Opinion ID: 1740561
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: conversion of the motion for judgment on the pleadings to a motion for summary judgment.

Text: ¶ 3. Under M.R.C.P. 12(c), a trial court may convert a motion for judgment on the pleadings to a motion for summary judgment if the court considers matters outside the pleadings in ruling on the motion. Although the circuit court did not characterize the motion as a motion for summary judgment, it is evident that the circuit court treated the motion as one for summary judgment. As soon as the Boyleses filed their response, the motion became one for summary judgment because they attached to their response exhibits which were not in the pleadings. ¶ 4. Resolution of the issue of the discovery rule depended on exactly when the Boyleses were made aware of their claims against Schlumberger. This information was not contained in the pleadings. We will therefore treat the motion for judgment on the pleadings as one for summary judgment.