuate testimony is taken under these Rules or if, although not so taken, it would be admissible in evidence in the courts of the state in which it is taken, it may be used in any action involving the same subject matter subsequently brought in a court of this Commonwealth in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4:1.

(b) Pending Appeal. If an appeal has been taken from a judgment of a court of record or before the taking of an appeal if the time therefor has not expired, the court in which the judgment was rendered may allow the taking of the depositions of witnesses to perpetuate their testimony for use in the event of further proceedings in that court. In such case the party who desires to perpetuate the testimony may make a motion in the court in which the judgment was rendered for leave to take the depositions, upon the same notice and service thereof as if the action was pending therein. The motion shall show (1) the names and addresses of persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony which he expects to elicit from each; and (2) the reasons for perpetuating their testimony. If the court finds that the perpetuation of the testimony is proper to avoid a failure or delay of justice, it may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 4:9 and 4:10, and thereupon the depositions may be taken and used in the same manner and under the same conditions as are prescribed in these Rules for depositions taken in pending actions.