All factual matters to be heard on any petition for coordination, or on any other petition, motion, or application under the rules in this chapter, must be initially presented and heard on declarations, answers to interrogatories or requests for admissions, depositions, or matters judicially noticed. Oral testimony will not be permitted at a hearing except as the assigned judge may permit to resolve factual issues shown by the declarations, responses to discovery, or matters judicially noticed to be in dispute. Only parties that have submitted a petition or motion, or a written response or opposition to a petition or motion, will be permitted to appear at the hearing, except the assigned judge may permit other parties to appear, on a showing of good cause.
Rule 3.514.Evidence presented at court hearings
Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 2. Procedural Rules Applicable to All Complex Coordination Proceedings · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.514 requires factual issues on a coordination petition, motion, or application to be presented initially through declarations, discovery responses, depositions, or judicially noticed matters, permits oral testimony only when the assigned judge allows it to resolve a disputed fact, and generally limits hearing appearances to parties that filed a petition, motion, or written response or opposition.
Full Text of Rule 3.514
Plain-English Summary
Hearings on coordination matters run on a written record rather than live testimony as a matter of course. All factual matters to be heard on a petition for coordination, or on any other petition, motion, or application under this chapter, must first be presented through declarations, answers to interrogatories or requests for admissions, depositions, or matters subject to judicial notice. Oral testimony comes in only where the assigned judge permits it, and then only to resolve a factual dispute that those written materials themselves reveal.
The rule also limits who gets to appear at the hearing. Ordinarily, only parties that submitted a petition or motion, or a written response or opposition to one, may appear. That restriction keeps the hearing focused on parties that put something on the record, though the assigned judge retains discretion to let another party appear on a showing of good cause, so a party that sat out the briefing is not automatically shut out if it has a genuine reason to be heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is factual evidence presented at a coordination hearing?
Initially through declarations, discovery responses, depositions, or matters judicially noticed, not through live witnesses.
When is oral testimony allowed at a coordination hearing?
Only when the assigned judge permits it to resolve a factual issue that the declarations, discovery responses, or judicially noticed matters show to be in dispute.
Who may appear at a coordination hearing?
Generally only parties that submitted a petition or motion, or a written response or opposition to one; the assigned judge may allow other parties to appear on a showing of good cause.
Amendment History
Rule 3.514 renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 1513 effective January 1, 1974; previously amended effective January 1, 2005.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: evidence at coordination hearing californiacal rule of court 3.514 declarations testimonywho can appear coordination motion hearing