Sec. 773a.

(1) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 773, the court may, pursuant to the agreement of the parties, appoint a referee selected by the parties and subject to the approval of the court. The referee may conduct proceedings within the state, or outside the state by stipulation of the parties with the referee's consent, and pursuant to the Michigan court rules. The referee shall have powers that include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) To hear all pretrial motions and submit proposed orders to the court. In ruling on the pretrial motion and proposed orders, the court shall consider only those documents, pleadings, and arguments that were presented to the referee.

(b) To require the production of evidence, including the production of all books, papers, documents, and writings applicable to the proceeding, and to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the corporation.

(c) To rule upon the admissibility of evidence pursuant to the Michigan rules of evidence.

(d) To place witnesses under oath and to examine witnesses.

(e) To provide for the taking of testimony by deposition.

(f) To regulate the course of the proceeding.

(g) To issue subpoenas, when a written request is made by any of the parties, requiring the attendance and testimony of any witness and the production of evidence including books, records, correspondence, and documents in the possession of the witness or under his or her control, at a hearing before the referee or at a deposition convened pursuant to subdivision (e). In case of a refusal to comply with a subpoena, the party on whose behalf the subpoena was issued may file a petition in the court for an order requiring compliance.

(2) The amount and manner of payment of the referee's compensation shall be determined by agreement between the referee and the parties, subject to the court's allocation of compensation between the parties at the end of the proceeding pursuant to equitable principles, notwithstanding section 774.

(3) The referee shall do all of the following:

(a) Make a record and reporter's transcript of the proceeding.

(b) Prepare a report, including proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and a recommended judgment.

(c) File the report with the court, together with all original exhibits and the reporter's transcript of the proceeding.

(4) Unless the court provides for a longer period, not more than 45 days after being served with notice of the filing of the report described in subsection (3), any party may serve written objections to the report upon the other party. Application to the court for action upon the report and objections to the report shall be made by motion upon notice. The court, after hearing, may adopt the report, may receive further evidence, may modify the report, or may recommit the report to the referee with instructions. Upon adoption of the report, judgment shall be entered in the same manner as if the action had been tried by the court and shall be subject to review in the same manner as any other judgment of the court.

History: Add. 1989, Act 121, Eff. Oct. 1, 1989