Opinion ID: 2089165
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: County of filing

Text: A petition to perpetuate testimony may be filed in the county of the residence of any expected adverse party. M.R.Civ.P. 27(a)(1). Powers should have filed her petition in Cumberland County, where Planned Parenthood resides, instead of Franklin County, where she resides. Recognizing that Powers filed her petition in a county in which no expected adverse party resides, Planned Parenthood contends that the Superior Court did not have jurisdiction over the petition. The jurisdiction of a court to entertain a motion to perpetuate testimony is supported by the grounds of jurisdiction that will support the expected action when it is brought. Cf. 4 James W. Moore et al., Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 27.03 (2d ed. 1994) (discussing F.R.Civ.P. 27). If the court in which the petition is filed would have jurisdiction over the anticipated action, that court also has jurisdiction to entertain the petition. A medical malpractice action is cognizable in the Superior Court, a statewide court of general jurisdiction. The Superior Court had jurisdiction to entertain Powers's petition. Although Powers's filing of her petition in Franklin County does not create a jurisdictional defect, it does present a venue problem. On appeal, Planned Parenthood cites 14 M.R.S.A. § 501 (1980), that provides in relevant part: Improper venue may be raised by the defendant by motion or by answer, and if it is established that the action was brought in the wrong county, it shall be dismissed and the defendant allowed double costs. Planned Parenthood argues that this statutory provision required the Superior Court to dismiss the petition. Improper venue is an objection that can be waived. M.R.Civ.P. 12(h). [7] Improper venue is considered waived unless it is brought to the court's attention in a motion or a responsive pleading. Id. Planned Parenthood failed to raise improper venue in its motion to dismiss. Indeed, in that document Planned Parenthood characterized the issue of Powers's improper filing as one of subject matter jurisdiction, not venue, and never cited 14 M.R.S.A. § 501. Accordingly, Planned Parenthood waived any venue objection based on that statutory provision. [8]