§ RULE 2.315 VIDEO DEPOSITIONS

RULE 2.315 VIDEO DEPOSITIONS

(A) When Permitted. Depositions authorized under MCR 2.303 and 2.306 may be taken by means of simultaneous audio and visual electronic recording without leave of the court or stipulation of the parties, provided the deposition is taken in accordance with this rule.

(B) Rules Governing. Except as provided in this rule, the taking of video depositions is governed by the rules governing the taking of other depositions unless the nature of the video deposition makes compliance impossible or unnecessary.

(1) A notice of the taking of a video deposition and a subpoena for attendance at the deposition must state that the deposition is to be visually recorded.

(2) A video deposition must be timed by means of a digital clock or clocks capable of displaying the hours, minutes, and seconds. The clock or clocks must be in the picture at all times during the taking of the deposition.

(3) A video deposition must begin with a statement on camera of the date, time, and place at which the recording is being made, the title of the action, and the identification of the attorneys.

(4) The person being deposed must be sworn as a witness on camera by an authorized person.

(5) More than one camera may be used, in sequence or simultaneously.

(6) The parties may make audio recordings while the video deposition is being taken.

(7) At the conclusion of the deposition a statement must be made on camera that the deposition is completed.

(D) Custody of Tape and Copies.

(1) The person making the video recording must retain possession of it. The video recording must be securely sealed and marked for identification purposes.

(2) The parties may purchase audio or audio-visual copies of the recording from the operator.

(E) Filing; Notice of Filing. If a party requests that the deposition be filed, the person who made the recording shall

(1) file the recording with the court under MCR 2.306(F)(3), together with an affidavit identifying the recording, stating the total elapsed time, and attesting that no alterations, additions, or deletions other than those ordered by the court have been made;

(2) give the notice required by MCR 2.306(F)(3), and

(3) serve copies of the recording on all parties who have requested them under MCR 2.315(D)(2).

(F) Use as Evidence; Objections.

(1) A video deposition may not be used in a court proceeding unless it has been filed with the court.

(2) Except as modified by this rule, the use of video depositions in court proceedings is governed by MCR 2.308.

(3) A party who seeks to use a video deposition at trial must provide the court with either

(a) a transcript of the deposition, which shall be used for ruling on any objections, or

(b) a stipulation by all parties that there are no objections to the deposition and that the recording (or an agreed portion of it) may be played.

(4) When a video deposition is used in a court proceeding, the court must indicate on the record what portions of the recording have been played. The court reporter or recorder need not make a record of the statements in the recording.

(G) Custody of Video Deposition After Filing. After filing, a video deposition shall remain in the custody of the court unless the court orders the recording stored elsewhere for technical reasons or because of special storage problems. The order directing the storage must direct the custodian to keep the recordings sealed until the further order of the court. Video depositions filed with the court shall have the same status as other depositions and documents filed with the court, and may be reproduced, preserved, destroyed, or salvaged as directed by order of the court.

(H) Appeal. On appeal the recording remains part of the record and shall be transmitted with it. A party may request that the appellate court view portions of the video deposition. If a transcript was not provided to the court under subrule (F)(3), the appellant must arrange and pay for the preparation of a transcript to be included in the record on appeal.

(I) Costs. The costs of taking a video deposition and the cost for its use in evidence may be taxed as costs as provided by MCR 2.625 in the same manner as depositions recorded in other ways.