§ Rule 11 Signing of Pleadings and Motions; Sanctions

Codes > Maine Revised Statutes > Rules of > III Pleadings > Rule 11

Rule 11. Signing of Pleadings and Motions; Sanctions

    (a) Attorney Signature Required; Sanctions. Subject to subdivision (b), every pleading and motion of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name, whose address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign the party's pleading or motion and state the party's address. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a representation by the signer that the signer has read the pleading or motion; that to the best of the signer's knowledge, information, and belief there is good ground to support it; and that it is not interposed for delay. If a pleading or motion is not signed, it shall not be accepted for filing. If a pleading or motion is signed with intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, the court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, may impose upon the person who signed it, upon a represented party, or upon both, an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading or motion, including a reasonable attorney's fee.

    (b) Limited Appearance of Attorneys. To the extent permitted by the Maine Bar Rules, an attorney may file a limited appearance on behalf of an otherwise unrepresented litigant. The appearance shall state precisely the scope of the limited representation. The requirements of subdivision (a) shall apply to every  pleading and motion signed by the attorney. An attorney filing a pleading or motion outside the scope of the limited representation shall be deemed to have entered an appearance for the purposes of the filing.

    (c) Documents Filed in Federal Court. Any document originally filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maine or any other federal court, and transferred to a court subject to these rules, shall be deemed to be signed if the document is signed or signing of the document is indicated in a manner that is acceptable for filing in the court from which the document is transferred.