Rule 12.330 - USE OF DEPOSITIONS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS(a) Use of Depositions. At the trial or on the hearing of a motion or an interlocutory proceeding, any part or all of a deposition may be used against any party who was present or represented at the taking of the deposition or who had reasonable notice of it so far as admissible under the rules of evidence applied as though the witness were then present and testifying in accordance with any of the following provisions: (1) Any deposition may be used by any party for the purpose of contradicting or impeaching the testimony of the deponent as a witness or for any purpose permitted by the Florida Evidence Code.(2) The deposition of a party may be used by an adverse party for any purpose.(3) The deposition of a witness, whether or not a party, may be used by any party for any purpose if the court finds: (A) that the witness is dead;(B) that the witness is at a greater distance than 100 miles from the place of trial or hearing, or is out of the state, unless it appears that the absence of the witness was procured by the party offering the deposition;(C) that the witness is unable to attend or testify because of age, illness, infirmity, or imprisonment;(D) that the party offering the deposition has been unable to procure the attendance of the witness by subpoena;(E) on application and notice, that such exceptional circumstances exist as to make it desirable, in the interest of justice and with due regard to the importance of presenting the testimony of witnesses orally in open court, to allow the deposition to be used; or(F) the witness is an expert or skilled witness.(4) If only part of a deposition is offered in evidence by a party, an adverse party may require the party to introduce any other part that in fairness ought to be considered with the part introduced, and any party may introduce any other parts.(b) Objections to Admissibility. Subject to the provisions of subdivision (d)(3) of this rule and of rule 12.300(b), objection may be made at the trial or hearing to receiving in evidence any deposition or part of it for any reason that would require the exclusion of the evidence if the witness were then present and testifying.(c) Effect of Taking or Using Depositions. A party does not make a person the party's own witness for any purpose by taking the person's deposition. The introduction in evidence of the deposition or any part of it for any purpose other than that of contradicting or impeaching the deponent makes the deponent the witness of the party introducing the deposition, but this does not apply to the use by an adverse party of a deposition under subdivision (a)(2). At the trial or hearing any party may rebut any relevant evidence contained in a deposition whether introduced by that party or by any other party.(d) Effect of Errors and Irregularities.(1)As to Notice. All errors and irregularities in the notice for taking a deposition are waived unless written objection is promptly served on the party giving the notice.(2)As to Disqualification of Officer. Objection to taking a deposition because of disqualification of the officer before whom it is to be taken is waived unless made before the taking of the deposition begins or as soon thereafter as the disqualification becomes known or could be discovered with reasonable diligence.(3)As to Taking of Deposition.(A) Objections to the competency of a witness or to the competency, relevancy, or materiality of testimony are not waived by failure to make them before or during the taking of the deposition unless the ground of the objection is one that might have been obviated or removed if presented at that time.(B) Errors and irregularities occurring at the oral examination in the manner of taking the deposition, in the form of the questions or answers, in the oath or affirmation, or in the conduct of parties and errors of any kind that might be obviated, removed, or cured if promptly presented are waived unless timely objection to them is made at the taking of the deposition.(C) Objections to the form of written questions submitted under rule 12.320 are waived unless served in writing on the party propounding them within the time allowed for serving the succeeding cross or other questions and within 10 days after service of the last questions authorized.(4)As to Completion and Return. Errors and irregularities in the manner in which the testimony is transcribed or the deposition is prepared, signed, certified, or otherwise dealt with by the officer under rules 12.310 and 12.320 are waived unless a motion to suppress the deposition or some part of it is made with reasonable promptness after the defect is, or with due diligence might have been, discovered.Fl. Fam. Law. R. P. 12.330
Amended effective 11/1/2023; amended by 214 So.3d 400, effective 3/16/2017; amended by 102 So.3d 505, effective 9/1/2012.