Missouri Civil Discovery Rules and Procedures

Missouri civil discovery is governed primarily by the Missouri Supreme Court Rules, Division 55 (Civil Procedure). Understanding these rules is critical for effective case management, as Missouri has specific numerical limits, timing requirements, and procedural safeguards that differ materially from federal practice and other states.

Mandatory Initial Disclosures

Missouri does NOT require automatic initial disclosures in the manner mandated by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a). Instead, Missouri follows a traditional discovery model where parties request information as needed.

However, Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.01 requires that within 15 days after the defendant has been served or has appeared, the parties must confer and discuss:

The nature and basis of the claims and defenses

The possibility of settlement or resolution

Initial planning for discovery

This conference does not mandate automatic disclosure of documents, witnesses, or expert information. Rather, it establishes a framework for cooperative discovery planning. Parties may agree in writing to modify discovery rules or establish expedited schedules.

In cases involving more complex claims or multiple parties, Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.02 allows courts to order parties to file a "discovery plan" outlining the scope, timing, and methods of discovery—similar to federal Rule 26(f)—but this is discretionary with the court.

Interrogatories

Numerical Limits

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.03(a) permits each party to serve no more than 25 interrogatories on any other party, including subparts. This is a critical distinction: subparts count toward the 25-interrogatory ceiling. For example, an interrogatory asking "Identify all persons who witnessed the incident, their addresses, phone numbers, and statements" would count as one interrogatory but may contain multiple subparts that collectively count toward the limit.

If a party needs more interrogatories, Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.03(a) allows additional interrogatories only by written stipulation of the parties or court order for good cause shown.

Format and Content Requirements

Interrogatories must be numbered sequentially

Each interrogatory should request discrete information

Definitions and instructions must be clear but reasonable

Compound interrogatories (asking multiple unrelated questions) are discouraged and may be subject to objection

Time to Respond

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.03(a) requires responses within 30 days after service of the interrogatories. A party may request a 15-day extension by written request before expiration of the initial 30-day period. Further extensions require court order or written stipulation.

Objections

Objections must be specific and state the reason (e.g., "protected by attorney-client privilege," "unduly burdensome")

A party may not object to all interrogatories as a blanket response

If an objection is made, the party must still provide any responsive information not covered by the objection

Improper objections waive the objection and may result in sanctions

Requests for Production of Documents and Electronically Stored Information

Scope and Format

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.04(a) governs requests for production of documents (including ESI). A requesting party may serve requests for production without numerical limitation, but requests must be:

Reasonably particularized

Capable of being answered with reasonable effort

Not unduly burdensome or cumulative

Electronically Stored Information (ESI)

Missouri has adapted federal ESI principles through Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.04:

ESI is discoverable to the same extent as paper documents

A responding party must produce ESI in a form in which it is ordinarily maintained OR in a form that is reasonably usable

Cost-shifting is available: if ESI is stored in a form not ordinarily maintained and would be burdensome or expensive to retrieve, the responding party may object on grounds of burden. The court may then order the requesting party to bear reasonable costs of retrieval

Metadata (data describing other data, such as creation dates, modification dates, and author information) must generally be produced unless privilege or work product applies

A party need not produce inaccessible backup data (such as archived tapes) unless good cause is shown, such as when responsive information is not otherwise available

Time to Respond

Responses must be made within 30 days after service. As with interrogatories, parties may request a 15-day extension before expiration.

Format of Production

Production should identify the document or document set corresponding to each request

If documents are produced in their original form (e.g., as .pdf, .docx), that generally satisfies the rule

Native format production (ESI in its original application format) is required only if specifically requested or ordered

Requests for Admission

Numerical Limits

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.05(a) imposes no numerical limit on requests for admission, distinguishing them from interrogatories. This reflects the view that admissions are not as burdensome as other discovery methods.

Time to Respond

Responses must be made within 30 days after service. Failure to respond by the deadline has significant consequences.

Deemed Admissions

This is a critical procedural safeguard in Missouri:

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.05(a) provides that any request for admission is deemed admitted if not answered or objected to within 30 days (plus any agreed extension or court-ordered extension)

Deemed admissions are binding and cannot be contradicted at trial without leave of court

A party seeking to withdraw a deemed admission must show good cause—typically demonstrating that the failure to respond was inadvertent and that the opposing party will not be prejudiced by withdrawal

Courts apply this rule strictly; failure to respond due to attorney oversight, docket management errors, or simple neglect is generally insufficient to excuse the admission

Objections

Objections must be stated with specificity

A party may not object generally to all requests

If an objection is made, the party must still admit or deny the non-objectionable portions

Depositions

Number of Depositions Allowed

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.06(a) permits each party to take no more than five (5) depositions of opposing parties, absent written stipulation or court order. This applies to parties; depositions of non-party witnesses are more liberally permitted (see below).

In multi-party litigation, this limit becomes complex: if there are four defendants, each defendant may take up to five party depositions, and the plaintiff may take up to five. However, the rule does not clearly address whether a second deposition of the same party (when permitted under Rule 55.06(d)) counts separately.

Duration

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.06(a) limits each deposition to one day of seven (7) hours, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the court orders extended time. Court approval is required to exceed seven hours in a single day.

Notice Requirements

Written notice must be served at least five (5) business days before the deposition

Notice must identify the deponent, time, place, and method (in-person, video, etc.)

Service of notice is sufficient to compel attendance; a subpoena is not required for parties

Who Can Be Deposed

Any party to the action (and officers, directors, managing agents of corporate parties under Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.06(b))

Non-party witnesses: No numerical limit applies, but reasonable notice is required; a subpoena is required for non-parties

Experts: See "Expert Discovery" section below

Repeat Depositions

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.06(d) permits a second deposition of a party only by written stipulation or court order and only when there is good cause, such as:

Significant changes in facts or claims since the first deposition

New information or documents requiring clarification

Use at Trial

Depositions may be used at trial:

In full or in part, read into the record by any party

To impeach a witness who testifies inconsistently with deposition testimony

When the deponent is unavailable to testify (defined broadly under Missouri law)

For any purpose not prohibited by evidence rules (e.g., character evidence restrictions still apply)

Videotape Depositions

If a deposition is recorded by videotape, Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.06(c) requires that the audio quality be sufficient for transcription and that the operator be a neutral third party. Video depositions can be powerful at trial if the opposing party is unavailable.

Physical and Mental Examinations

When Allowed

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.07(a) permits a party to demand a physical or mental examination of an opposing party when the physical or mental condition of the party is in controversy in the action.

Common scenarios include:

Personal injury cases where the plaintiff's injuries are at issue

Custody cases involving a parent's fitness

Cases involving claimed psychological harm or disability

Who May Request

Any party may request the examination, though in practice it is most commonly sought by a defendant in a personal injury case.

Requirements

The demanding party must:

Serve a written request identifying the examining physician, time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination

Establish that the condition is genuinely in controversy

Provide at least five (5) business days' notice unless the parties agree otherwise

Bear the cost of the examination

Good Cause Standard

Unlike federal practice, which requires a "good cause" showing, Missouri rules require only that the condition be "in controversy." This is a lower threshold: if a plaintiff claims injury and seeks damages, the condition is in controversy. However, a defendant cannot demand an examination for a condition the plaintiff has not claimed.

Protections for the Examined Party

The examining physician must prepare a report

The plaintiff may obtain a copy of the report by providing written notice

The plaintiff may demand that a physician of the plaintiff's choosing be present during the examination

If the defendant obtains an examination, the defendant's physician's report is not privileged; the plaintiff may obtain and use it

Subpoenas for Non-Parties

Issuance

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.08(a) requires that subpoenas be issued by the court or signed by the attorney for the party seeking discovery. The subpoena must:

Be signed by the issuing party or its attorney

Identify the deponent and command attendance or production

Specify the time and place

State the scope of documents or information sought

Geographic Limits

In-state non-parties: A subpoena may require attendance anywhere within Missouri where the court has jurisdiction

Out-of-state non-parties: A subpoena may be served on a non-party residing or regularly found within the state where the deposition will occur (for depositions) or within 100 miles of the place of trial (for trial testimony)

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.08(b) provides that a non-party need not travel more than 100 miles from their residence or place of business to attend a deposition, absent court order.

Compliance and Service

Subpoenas must be served personally on the non-party or by certified mail with return receipt

Service must be made at least five (5) business days before the deposition

A witness fee (typically $5 per day plus mileage) must be offered with the subpoena

Failure to appear without valid excuse may result in contempt charges

Subpoenas for Records

A non-party can be required to produce business records via subpoena duces tecum without appearing for a deposition

The non-party may mail the documents to the attorney requesting them if doing so is impractical

Expert Discovery

Disclosure Requirements

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.09(a) requires that a party intending to use an expert at trial must disclose:

The expert's name

A summary of the expert's opinions

The basis for the expert's opinions

The expert's qualifications and publications

The expert's hourly rate and total compensation

A list of other cases in which the expert has testified (within the last four years)

Timing

Disclosure must be made at least 60 days before trial (or as ordered by the court)

If disclosure is not timely made, the expert may be barred from testifying absent court permission or waiver by opposing counsel

In expedited cases, the court may shorten the deadline

Expert Depositions

Experts may be deposed like any other witness

The standard five-deposition limit for party depositions generally applies

An expert deposition should be scheduled after written disclosure is provided, allowing the opposing party to prepare

Work Product Implications

Expert communications with the attorney are generally work product and not discoverable under Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 56.01. However, once the expert is designated, the opinion itself becomes discoverable.

Rebuttal Experts

If an opposing party discloses an expert, a party may disclose a rebuttal expert at least 30 days before trial or as ordered by the court. A rebuttal expert may rely upon the opinions of the opposing expert without independent investigation.

Scope of Discovery

General Scope

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.01 defines discoverable material as any matter relevant to the claim or defense in the action. The scope is broad:

Relevance standard: Information need not be admissible at trial, but it must be relevant to a claim or defense or reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence

Relevance applies broadly: A document relevant to any party's claim or defense is discoverable, even if it might not be admissible at trial

Proportionality and Burden

While Missouri's rules do not explicitly state a "proportionality" requirement like federal Rule 26(b)(1), courts may consider:

The importance of the issues at stake

The amount in controversy

The resources available to the parties

Whether discovery is unduly burdensome or costly relative to the case value

A party may object to discovery as "unduly burdensome" if the burden substantially outweighs the benefit. Courts weigh these factors in ruling on objections and protective orders.

Privileges and Work Product

Attorney-Client Privilege

Communications between an attorney and client made for the purpose of obtaining legal advice are privileged under Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 56.01(a). This privilege protects:

Legal advice sought or given

Confidential communications

Information generated in anticipation of legal representation

The privilege does not apply to:

Communications with third parties (unless the third party is present for a legitimate purpose, such as a translator or expert assisting the attorney)

Pre-existing documents or facts (though the attorney's analysis may be protected)

Communications regarding non-legal matters

Work Product Doctrine

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 56.01(b) protects "trial preparation materials" prepared by an attorney in anticipation of litigation:

Mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, and legal theories are absolutely protected

Tangible materials (documents, diagrams) are conditionally protected; they may be discovered if the opposing party shows:

- Substantial need for the materials
- Inability to obtain equivalent information through other reasonable means

Privilege Log

When a party withholds documents on grounds of privilege, Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.04(c) requires a privilege log listing withheld documents by:

Date

Author and recipient

General subject matter

Privilege or protection asserted

Whether the privilege has been waived

The log must be sufficiently detailed to allow the opposing party to evaluate whether the privilege claim is valid.

Waiver of Privilege

Privilege is waived if:

The privileged material is voluntarily disclosed without instruction to maintain confidentiality

The attorney discloses the substance of the privileged communication

The client places the privileged information at issue (such as by claiming reliance on an attorney's advice as a defense)

Inadvertent Production

If a privileged document is inadvertently produced, the producing party must promptly notify the opposing party. Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 56.01(d) provides that the inadvertent production does not constitute waiver if the producing party acted reasonably to prevent disclosure and promptly seeks return of the document. However, the opposing party is not required to return the document or refrain from using it.

Meet and Confer Requirements

Pre-Motion Conference

Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 55.11 requires that before filing a motion to compel discovery or a motion seeking relief from a discovery dispute, the moving party must make a good faith effort to resolve