Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 188 rules apply across Los Angeles Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 60
  • Applies to
    Joint isc statement

    Upon assignment to Department 11, an ISC Order stays all proceedings and the parties must submit a joint ISC statement as directed in that Order.

  • Applies to
    Joint status conference statement

    The parties must file a joint statement outlining recent progress in the case before every status conference.

  • Applies to
    Bulletin board posting

    Parties must make joint bulletin board postings rather than unilateral postings, which are treated as prohibited ex parte communications.

Filing Timing

All 28
  • Deadline
    5 business days

    The joint status conference statement must be filed at least five court days before every status conference.

  • The Court's order scheduling an IDC stays any deadline to file a motion to compel under CCP 2016.080(c)(2).

  • The Court cannot shorten the notice period for summary judgment/adjudication motions, though it may hear such motions fewer than 30 days before trial.

Communication

All 20
  • Contact
    Phone to chambers
    Phone
    (213) 310-7011

    To reserve a hearing date for a motion, a party must telephone the Courtroom Assistant at (213) 310-7011.

  • Contact
    Phone to chambers

    The moving party must notify the Court as early as possible that a matter will go off calendar under CRC 3.1306(b), by posting the announcement on the e-service bulletin board and telephoning the courtroom.

  • Contact
    Phone

    Parties at an impasse during a deposition may telephone the courtroom at (213) 310-7011 to arrange an immediate conference call with the Court.

Pre-Motion Conferences

All 18
  • For discovery disputes (other than deposition impasses), parties may request an informal conference by making a joint posting on the e-service bulletin board.

  • Before preparing an ex parte application for emergency relief, parties must post a joint request for an informal conference on the e-service bulletin board and contact courtroom staff to obtain a time and date.

  • Parties must meet and confer twice by telephone or video before requesting an IDC, and are expected to extend motion-to-compel deadlines to accommodate the process.

About Judge Susan Bryant-Deason

Judge Susan Bryant-Deason is a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, the state trial court serving Los Angeles County.

Judge Bryant-Deason's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge Susan Bryant-Deason's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for documents required by standing or general orders, pleadings, motions, points and authorities, demurrers, anti slapp filings, motions for summary judgment or adjudications, motions to compel further discoverys, oppositions, replies, and trial documents.

View ruleSource: page 1, section FILINGS

Does Judge Susan Bryant-Deason require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Susan Bryant-Deason's rules set a pre-motion procedure for law and motion ex parte. If an ex parte application pertains to a law and motion matter, the underlying motion must be reserved in the Court Reservation System (or E-Court) before the ex parte is filed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section EX PARTES

What page or word limits apply to trial brief before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Judge Susan Bryant-Deason's rule states these limits: 10 pages. Trial briefs in Department J are limited to 10 pages.

View ruleSource: page 4, section TRIAL DOCUMENTS

What page or word limits apply to joint brief before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Judge Susan Bryant-Deason's rule states these limits: 5 pages. A joint brief of less than five pages summarizing the discovery dispute(s) must be filed for the IDC.

View ruleSource: page 8, section DEPARTMENT J - MOTIONS TO COMPEL FURTHER AND INFORMAL DISCOVERY CONFERENCES

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Judge Susan Bryant-Deason's formatting rule includes binders labeled with the case name and case number and each binder labeled 'judicial assistant,' 'judge,' or 'witness'. Exhibit binders must be labeled with the case name and number, and each binder must be labeled 'Judicial Assistant,' 'Judge,' or 'Witness.'

View ruleSource: page 3, section TRIAL DOCUMENTS

What must be included with declaration of service efforts filings before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. If any defendant remains unserved, plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel must file a declaration five days before the CMC hearing explaining the efforts undertaken to accomplish service.

View ruleSource: page 1, section CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES

What must be included with exhibit binders filings before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

The rule requires exhibit list. Parties must prepare three sets of exhibit binders, each with an exhibit list index in front and divider tabs numbered by exhibit.

View ruleSource: page 3, section TRIAL DOCUMENTS

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Trial continuance requests must be made via noticed motion or ex parte application when appropriate.

View ruleSource: page 1, section CONTINUANCES

Does Judge Susan Bryant-Deason require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Susan Bryant-Deason requires bundling for covered papers. MILs, oppositions, and replies must be assembled into binders that are tabbed and indexed with a Table of Contents.

View ruleSource: page 4, section TRIAL DOCUMENTS

Is electronic filing required before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All parties must comply with the First Amended General Order re Mandatory Electronic Filing for Civil, making electronic filing mandatory for civil cases.

View ruleSource: page 1, section FILINGS

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

A fee is required for covered filings. Counsel are billed daily for jury fees and must provide proof of payment to the clerk no later than the next day, or trial cannot resume.

View ruleSource: page 5, section OTHER TRIAL GUIDELINES (Joint Jury Instructions, Stipulations, Jury Selection)

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

The rule states a 10:00 AM filing cutoff. Ex parte applications must be electronically filed by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section EX PARTES

What rule applies to service for ex parte application before Judge Susan Bryant-Deason?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service, timing: 1 calendar days before hearing. Ex parte applications must be electronically served by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section EX PARTES
Complete rules summary for Judge Susan Bryant-Deason

All parties must comply with the First Amended General Order re Mandatory Electronic Filing for Civil, making electronic filing mandatory for civil cases.

Self-represented litigants are exempt from mandatory electronic filing under CRC 2.253(b)(2) and may file papers at the first-floor filing window.

Ex parte applications must be electronically filed by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the hearing.

Courtesy copies are required for documents required by a standing or general order, pleadings and motions with points and authorities, demurrers, anti-SLAPP filings, MSJ/MSA motions, motions to compel further discovery, related oppositions/replies, and all trial documents.

Ex parte applications must be electronically served by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the hearing.

Courtesy copies of ex parte applications must be brought to the Court on the morning of the hearing.

If an ex parte application pertains to a law and motion matter, the underlying motion must be reserved in the Court Reservation System (or E-Court) before the ex parte is filed.

Requests for trial continuances must be made by noticed motion or, when appropriate, ex parte application.

A case management statement must be filed at least 15 days before the case management conference hearing, per CRC 3.725(a).

All defendants must be served with the complaint by the time of the case management conference.

If any defendant remains unserved, plaintiff or plaintiff's counsel must file a declaration five days before the CMC hearing explaining the efforts undertaken to accomplish service.

A hearing date must be reserved through CRS for every motion; motions are heard Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and Friday at 9:00 a.m.

Parties must comply with the Court's Informal Discovery Conference Order, available at www.lacourt.ca.gov, for motions to compel further discovery and informal discovery conferences.

If no court reporter is provided at trial, counsel must provide the Court a joint summary of testimony and evidence (with exhibit numbers) on a daily basis by the morning following the testimony.

Department J requires courtesy copies of all filings to be delivered to the department no later than 8:30 a.m. the day after filing.

Parties must meet and confer in person before filing joint trial documents.

Joint trial documents must be filed at least five court days before the final status conference.

Joint courtesy copies of all trial documents must be lodged in Department J five court days before the final status conference in JOINT three-ring binders (spines max 2.5 inches), with each document tabbed, paginated, and indexed.

Plaintiff(s) are responsible for filing the joint trial documents unless the parties agree otherwise.

Parties must prepare three sets of exhibit binders, each with an exhibit list index in front and divider tabs numbered by exhibit.

Exhibit binders must be labeled with the case name and number, and each binder must be labeled 'Judicial Assistant,' 'Judge,' or 'Witness.'

Joint trial binders must include operative pleadings, joint statement of the case, joint witness list, joint exhibit list, joint proposed verdict form, and trial briefs, signed by each counsel for each party.

Counsel must meet and confer to prepare a brief, neutral joint statement of the case to be read to the jury, even if mini-opening statements are agreed.

Joint witness list must be in columns with all expected witnesses, time estimates for direct/cross/redirect, column totals, and percipient/expert designation; witnesses not listed may be excluded or limited to impeachment or rebuttal.

Joint exhibit list must have specified columns (Exhibit No., Description, Offered by, Stipulated, Date ID, Date Admit) with all exhibits exchanged and prenumbered; submission does not waive objections.

Counsel must meet and confer before filing the Joint Exhibit List to resolve foundation and admissibility objections, stipulating where feasible.

Exhibits should be numbered in sequential numerical order, with parties agreeing in advance on exhibit number ranges (e.g., Plaintiff 1-99; Defendant 100-199).

Parties should submit an agreed-upon joint proposed verdict form with interrogatories.

Trial briefs in Department J are limited to 10 pages.

Trial briefs are required in jury and court trials in Department J and must describe the facts, remaining causes of action, parties' status, defenses, relief claimed, and damages calculation.

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