Category: URCP073

URCP004. Process. Amend. A community member recognized the slight difference in the language of the rule and the language in the form summons as it relates to default judgments.  Based upon the regular practice with default judgments the Committee proposed a change of the word “will” to “may” in subsection (c)(1)(E).  The rule now reads a “judgment by default may be entered against the defendant.”

URCP043. Evidence. Amend. A proposal was made to change the language of the remote hearing oath outlined in subsection (c) to remove the language “issue (or matter) pending between ___ and ___” to be replaced by the word “matter.”  Particularly for cases in juvenile court where the caption is “State of Utah in the interest of …” the language in the oath is more encompassing if read “evidence you shall give in this matter” when administering the oath.

URCP076. Notice of contact information change. Amend. After review of the rule and publishing for comment twice, the amendments include what information must be provided when contact information changes and to whom notice should be sent.

Supreme Court Order

URCP073. Attorney Fees. Amend. In response to McQuarrie v. McQuarrie, 2017 UT App 209, and Chaparro v. Torero, 2018 UT App 181, clarifies that all requests for attorney fees are governed by Rule 73, no matter when they are raised.

Supreme Court Order

For more information on this rule, please visit the website of the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure at https://legacy.utcourts.gov/utc/civproc/.

URCP073. Attorney Fees. Amend. An overwhelming number of cases filed in the courts, especially debt collection cases, result in the entry of an uncontested judgment. The work required in most cases to obtain an uncontested judgment does not typically depend on the amount at issue. The amendments eliminate the schedule of fees based on the amount of damages and replace it with a single fee upon entry of an uncontested judgment and a larger fee in contested cases. Where additional work is required to collect on the judgment, the amendments provide a default amount for writs and certain motions, and eliminate the “considerable additional efforts” limitation of the prior rule. The rule remains flexible so that when attorney fees exceed the scheduled amounts, a party remains free to file an affidavit requesting appropriate fees in accordance with the rule.

URCP073. Advisory Committee Notes.

Supreme Court Order

URCP 051. Instructions to jury; objections. Amend. Permits the judge discretion to repeat earlier instructions as necessary.
URCP 073. Attorney fees. Amend. Requires a statement that attorney will not split fees in violation of Code of Professional Responsibility.
Supreme Court Order.