Rule 7 - Pleadings Allowed - Form of Motions(a) Pleadings. There shall be a complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim noted as such; an answer to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint, if a person who was not an original party is summoned under the provisions of Rule 14; and a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall be allowed, except that the court may order a reply to an answer, or a third-party answer. A demand for a jury trial shall be a separate pleading.(b) Motions and Other Papers.(1) An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made during a hearing or trial or during the course of a deposition, shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order sought. The requirement of writing is fulfilled if the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the motion. (2) The rules applicable to captions, signing, and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules. (3) The following motions and the notice of the hearing of such a motion shall be served and filed not later than ten (10) days before the time specified for the hearing. The following motions shall be deemed to be granted as a matter of course and shall not be placed on the motion calendar unless objection stating the particular ground therefor is served and filed at least three (3) days before the time specified for its hearing:(A) A motion to assign, which shall indicate the calendar to which assignment is desired;(B) A motion to consolidate cases for trial; (C) A motion to enlarge the time for permitting an action to be done under Rule 6(b)(2) after the expiration of the specified period;(D) a motion for leave to serve third-party complaints under Rule 14, (E) a motion to amend pleadings under Rule 15, (F) a motion for an order for physical or mental examination under Rule 35, (G) a motion under Rule 26 or Rule 37 to obtain a protective order, or to compel discovery, and (H) A motion to attach wages or a notice of a nonwage attachment pursuant to Rule 69. A motion to compel discovery or more responsive answers thereto shall specify the number of days for compliance.
The provisions of Rule 6(d) shall not apply to this subdivision.
(4) Any hearing required or permitted under these rules may be conducted in whole or in part by remote means on the Court's own initiative, or upon request by a party and at the Court's discretion. A Request for a Remote Hearing may be made: (i) By the moving party at the time of filing the motion; and (ii) By any non-moving parties within five (5) days of service of the motion. A Request for Remote Hearing shall be accompanied by a short, concise statement of the grounds on which such request is based, except that no applicant shall be required to reveal health care information.
(5) All motions shall be signed in accordance with Rule 11.(c) Electronic Filing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers. When using the EFS, all pleadings, motions, and other papers shall be filed in accordance with Rule 1(b)(3).R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 7
Last amended effective 1/29/2016; amended April 2, 2021, effective 4/2/2021.