Scope of Rules—Construction

(a) Scope of Rules. (1) The procedure in civil actions and proceedings before district judges and magistrate judges shall be governed by the rules governing the procedure in the superior court to the extent that such rules are applicable except as follows: (A) in a civil action for personal injury or property damage, unless otherwise agreed by all parties or permitted by order of the court in exceptional cases and for good cause shown, discovery shall be limited to the disclosures required under Civil Rule 26(a) and to the taking by each party of the deposition of one or more opposing parties and of one additional person who is not a party; and (B) in a debt collection case, the plaintiff must: (i) designate in the complaint a person authorized to discuss the case on behalf of the plaintiff and include that person’s name, phone number, mailing address, and email address; and (ii) serve a copy of the court system form “Answer & Counterclaim to Complaint to Collect a Debt” on the defendant with the complaint. (2) If in any action or proceeding a magistrate judge finds it impracticable to proceed or is at a disadvantage because of the application of any of such rules, the magistrate judge may hold the action or proceeding in abeyance, without prejudice to the rights of the parties, for further action by a district judge. (Amended by SCO 540 effective October 1, 1982; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1281 effective August 7, 1997; by SCO 1469 effective October 15, 2002; by SCO 1522 effective October 15, 2003; by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014; and by SCO 2022 effective October 15, 2024) Note to SCO 1281: Subparagraph (a)(1) of this rule was amended by ch. 26, sec. 44, SLA 1997. According to sec. 55 of the Act, the amendment to District Court Civil Rule 1 applies “to all causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this Act.” The amendment to District Court Civil Rule 1 adopted by paragraph 11 of this order applies to all cases filed on or after August 7, 1997. See paragraph 17 of this order. The change is adopted for the sole reason that the legislature has mandated the amendment. Note: The maximum amount of a district court civil claim under AS 22.15.030 is $100,000. Cross References CROSS REFERENCE: AS 22.15.030