Minnesota Rule Amendments Aimed at Facilitating Cost Effective and Efficient Case Processing

The Minnesota Supreme Court has adopted amendments to its Rules of Civil Procedure and General Rules of Practice that are aimed at “facilitating more cost effective and efficient civil case processing.” The amendments flow from the work of the Minnesota Supreme Court Civil Justice Reform Task Force, which was created in November 2010 to review civil justice reform initiatives in other jurisdictions and make recommendations. Following a period of review and public comment, the Supreme Court has now issued its final amendments, which take effect July 1, 2013. The amendments adopt many of the recommendations of the Task Force, including incorporating proportionality into the scope of discovery, automatic disclosures, a discovery plan, an expedited process for nondispositive motions, and a new Complex Case Program.