CHAPTER 15-6
RULES OF PROCEDURE IN CIRCUIT COURTS
15-6-1 Scope of Chapter.
15-6-2 One form of action.
15-6-3 Commencement of action.
15-6-4(a) Summons--Form.
15-6-4(b) Summons served without complaint.
15-6-4(c) By whom summons served.
15-6-4(d) Personal service of summons.
15-6-4(e) Service by leaving copy with resident of defendant's dwelling.
15-6-4(f) Service upon party not a resident of or found within state.
15-6-4(g) Proof of service.
15-6-4(h) Amendment of process.
15-6-4(i) Service by mail--Admission of service--Costs.
15-6-4(j) Form of notice and admission of service by mail.
15-6-5(a) Service--When required.
15-6-5(b) Service--How made--Proof.
15-6-5(c) Service on numerous defendants.
15-6-5(d) Filing of papers--Originals--Copies.
15-6-5(e) Definition--Filing with the court.
15-6-5(f) Repealed.
15-6-5(g) Documents not to be filed--Depositions.
15-6-5(h) Civil Case Filing Statements.
15-6-5(i) Service of discovery requests by electronic mail or portable storage media device--Costs.
15-6-5(j) Repealed.
15-6-6(a) Computation of time.
15-6-6(b) Enlargement of time.
15-6-6(c) 15-6-6(c). Superseded
15-6-6(d) Time for motion--Affidavits--Briefs.
15-6-6(e) Additional time after service by mail--Facsimile and electronic mail transmission service exempt.
15-6-7 15-6-7. Pleadings allowed--form of motions
15-6-7(a) Pleadings.
15-6-7(b) Motions and other papers.
15-6-7(c) Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions abolished.
15-6-8 15-6-8. General rules of pleading
15-6-8(a) Claims for relief.
15-6-8(b) Defenses--Form of denials.
15-6-8(c) Defenses--Form of denials.
15-6-8(d) Effect of failure to deny.
15-6-8(e) Pleading to be concise and direct--Consistency.
15-6-8(f) Construction of pleadings.
15-6-9 15-6-9. Pleading special matters
15-6-9(a) Pleading capacity.
15-6-9(b) Pleading fraud, mistake, condition of the mind.
15-6-9(c) Pleading conditions precedent.
15-6-9(d) Pleading official document or act.
15-6-9(e) Pleading judgment.
15-6-9(f) Pleading time and place.
15-6-9(g) Pleading special damage.
15-6-9(h) Unknown party--How designated in pleadings and process.
15-6-9(i) Complaint in action for libel or slander.
15-6-10 15-6-10. Form of pleadings
15-6-10(a) Caption--Names of parties.
15-6-10(b) Paragraphs--Separate statements.
15-6-10(c) Adoption by reference--Exhibits.
15-6-10(d) Roman numerals--Use--Restrictions.
15-6-10(e) Formatting of pleadings.
15-6-11 15-6-11. Signing of Pleadings
15-6-11(a) Signature.
15-6-11(b) Representations to court.
15-6-11(c) Sanctions.
15-6-11(d) Inapplicability to discovery.
15-6-11(e) Appeal to Supreme Court--Award of attorneys' fees and costs on appeal.
15-6-12 15-6-12. Defenses and objections
15-6-12(a) Time for presenting defenses and objections.
15-6-12(b) Manner of presenting defenses and objections.
15-6-12(c) Motion for judgment on the pleadings.
15-6-12(d) Preliminary hearings.
15-6-12(e) Motion for more definite statement.
15-6-12(f) Motion to strike.
15-6-12(g) Consolidation of defenses in motion.
15-6-12(h) Waiver or preservation of certain defenses.
15-6-13 15-6-13. Counterclaim and cross-claim
15-6-13(a) Compulsory counterclaims.
15-6-13(b) Permissive counterclaims.
15-6-13(c) Counterclaim exceeding opposing claim.
15-6-13(d) Counterclaim against the State of South Dakota.
15-6-13(e) Counterclaim maturing or acquired after pleading.
15-6-13(f) Omitted counterclaim.
15-6-13(g) Cross-claim against co-party.
15-6-13(h) Joinder of additional parties.
15-6-13(i) Separate trials--Separate judgments.
15-6-14 15-6-14. Third-party practice
15-6-14(a) When defendant may bring in third party.
15-6-14(b) When plaintiff may bring in third party.
15-6-15 15-6-15. Amended and supplemental pleadings
15-6-15(a) Amendments to pleadings.
15-6-15(b) Amendments to conform to the evidence.
15-6-15(c) Relation back of amendments to pleadings.
15-6-15(d) Supplemental pleadings.
15-6-16 Pretrial procedure--Formulating issues.
15-6-17 15-6-17. Parties plaintiff and defendant--capacity
15-6-17(a) Real party in interest.
15-6-17(b) Capacity to sue or be sued.
15-6-17(c) Representation of minors or incompetent persons.
15-6-18 15-6-18. Joinder of claims and remedies
15-6-18(a) Joinder of claims.
15-6-18(b) Joinder of remedies--Fraudulent conveyances.
15-6-19 15-6-19. Joinder of persons needed for just adjudication
15-6-19(a) Persons to be joined if feasible.
15-6-19(b) Determination by court whenever joinder not feasible.
15-6-19(c) Pleading reasons for nonjoinder.
15-6-19(d) Exception of class actions.
15-6-20 15-6-20. Permissive joinder of parties
15-6-20(a) Permissive joinder.
15-6-20(b) Separate trials.
15-6-21 Misjoinder and nonjoinder of parties.
15-6-22 Interpleader.
15-6-23 15-6-23. Class actions
15-6-23.1 Derivative actions by unincorporated associations.
15-6-23.2 Actions relating to unincorporated associations.
15-6-23(a) Prerequisites to a class action.
15-6-23(b) Class actions maintainable.
15-6-23(c) Determination by order whether class action to be maintained--Notice--Judgment--Actions conducted partially as class actions.
15-6-23(d) Orders in conduct of actions.
15-6-23(e) Dismissal or compromise of class actions.
15-6-24(a) Intervention of right.
15-6-24(b) Permissive intervention.
15-6-24(c) Procedure for intervention.
15-6-25 15-6-25. Substitution of parties
15-6-25.1 Dismissal of parties--Subsequent pleadings.
15-6-25(a) Death of party.
15-6-25(b) Incompetency of party.
15-6-25(c) Transfer of party's interest.
15-6-25(d) Officer as party--Death or separation from office.
15-6-25(e) Judgment for possession of real property--Successor in interest--Revival.
15-6-26 15-6-26. --Discovery pending action
15-6-26(a) Discovery methods.
15-6-26(b) Scope of discovery.
15-6-26(c) Protective orders.
15-6-26(d) Sequence and timing of discovery.
15-6-26(e) Supplementation of responses.
15-6-26(f) 15-6-26(f). Superseded
15-6-27 15-6-27. Depositions before action or pending appeal
15-6-27(a) Depositions before action.
15-6-27(b) Depositions pending appeal.
15-6-27(c) Perpetuation of testimony by action.
15-6-28 15-6-28. Persons before whom depositions may be taken
15-6-28.1 Interstate depositions and discovery.
15-6-28.2 Definitions.
15-6-28.3 Issuance of subpoena for interstate depositions and discovery.
15-6-28.4 Service of subpoena for interstate depositions and discovery.
15-6-28.5 Deposition, production, inspection, witness fees, expenses, place of examination, attendance where required.
15-6-28.6 Application to court.
15-6-28(a) Taking depositions within the United States.
15-6-28(b) Taking depositions in foreign countries.
15-6-28(c) Disqualification to take deposition for interest.
15-6-29 Stipulations regarding the taking of depositions.
15-6-30 15-6-30. Depositions upon oral examinations
15-6-30(a) When depositions may be taken.
15-6-30(b) Notice of examination--General requirements--Special notice--Nonstenographic recording--Production of documents and things--Deposition of organization.
15-6-30(c) Examination and cross-examination--Record of examination--Oath--Objection.
15-6-30(d) Schedule and duration--Motion to terminate or limit examination.
15-6-30(e) Submission to witness--Changes--Signing.
15-6-30(f) Certification and filing by officer--Exhibits--Copies.
15-6-30(g) Failure to attend or to serve subpoena for deposition expenses.
15-6-31 15-6-31. --Depositions of witnesses upon written interrogatories
15-6-31(a) Serving questions--Notice.
15-6-31(b) Officer to take responses and prepare record.
15-6-31(c) Notice of filing.
15-6-31(d) 15-6-31(d). Superseded
15-6-32 15-6-32. Effect of errors and irregularities in depositions
15-6-32(a) Use of depositions.
15-6-32(b) Objections to admissibility.
15-6-32(c) Effect of taking or using deposition.
15-6-32(d) Effect of errors and irregularities in depositions.
15-6-33 15-6-33. Interrogatories to parties
15-6-33(a) Availability--Procedures for use.
15-6-33(b) Scope--Use at trial.
15-6-33(c) Option to produce business records.
15-6-34 15-6-34. Discovery and production of documents and things for inspection, copying, or photographing
15-6-34(a) Scope.
15-6-34(b) Procedure.
15-6-34(c) Persons not parties.
15-6-35 15-6-35. Physical and mental examinations and blood tests of persons
15-6-35(a) Order for examination.
15-6-35(b) Report of examining physician.
15-6-36 15-6-36. Admission of facts and of genuineness of documents
15-6-36(a) Request for admission.
15-6-36(b) Effect of admission.
15-6-37 15-6-37. Refusal to make discovery--consequences
15-6-37(a) Motion for order compelling disclosure or discovery.
15-6-37(b) Failure to comply with order.
15-6-37(c) Failure to disclose--False or misleading disclosure--Refusal to admit.
15-6-37(d) Failure of party to attend at own deposition or serve answers to interrogatories or respond to request for inspection.
15-6-38 15-6-38. Jury trial of right
15-6-38(a) Right to jury trial preserved.
15-6-38(b) Demand for jury trial.
15-6-38(c) Specification of issues in demand for jury trial.
15-6-38(d) Waiver of jury trial.
15-6-39 15-6-39. Trial by jury or by the court
15-6-39(a) Trial by jury.
15-6-39(b) Trial by the court.
15-6-39(c) Advisory jury and trial by consent.
15-6-40 15-6-40. Assignment of cases for trial
15-6-40(a) Issues--When, where, and how tried.
15-6-40(b) 15-6-40(b). Repealed by SL 1993, ch 386
15-6-40(c) Proceeding in absence of party.
15-6-41 15-6-41. Dismissal of actions
15-6-41(a) Voluntary dismissal--Effect thereof.
15-6-41(b) Involuntary dismissal--Effect thereof.
15-6-41(c) Dismissal of counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim.
15-6-41(d) Costs of previously dismissed action.
15-6-42 15-6-42. Consolidation--separate trials
15-6-42(a) Consolidation of actions.
15-6-42(b) Separate trials.
15-6-43(a) Form and admissibility of evidence.
15-6-43(b) 15-6-43(b). Superseded
15-6-43(c) 15-6-43(c). Superseded
15-6-43(d) Oath or affirmation.
15-6-43(e) Evidence on motions.
15-6-43(f) Interpreters.
15-6-44 15-6-44. Proof of official record
15-6-44.1 Determination of foreign law.
15-6-44(a) Authentication of official records.
15-6-44(b) Proof of lack of official record.
15-6-44(c) Other proof of official record.
15-6-45(a) Subpoena for attendance of witnesses and for production of documentary evidence--Form--Issuance.
15-6-45(b) Subpoena for production of documentary evidence.
15-6-45(c) Service of subpoena.
15-6-45(d) Subpoena for taking depositions--Place of examination.
15-6-45(e) 15-6-45(e). Superseded
15-6-45(f) Failure to obey subpoena as contempt.
15-6-45(g) Nonresident of state served with subpoena in state.
15-6-46 Exceptions unnecessary.
15-6-47(a) Examination of jurors.
15-6-47(b) Alternate jurors.
15-6-48 Juries of less than twelve--Majority verdict.
15-6-49 15-6-49. Special verdicts and interrogatories
15-6-49(a) Special verdicts.
15-6-49(b) General verdict accompanied by answer to interrogatories.
15-6-50 15-6-50. Motion for a directed verdict and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
15-6-50(a) Judgment as a matter of law.
15-6-50(b) Renewing motion for judgment after trial--Alternative motion for new trial.
15-6-50(c) Granting renewed motion for judgment as a matter law--Conditional rulings--New trial motion.
15-6-50(d) Denial of motion for judgment as a matter of law.
15-6-51 15-6-51. Instructions to jury--objection
15-6-51(a) Instructions to jury--Requests.
15-6-51(b) Instructions.
15-6-51(c) Objections.
15-6-51(d) Assigning error--Plain error.
15-6-52 15-6-52. Findings by the court
15-6-52(a) Effect of findings by the court--Proposals--When unnecessary.
15-6-52(b) Waiver of findings and conclusions of law.
15-6-53(a) Appointment and compensation of referees.
15-6-53(b) Reference.
15-6-53(c) Powers of referee.
15-6-53(d) Proceedings before referee.
15-6-53(e) Report of referee.
15-6-54 15-6-54. Judgments--costs
15-6-54(a) Definition--Form of judgment.
15-6-54(b) Judgment upon multiple claims or involving multiple parties.
15-6-54(c) Demand for judgment.
15-6-54(d) Judgment for costs--Attorneys' fees.
15-6-55(a) Entry of default.
15-6-55(b) Default judgment.
15-6-55(c) Setting aside default.
15-6-55(d) Plaintiffs, counterclaimants and cross-claimants entitled to default.
15-6-56 15-6-56. Summary judgment
15-6-56(a) Summary judgment for claimant.
15-6-56(b) Summary judgment for defending party.
15-6-56(c) Motion for summary judgment and proceedings thereon.
15-6-56(d) Case not fully adjudicated on motion for summary judgment.
15-6-56(e) Form of affidavits for summary judgment--Further testimony--Defense required.
15-6-56(f) Opposing summary judgment when affidavits are unavailable.
15-6-56(g) Summary judgment affidavits made in bad faith.
15-6-57 Declaratory judgments.
15-6-58 Entry of judgment and orders--Effective date.
15-6-59 15-6-59. New trials--Amendment of judgments
15-6-59(a) Grounds for new trial.
15-6-59(b) Time for motion for new trial--Rulings thereon--Extension of time.
15-6-59(c) Hearing and answering affidavits on motion for new trial.
15-6-59(d) New trial on initiative of court.
15-6-59(e) Procedure upon hearing of motion for new trial.
15-6-59(f) Motion for new trial not required as foundation for appeal in certain cases.
15-6-59(g) Order granting new trial must show grounds upon which based.
15-6-60 15-6-60. Relief from judgment or order
15-6-60(a) Relief from clerical mistakes.
15-6-60(b) Relief on ground of mistake--Inadvertence--Excusable neglect--Newly discovered evidence--Fraud.
15-6-61 Harmless Error.
15-6-62 15-6-62. Stay of proceedings to enforce a judgment
15-6-62(a) Automatic stay of execution--Exceptions--Injunctions and receiverships.
15-6-62(b) Stay of execution on motion for new trial or for judgment.
15-6-62(c) Injunction pending appeal.
15-6-62(d) Stay upon appeal.
15-6-62(e) Stay in favor of the state or agency thereof.
15-6-62(f) Power of Supreme Court not limited.
15-6-62(g) Stay of judgment as to multiple claims or multiple parties.
15-6-63 Disability of a judge.
15-6-64 Seizure of person or property.
15-6-65 15-6-65. Injunctions and restraining orders
15-6-65(a) Preliminary injunction.
15-6-65(b) Temporary restraining order without notice.
15-6-65(c) Undertaking required on preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order--Ascertainment of damages.
15-6-65(d) Contents of order--Parties bound.
15-6-66 Receivers.
15-6-67 15-6-67. Deposit in court
15-6-67(a) Deposit in an action.
15-6-67(b) Deposit in court by substitution.
15-6-67(c) Deposit in court when no action is brought.
15-6-67(d) Court may order deposit or seizure of property.
15-6-67(e) Voluntary partial payment as credit against judgment.
15-6-68 Offer of Judgment.
15-6-69 Execution.
15-6-70 Judgment for specific acts--Vesting title.
15-6-71 Process in behalf of and against persons not parties.
15-6-72 Expedited civil actions--General provisions.
15-6-72.1 Local intergovernmental actions--Expedited action--Alternative dispute resolution.
15-6-72.2 Definition--Local government body.
15-6-73 Discovery in expedited civil actions.
15-6-74 Motions.
15-6-75 Procedure for expedited trials.
15-6-76 Settlement conference--Alternative dispute resolution.
15-6-76.1 Claim preclusion--Issue preclusion.
15-6-77 15-6-77. Courts of record and clerks
15-6-77(a) Trial courts of record always open.
15-6-77(b) Trials and hearings--Orders in chambers.
15-6-77(c) Clerk's office and orders by clerk.
15-6-78 15-6-78, 15-6-79. Reserved
15-6-80 Stenographic report or transcript as evidence.
15-6-81 15-6-81. Applicability
15-6-81(a) Procedure preserved.
15-6-81(b) 15-6-81(b). Omitted
15-6-81(c) Appeals to circuit courts.
15-6-81(d) Chapter incorporated into statutes.
15-6-82 Jurisdiction and venue.
15-6-83 Rules by courts of record.
15-6-84 Forms.
15-6-85 Title.
15-6-86 Effective date.
15-6-A SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS (See § 15-6-81(a))
15-6-B CIRCUIT COURT RULES (See § 15-6-83)
15-6-C APPENDIX OF FORMS (See § 15-6-84)