Rule 212.1.Civil actions to be tried by jury. Notice of earliest trial date. Time for completing discovery and filing pre-trial statement.

Adopted August 11, 1997 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 212.1 governs scheduling in jury cases above the arbitration limit: the court gives notice of the earliest trial date at least thirty days before the plaintiff’s pre-trial statement is due, and pre-trial statements are filed sixty, thirty, and fifteen days before trial by plaintiff, defendant, and additional defendant.

Full Text of Rule 212.1

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) In a civil action in which the damages sought exceed the jurisdictional limit for compulsory arbitration and which is to be tried by a jury, notice shall be given by the court of the earliest date on which the case may be tried. The notice should be given at least thirty days before the plaintiff’s pre-trial statement is due to be filed. The notice may include a date by which discovery shall be completed.

(b) A pre-trial statement shall be filed.

(1) by the plaintiff not later than sixty days prior to the earliest trial date,

(2) by the defendant not later than thirty days prior to the earliest trial date, and

(3) by an additional defendant not later than fifteen days prior to the earliest trial date.

(c)

(1) The times set forth in subdivision (b) may be made earlier by published local rule or by special order or as set forth in a trial list published in the county law journal or otherwise made available to the parties.

(2) The times set forth in subdivision (b) may be made later by published local rule or by special order in a particular case.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule sets the clock for jury trials in cases worth more than the compulsory-arbitration limit. The court notifies the parties of the earliest date the case may be tried, and that notice should come at least thirty days before the plaintiff’s pre-trial statement is due. The notice may also fix a discovery cutoff.

Pre-trial statements are staggered against the earliest trial date: the plaintiff files no later than sixty days before, the defendant no later than thirty days before, and an additional defendant no later than fifteen days before. A court may move these times earlier or later by published local rule or special order.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are pre-trial statements due in a jury case?

Measured from the earliest trial date: the plaintiff files at least sixty days before, the defendant at least thirty days before, and an additional defendant at least fifteen days before. Local rule or court order can change these times.

Which cases does this scheduling rule cover?

Civil actions to be tried by a jury in which the damages sought exceed the jurisdictional limit for compulsory arbitration.

Official Note

Official Note: It is not intended by this rule to change the form and manner of notice of trial.

Official Note: A copy of the pre-trial statement must be served upon every other party to the action. See Rule 440(a).

Official Note: In a county which requires that discovery be completed and expert reports be exchanged prior to listing a case for trial, the court by local rule may provide for the simultaneous filing of pre-trial statements. The court by local rule may extend Rules 212.1 and 212.2 to apply to actions to be tried non-jury as well as by jury and to other forms of action in addition to civil actions.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 212.1 adopted August 11, 1997, effective December 1, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4426.

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: pre-trial statement deadlineearliest trial datejury trial scheduling