§ RULE 2.304 PERSONS BEFORE WHOM DEPOSITIONS MAY BE TAKEN
RULE 2.304 PERSONS BEFORE WHOM DEPOSITIONS MAY BE TAKEN
(A) Within the United States. Within the United States or within a territory or insular possession subject to the dominion of the United States, depositions may be taken
(1) before a person authorized to administer oaths by the laws of Michigan, the United States, or the place where the examination is held;
(2) before a person appointed by the court in which the action is pending; or
(3) before a person on whom the parties agree by stipulation under MCR 2.302(F)(1).
A person acting under subrule (A)(2) or (3) has the power to administer oaths, take testimony, and do all other acts necessary to take a deposition.
(B) In Foreign Countries. In a foreign country, depositions may be taken
(1) on notice before a person authorized to administer oaths in the place in which the examination is held, by either the law of that place or of the United States; or
(2) before a person commissioned by the court, and a person so commissioned has the power by virtue of the commission to administer a necessary oath and take testimony; or
(3) pursuant to a letter rogatory.
A commission or a letter rogatory may be issued on motion and notice and on terms that are just and appropriate. It is not requisite to the issuance of a commission or a letter rogatory that the taking of the deposition in another manner is impracticable or inconvenient; both a commission and a letter rogatory may be issued in a proper case. A notice or commission may designate the person before whom the deposition is to be taken either by name or descriptive title. A letter rogatory may be addressed “To the Appropriate Authority in [name of country].” Evidence obtained in response to a letter rogatory need not be excluded merely because it is not a verbatim transcript or the testimony was not taken under oath, or because of a similar departure from the requirements for depositions taken within the United States under these rules.
(C) Disqualification for Interest. Unless the parties agree otherwise by stipulation in writing or on the record, a deposition may not be taken before a person who is
(1) a relative or employee of or an attorney for a party,
(2) a relative or employee of an attorney for a party, or
(3) financially interested in the action.