ORCP 47: Summary Judgment

A For claimant. A party seeking to recover on any type of claim or to obtain a declaratory judgment may, at any time after the expiration of 20 days from the commencement of the action or after service of a motion for summary judgment by the adverse party, move, with or without supporting affidavits or declarations, for a summary judgment in that party's favor as to all or any part of any claim or defense.

B For defending party. A party against whom any type of claim is asserted or a declaratory judgment is sought may, at any time, move, with or without supporting affidavits or declarations, for a summary judgment in that party's favor as to all or any part of any claim or defense.

C Motion and proceedings thereon. The motion and all supporting documents must be served and filed at least 60 days before the date set for trial. The adverse party shall have 20 days in which to serve and file opposing affidavits or declarations and supporting documents. The moving party shall have five days to reply. The court shall have discretion to modify these stated times. The court shall grant the motion if the pleadings, depositions, affidavits, declarations, and admissions on file show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law. No genuine issue as to a material fact exists if, based on the record before the court viewed in a manner most favorable to the adverse party, no objectively reasonable juror could return a verdict for the adverse party on the matter that is the subject of the motion for summary judgment. The adverse party has the burden of producing evidence on any issue raised in the motion as to which the adverse party would have the burden of persuasion at trial. The adverse party may satisfy the burden of producing evidence with an affidavit or a declaration under section E of this rule. A summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on the issue of liability alone although there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages.

D Form of affidavits and declarations; defense required. Except as provided by section E of this rule, supporting and opposing affidavits and declarations must be made on personal knowledge, must set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and must show affirmatively that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all documents or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit or a declaration must be attached thereto or served therewith. The court may permit affidavits or declarations to be supplemented or opposed by depositions or further affidavits or declarations. When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest on the mere allegations or denials of that party's pleading; rather, the adverse party's response, by affidavits, declarations, or as otherwise provided in this section, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue as to any material fact for trial. If the adverse party does not so respond, the court shall grant the motion, if appropriate.

E Affidavit or declaration of attorney when expert opinion required. Motions under this rule are not designed to be used as discovery devices to obtain the names of potential expert witnesses or to obtain their facts or opinions. If a party, in opposing a motion for summary judgment, is required to provide the opinion of an expert to establish a genuine issue of material fact, an affidavit or a declaration of the party's attorney stating that an unnamed, qualified expert has been retained who is available and willing to testify to admissible facts or opinions creating a question of fact will be deemed sufficient to controvert the allegations of the moving party and an adequate basis for the court to deny the motion. The affidavit or declaration must be made in good faith based on admissible facts or opinions obtained from a qualified expert who has actually been retained by the attorney, who is available and willing to testify, and who has actually rendered an opinion or provided facts that, if revealed by affidavit or declaration, would be a sufficient basis for denying the motion for summary judgment.

F When affidavits or declarations are unavailable. Should it appear from the affidavits or declarations of a party opposing the motion that the party cannot, for reasons stated, present by affidavit or declaration facts essential to justify the opposition of that party, the court may deny the motion or may order a continuance to permit affidavits or declarations to be obtained or depositions to be taken or discovery to be had, or may make any other order as is just.

G Affidavits or declarations made in bad faith. Should it appear to the satisfaction of the court at any time that an affidavit or declaration presented under this rule was presented in bad faith or solely for the purpose of delay, the court shall order the party filing the affidavit or declaration to pay to the other party the amount of the reasonable expenses that the filing of the affidavit or declaration caused the other party to incur, including reasonable attorney fees, and any offending party or attorney may be subject to sanctions for contempt.

H Multiple parties or claims; limited judgment. If the court grants summary judgment for fewer than all parties or fewer than all claims or defenses in an action, a limited judgment may be entered if the court makes the determination required by Rule 67 B.