Rule 9. Pleading Special Matters

(a) CAPACITY OR AUTHORITY TO SUE; LEGAL EXISTENCE

(1)In General

Except when required to show that the court has jurisdiction, a pleading need not allege:
(A)a party’s capacity to sue or be sued;
(B)a party’s authority to sue or be sued in a representative capacity; or
(C)the legal existence of an organized association of persons that is made a party.

(2)Raising Those Issues

To raise any of those issues, a party must do so by a specific denial, which must state any supporting facts that are peculiarly within the party's knowledge.

(b) FRAUD OR MISTAKE; CONDITIONS OF MIND

In alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake. Malice, intent, knowledge, and other conditions of a person’s mind may be alleged generally.

(c) CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

In pleading conditions precedent, it suffices to allege generally that all conditions precedent have occurred or been performed. But when denying that a condition precedent has occurred or been performed, a party must do so with particularity.

(d) OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR ACT

In pleading an official document or official act, it suffices to allege that the document was legally issued or the act legally done.

(e) JUDGMENT

In pleading a judgment or decision of a domestic or foreign court, a judicial or quasi-judicial tribunal, or a board or officer, it suffices to plead the judgment or decision without showing jurisdiction to render it.

(f) TIME AND PLACE

An allegation of time and place is material when testing the sufficiency of a pleading.

(g) SPECIAL DAMAGES

If an item of special damage is claimed, it must be specifically stated.

(h) [Deleted]

Comments

COMMENT TO 2017 AMENDMENTS

Rule 9 has been amended consistent with the 2007 stylistic changes to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9.

COMMENT

Rule 9 identical to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9 except for deletion of section (h) thereof dealing with claims for relief "within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction" which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of federal District Courts. See 28 U.S.C. § 1333(1).