Rule 1042.29.Plaintiff’s Request to Defendant or Additional Defendant for Production of Expert Reports. Response.
Adopted March 29, 2004 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1042.29 gives the plaintiff the matching right to demand a defendant's or additional defendant's expert reports once the plaintiff has produced its own, and sets the deadlines for serving the request and responding to it.
(1)Within the times set forth in subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3), a plaintiff who has furnished a defendant or additional defendant expert reports summarizing the expert testimony that will be offered by the plaintiff to support his or her claims of professional liability made against that defendant or additional defendant, may serve on that defendant or additional defendant a Plaintiff’s Request to Defendant or Additional Defendant for Production of Expert Reports. The request shall be substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 1042.37.
(2)A plaintiff who has furnished an expert report to the defendant or additional defendant in response to a request pursuant to Rule 1042.28 may thereafter serve a request on that defendant or additional defendant. Within sixty days after service of the request, the party to whom the request has been directed shall furnish to the requesting party expert reports summarizing the expert testimony that will be offered by that party to support the defenses to the requesting party’s claims.
(3)A plaintiff who has furnished an expert report to the defendant or additional defendant without a request may serve a request on that defendant or additional defendant after ninety days following the filing of the certificate of merit as to the party to whom the request is directed. Within one hundred twenty days after service of the request, the party to whom the request has been directed shall furnish to the requesting party expert reports summarizing the expert testimony that will be offered by that party to support the defenses to the requesting party’s claims.
(b)If the defendant or additional defendant to whom a Plaintiff’s Request to Defendant or Additional Defendant for Production of Expert Reports has been directed has raised claims against other parties pursuant to Rule 2251 et seq., the expert reports shall also summarize the expert testimony that will be offered by that party in support of the claims against other parties.
End
Plain-English Summary
This rule is the mirror image of the defendant's request. After a plaintiff has supplied expert reports supporting the professional-liability claim, the plaintiff may demand the reports of a defendant or additional defendant, using the form in Rule 1042.37. The party served must respond within the time the rule allows.
Together with Rule 1042.28, it keeps the expert exchange even-handed, so both sides see the opposing experts' conclusions on the same schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a plaintiff demand the defendant's expert reports?
After furnishing its own expert reports within the deadlines the rule sets, the plaintiff may serve the request.
What form is used?
The form prescribed by Rule 1042.37.
Official Note
Official Note:Rule 2251 et seq. governs the joinder of additional defendants.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1042.29 adopted March 29, 2004, effective immediately, 34 Pa.B. 1926.
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:plaintiff request for expert reportsreciprocal expert discoveryprofessional liability expert reports