Rule 7.209 - Bond; Stay of Proceedings(A) Effect of Appeal; Prerequisites.(1) Except for an automatic stay pursuant to MCR 2.614 or MCL 600.867, or except as otherwise provided under this rule, an appeal does not stay the effect or enforceability of a judgment or order of a trial court unless the trial court or the Court of Appeals otherwise orders. An automatic stay under MCR 2.614(D) operates to stay any and all proceedings in a cause in which a party has appealed a trial court's denial of the party's claim of governmental immunity.(2) A motion for bond or for a stay pending appeal may not be filed in the Court of Appeals unless such a motion was decided by the trial court.(3) A motion for bond or a stay pending appeal filed in the Court of Appeals must include a copy of the trial court's opinion and order, and a copy of the transcript of the hearing on the motion in the trial court.(B) Responsibility for Setting Amount of Bond in Trial Court. (1) Civil Actions and Probate Proceedings. Unless determined by law, or as otherwise provided by this rule, the dollar amount of a stay or appeal bond in a civil action or probate proceeding must be set by the trial court in an amount adequate to protect the opposite party.(2) Criminal Cases. In a criminal case the granting of bond pending appeal and the amount of it are within the discretion of the trial court, subject to applicable law and rules. Bond must be sufficient to guarantee the appearance of the defendant. Unless bond pending appeal is allowed and a bond is filed with the trial court, a criminal judgment may be executed immediately, even though the time for taking an appeal has not elapsed.(C) Amendment of Bond. On motion, the trial court may order an additional or different bond, set the amount, and approve or require different sureties.(D) Review by Court of Appeals. Except as otherwise provided by rule or law, on motion filed in a case pending before it, the Court of Appeals may amend the amount of bond set by the trial court, order an additional or different bond and set the amount, or require different or additional sureties. The Court of Appeals may also refer a bond or bail matter to the court from which the appeal is taken. The Court of Appeals may grant a stay of proceedings in the trial court or stay of effect or enforcement of any judgment or order of a trial court on the terms it deems just.(E) Stay of Proceedings by Trial Court. (1) Unless otherwise provided by rule, statute, or court order, an execution may not issue and proceedings may not be taken to enforce an order or judgment until expiration of the time for taking an appeal of right.(2) An appeal does not stay execution unless:(a) Except in a domestic relations matter, the party seeking to stay a money judgment files with the court a bond in compliance with MCR 3.604 in an amount not less than 110% of the judgment or order being enforced, including any costs, interest, attorney fees, and sanctions assessed to the date of filing the bond, with the party in whose favor the judgment or order was entered as the obligee, by which the party promises to (i) perform and satisfy the judgment or order stayed if it is not set aside or reversed, and(ii) prosecute to completion any appeal subsequently taken from the judgment or order stayed and perform and satisfy the judgment or order entered by the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court; or(b) The trial court grants a stay with or without bond, or with a reduced bond, as justice requires or as otherwise provided by statute (see MCL 500.3036).(3) The court may order, on stipulation or otherwise, other forms of security in lieu of the bond in subsection (E)(2)(a), including but not limited to an irrevocable letter of credit.(4) When the bond is filed under subsection (E)(2)(a), the judgment or order is automatically stayed pending entry of a final order under subsection (G).(5) If a stay bond filed under this subrule substantially meets the requirements of subrule (F), it will be a sufficient bond to stay proceedings pending disposition of an appeal subsequently filed.(6) The stay order must conform to any condition expressly required by the statute authorizing review.(7) If a government party files a claim of appeal from an order described in MCR 7.202(6)(a)(v), the proceedings are stayed during the pendency of the appeal, unless the Court of Appeals directs otherwise.(F) Conditions of Stay Bond. (1) Civil Actions and Probate Proceedings. In a bond filed for stay pending appeal in a civil action or probate proceeding, the appellant must promise in writing:(a) to prosecute the appeal to decision;(b) to perform or satisfy a judgment or order of the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court;(c) to perform or satisfy the judgment or order appealed from, if the appeal is dismissed;(d) in an action involving the possession of land or judgment for foreclosure of a mortgage or land contract, to pay the appellee the damages which may result from the stay of proceedings; and(e) to do any other act which is expressly required in the statute authorizing appeal.(2) Criminal Cases. A criminal defendant for whom bond pending appeal is allowed after conviction must promise in writing: (a) to prosecute the appeal to decision;(b) if the sentence is one of incarceration, to surrender himself or herself to the sheriff of the county in which he or she was convicted or other custodial authority if the sentence is affirmed on appeal or if the appeal is dismissed;(c) if the judgment or order appealed is other than a sentence of incarceration, to perform and comply with the order of the trial court if it is affirmed on appeal or if the appeal is dismissed;(d) to appear in the trial court if the case is remanded for retrial or further proceedings or if a conviction is reversed and retrial is allowed;(e) to remain in Michigan unless the court gives written approval to leave; and(f) to notify the trial court clerk of a change of address.(G) Sureties and Filing of Bond; Service of Bond; Objections; Stay Orders. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this rule, MCR 3.604 applies. A bond must be filed with the clerk of the court that entered the order or judgment to be stayed. (1) Civil Actions and Probate Proceedings. (a) A copy of a bond and any accompanying power of attorney or affidavit must be promptly served on all parties in the manner prescribed in MCR 2.107. At the same time, the party seeking the stay must file a proposed stay order under MCR 2.602(B)(3). Proof of service must be filed promptly with the trial court in which the bond has been filed.(b) Objections must be filed and served within seven days after service of the bond. Objections to the amount of the bond are governed by MCR 2.602(B)(3). Objections to the surety are governed by MCR 3.604(E).(c) If no timely objections to the bond, surety, or stay order are filed, the trial court must promptly enter the order staying enforcement of the judgment or order pending all appeals. The stay continues until otherwise ordered by the trial court or an appellate court.(d) Any stay order must be promptly served on all parties in the manner prescribed in MCR 2.107. Proof of service must be filed promptly with the trial court.(e) All hearings under this rule may be held by telephone conference as provided in MCR 2.402.(f) For good cause shown, the trial court may set the amount of the bond in a greater or lesser amount adequate to protect the interests of the parties.(g) A bond may be secured under MCL 600.2631.(2) Criminal Cases. A criminal defendant filing a bond after conviction must give notice to the county prosecuting attorney of the time and place the bond will be filed. The bond is subject to the objection procedure provided in MCR 3.604.(H) Stay of Execution. (1) If a bond is filed before execution issues, and notice is given to the officer having authority to issue execution, execution is stayed. If the bond is filed after the issuance but before execution, and notice is given to the officer holding it, execution is suspended.(2) The Court of Appeals may stay or terminate a stay of any order or judgment of a lower court or tribunal on just terms.(3) When the amount of the judgment is more than $1000 over the insurance policy coverage or surety obligation, then the policy or obligation does not qualify to stay execution under MCL 500.3036 on the portion of the judgment in excess of the policy or bond limits. Stay pending appeal may be achieved by complying with that statute and by filing a bond in an additional amount adequate to protect the opposite party or by obtaining a trial court or Court of Appeals order waiving the additional bond.(4) A statute exempting a municipality or other governmental agency from filing a bond to stay execution supersedes the requirements of this rule.(I) Ex Parte Stay. Whenever an ex parte stay of proceedings is necessary to allow a motion in either the trial court or the Court of Appeals, the court before which the motion will be heard may grant an ex parte stay for that purpose. Service of a copy of the order, with a copy of the motion, any affidavits on which the motion is based, and notice of hearing on the motion, operates as a stay of proceedings until the court rules on the motion unless the court supersedes or sets aside the order in the interim. Proceedings may not be stayed for longer than necessary to enable the party to make the motion according to the practice of the court and, if made, until the decision of the court. Last amended October 21, 2015, effective 1/1/2016; last amended effective 6/21/2017; amended effective 3/21/2018. Staff Comment: These [2015] amendments relate to stay bonds. The amendments of MCR 7.209 are modeled on the recent revisions of MCR 7.108, the circuit court appeals rule, and provide that filing a bond automatically stays enforcement of a money judgment or order. The amendments further clarify that the automatic stay provision does not apply to domestic relations matters, in which a stay must be ordered by the trial court. The amendment of MCR 2.614 coordinates with the amendment of MCR 7.209 and clarifies that execution may not issue until 21 days after a final judgment enters in a case.