Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 16, April 20, 2024
Rule 4012 - Protective Orders(a) Upon motion by a party or by the person from whom discovery or deposition is sought, and for good cause shown, the court may make any order which justice requires to protect a party or person from unreasonable annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, burden or expense, including one or more of the following: (1) that the discovery or deposition shall be prohibited;(2) that the discovery or deposition shall be only on specified terms and conditions, including a designation of the time and place;(3) that the discovery or deposition shall be only by a method of discovery or deposition other than that selected by the party seeking discovery or deposition;(4) that certain matters shall not be inquired into;(5) that the scope of discovery or deposition shall be limited;(6) that discovery or deposition shall be conducted with no one present except persons designated by the court;(7) that a deposition shall be sealed and shall be opened only by order of the court;(8) that the parties simultaneously shall file specified documents or information enclosed in sealed envelopes to be opened as directed by the court;(9) that a trade secret or other confidential research, development or commercial information shall not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way. If the motion for a protective order is denied in whole or in part, the court may, on such terms and conditions as are just, order that any party or person provide or permit discovery.
(b) At any time during the taking of a deposition, on motion of any party or of the deponent, the court may order the officer conducting the examination to cease forthwith from taking the deposition, or may limit the scope and manner of the taking of the deposition as provided in subdivision (a). If the order made terminates the examination it shall be resumed thereafter only upon order of the court. Upon demand of the objecting party or deponent, the taking of the deposition shall be suspended for the time necessary to make a motion for an order and to obtain the court's ruling thereon.The provisions of this Rule 4012 amended November 20, 1978, effective 4/16/1979, 8 Pa.B. 3551; amended October 24, 2003, effective 9 months after the date of the Order, 33 Pa.B. 5506.