Opinion ID: 1998042
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Judicial Proceedings Requirement.

Text: Curoe was not ordered by the federal magistrate to attend the pretrial conference in Cedar Rapids, nor was it contemplated that he would furnish testimony at that time. LaRose argues that this voluntary appearance did not qualify Curoe for the immunity provided under the rule. Curoe argues, however, that his attendance at the pretrial conference was a practical necessity because, under the federal magistrate's order and the local rules of court, extensive consideration of exhibits, witness identification, and fact issues was required at that conference. Moreover, he argues, an order for Curoe's attendance is not required under the rules. The pretrial order required that each exhibit be separately identified and described. Curoe claims approximately 100 exhibits were involved. The pretrial order also required a listing of all witnesses, their addresses, and the purpose of their testimony. Any witness not listed could not be called at trial without the court's express modification of the pretrial order. Under the magistrate's order setting the pretrial conference, and under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, failure of the parties to comply with the pretrial rules would result in sanctions, including possible dismissal. It is apparent, therefore, that while Curoe's attendance was not mandatory, it could scarcely be argued that it would not be helpful and, in fact, necessary, in sorting out the exhibits and witnesses and in stating the fact issues. Without the parties' presence at the conference, it would be more likely that modification of the proposed pretrial order, hence more delay, would ensue. Our own cases evidence a broad view of judicial proceedings for purposes of the immunity rule. In Moseley v. Ricks , for example, this court quoted with approval from a Montana case: According to the weight of authority, this rule applies to all proceedings which are in their nature judicial, whether taking place in court or not ..., and to attendance upon the taking of depositions to be used in the trial of a cause.... The rule has been extended to include a party attending the examination of witnesses to be used on a trial of his case ..., and to such a one who comes into a foreign jurisdiction at the request of his counsel, to be present during the argument on a demurrer. ... 223 Iowa at 1043, 274 N.W. at 25. A coroner's inquest was held to be quasi judicial in nature, and immunity granted to a nonresident witness, in Kelly v. Shafer, 213 Iowa at 794, 239 N.W. at 548; and, in Kirtley v. Chamberlin, 250 Iowa 136, 93 N.W.2d 80, a bankruptcy hearing was held to be a judicial proceeding under the rule. But see Lingo v. Reichenbach Land Co., 225 Iowa 112, 279 N.W. 121 (1938) (immunity rule held inapplicable to party entering State to discuss settlement of case). A broad scope of the immunity is also evident from this statement of the general rule: The privilege of a suitor or witness from service of process while without the jurisdiction of his residence for the purpose of attending court in an action to which he is a party, or in which he is to be sworn as a witness, extends to every proceeding of a judicial nature taken in or emanating from a duly constituted judicial tribunal, which directly relates to the trial of the issues involved. It extends not only to persons who are in the immediate presence of the judges of the courts of record, but to those also who are in attendance on the subordinate tribunals and officers appointed by those courts, to assist them in the discharge of their duties. Hearings before arbitrators, legislative committees, commissioners or trustees in bankruptcy, examiners, masters in chancery, and commissioners to take depositions, etc., have all been declared to be embraced within the scope of its application. 62 Am.Jur.2d Process § 146, at 930 (1972) (footnotes omitted). The rationale of the pretrial procedure, like that of the immunity rule itself, is to promote efficient and effective disposition of litigation. Effective pretrial conferences advance the same goal. Increasing court congestion, and the present emphasis on extensive pretrial conferences apparent in both the federal rule, Fed.R.Civ.P. 16, and our own, Iowa R.Civ.P. 66, suggest that full participation in such conferences should be encouraged. We conclude that Curoe's attendance at the pretrial conference was a sufficient basis for granting immunity from service of notice.