Rule 27(a). Before action. (1) Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate testimony regarding any matter that may be cognizable in any district court of the state of Montana may file a verified petition in the district court in the county of the residence of any expected adverse party. The petition shall be entitled in the name of the petitioner and shall show: 1, that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action cognizable in a district court of the state of Montana but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought, 2, the subject matter of the expected action and the petitioner's interest therein, 3, the facts which the petitioner desires to establish by the proposed testimony and the reasons for desiring to perpetuate it, 4, the names or a description of the persons the petitioner expects will be adverse parties and their addresses so far as known, and 5, the names and addresses of the persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony which the petitioner expects to elicit from each, and shall ask for an order authorizing the petitioner to take the depositions of the persons to be examined named in the petition, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony.
     (2) Notice and service. The petitioner shall thereafter serve a notice upon each person named in the petition as an expected adverse party, together with a copy of the petition, stating that the petitioner will apply to the court, at a time and place named therein, for an order described in the petition. At least 20 days before the date of hearing the notice shall be served in the manner provided in Rule 4, and for persons not personally served in the manner provided in Rule 4D, who do not appear, an attorney shall be appointed who shall represent them and cross-examine the deponent. If an expected adverse party is a minor or incompetent the provisions of Rule 17(c) apply.
     (3) Order and examination. If the court is satisfied that the perpetuation of the testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, it shall make an order designating or describing the persons whose depositions may be taken and specifying the subject matter of the examination and whether the depositions shall be taken upon oral examination or written interrogatories. The depositions may then be taken in accordance with these rules; and the court may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 34 and 35. For the purpose of applying these rules to depositions for perpetuating testimony, each reference therein to the court in which action is pending shall be deemed to refer to the court in which the petition for such deposition was filed.
     (4) Use of deposition. If a deposition to perpetuate testimony is taken under these rules it may be used in any action involving the same subject matter subsequently brought in a district court of the state of Montana in accordance with the provisions of Rule 32(a).

     History: En. Sec. 27, Ch. 13, L. 1961; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Oct. 9, 1984, eff. Oct. 9, 1984; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. May 1, 1990, eff. May 1, 1990.