RULE 7. PLEADINGS ALLOWED--FORM OF MOTIONS
(a) Pleadings. There shall be a complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim denominated 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 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.
(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, shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds therefore, 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 and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules.
(3) All motions must be signed in accordance with Rule 11.
(4) A motion to vacate or modify a provisional remedy shall have preference over all other motions.
(c) Demurrers, Pleas, Etc., Abolished. Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be used.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This rule is identical to Rule 7, FRCivP, except for the addition to subdivision (b) of a provision giving preference to a motion to vacate or modify a provisional remedy, which had been previously contained in Section 28 2806, NDRC 1943.
Subdivision (b)(3), adopted effective March 1, 1986, tracks the 1983 amendment to FRCivP 7(b) and requires that all motions must be signed in accordance with N.D.R.Civ.P. 11.
SOURCES: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of April 26, 1984, page 25; January 20, 1984, page 15; September 20-21, 1979, page 6; Rule 7, FRCivP.
STATUTES AFFECTED:
SUPERSEDED: Sections 28-0702, 28-0704, 28-0705, 28-0706, 28-0707, 28-0708, 28-0709, 28-0716, 28-1717, 28-1734, 28-2801, 28-2802, 28-2803, 28-2810, NDRC 1943.
CROSS REFERENCE: N.D.R.Civ.P. 8 (General Rules of Pleading), 10 (Form of Pleadings), 11 (Signing of Pleadings), 13 (Counterclaim and Cross-Claim), 14 (Third-Party Practice), and 15 (Amended and Supplemental Findings); N.D.R.Crim.P. 47 (Motions), N.D.R.Ct. 3.2 (Submission on Briefs and Filing).