On order of the Court, notice of the proposed changes and an opportunity for comment at a public hearing having been provided, and consideration having been given to the comments received, the following amendment of Rule 2.203 of the Michigan Court Rules is adopted, to be effective June 1, 1999.
Bold text indicates new text.
In a pleading that states a claim against an opposing party, the pleader must join every claim that the pleader has against that opposing party at the time of serving the pleading, if it arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the action and does not require for its adjudication the presence of third parties over whom the court cannot acquire jurisdiction. The amendment was recommended by the State Bar of Michigan to facilitate operation of the common law doctrine of res judicata, and to make Michigan practice more consistent with practice in other jurisdictions. The staff comment is published only for the benefit of the bench and bar and is not an authoritative construction by the Court.