Los Angeles Superior Court Document Format Requirements

WARNING

Every designation or counter-designation must be highlighted, with each party using a different color highlighter.

Each designation or counter-designation shall be highlighted, with each party using a different color highlighter.

WARNING

Copies of documentary exhibits must be one-sided.

Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one-sided copies.

WARNING

The Trial Binder must consist of one-sided, conformed copies tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder with a table of contents.

a Trial Binder, consisting of one-sided, conformed copies, tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder with a table of contents

WARNING

The Motions in Limine Binder must contain one-sided conformed copies of all MIL papers in tabbed three-ring binders organized numerically, with opposition/reply behind moving papers and colored separator sheets between each set.

The Motions in Limine Binder shall include one-sided, conformed copies of all motions in limine, opposition papers, and reply papers, organized in one or more three-ring binders, tabbed in numerical order with the opposition papers and reply papers for each motion placed directly behind the moving papers with a colored sheet of paper separating the moving, opposition, and reply papers.

WARNING

Exhibits should be numbered consecutively in the lower right-hand corner, with each page given an exhibit number using a dash for multi-page exhibits (e.g., Exhibit 1-1, 1-2, 1-3).

Those exhibits can be numbered consecutively in the lower, right-hand corner of each document. Each page should be given an exhibit number, so that if an exhibit contains multiple pages, it should have a "-" (dash) delineating each page. For example, if Exhibit 1 consists of 3 pages, it would be numbered as follows: Exhibit 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3.

WARNING

Motions in limine must be in writing and numbered.

All motions in limine, if any, must be in writing, numbered, and shall be served on all opposing parties and counsel and electronically filed at least ten (10) calendar days before the FSC.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

When parties cannot agree on a joint verdict form, the draft emailed to Department 529 must be in Word format.

If the parties cannot agree on a joint form, each party must file their version and email Department 529 the draft in Word.

WARNINGCivil cases

Multiple-page exhibits must have page numbers on each page to facilitate reference during witness examination.

Multiple page exhibits shall have page numbers on each page so as to facilitate reference to the document during interrogation of the witnesses.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Motions in Limine Binder must contain one-sided conformed copies of all motions in limine, oppositions, and replies in tabbed three-ring binders, with opposition and reply papers placed directly behind the moving papers separated by colored sheets.

The Motions in Limine Binder shall include one-sided, conformed copies of all motions in limine, opposition papers, and reply papers, organized in one or more three-ring binders, tabbed in numerical order with the opposition papers and reply papers for each motion placed directly behind the moving papers with a colored sheet of paper separating the moving, opposition, and reply papers.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Trial Binder must consist of one-sided conformed copies, be tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder, and include a table of contents.

a Trial Binder, consisting of one-sided, conformed copies, tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder with a table of contents that includes the following

WARNINGCivil cases

The Joint Case Management Conference Statement Addendum must be filed using the format attached to the court's order.

Plaintiff must file the completed addendum in the format attached here to.

WARNING

Special instructions should be submitted in a format suitable for jury review, i.e., citations of authority and identity of requesting party placed above the text. (SCLAC Rule 3.171).

Special instructions should be submitted in a format suitable for jury review, i.e., citations of authority and identity of requesting party placed above the text. (SCLAC Rule 3.171).

WARNING

Each designation or counter-designation in the Joint Chart must be highlighted, with each party using a different color highlighter.

Each designation or counter-designation shall be highlighted, with each party using a different color highlighter.

WARNING

Non-documentary exhibits must be marked and a simple written description inserted behind the corresponding numerical tab in the Exhibit Binders.

The parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall mark all non-documentary exhibits and insert a simple written description of the exhibit behind the corresponding numerical tab in the Exhibit Binders.

WARNING

Yellow evidence tags (filled in with only the case number and exhibit number) must be placed on each exhibit in the Judicial Assistant's set of Exhibit Binders.

The parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall also place the court’s yellow evidence tags (with only the case number and exhibit number filled in) on each exhibit in the Judicial Assistant’s set of the Exhibit Binders.

WARNING

Verdict forms must be adapted to CACI with proper spacing.

The verdict form shall be adapted to CACI with proper spacing. (LACCR 3.172, 3.25(i)(8).)

WARNING

Jury instructions must be formatted so the identification of each instruction is separated from the instruction text, allowing the instructions to be submitted to the jury for reference during deliberation.

separation of the identification of the instruction from the text of the instruction, to be submitted to the jury for reference during deliberation.

WARNING

Exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number before the trial date, and each page of each exhibit must display a page number.

Prior to the Trial date, the exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number; and a page number must appear on each page of the exhibit.

WARNING

Parties may display exhibits from personal devices in Department S27 but must supply their own HDMI/VGA/adapter cables (not provided by court staff) and are encouraged to test audio/visual equipment with court staff before trial.

VIDEO EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY: Department S27 is equipped with a projector, large screen, and document camera (ELMO). Parties may digitally display exhibits via personal laptop/iPad/tablet. Parties must provide their own HDMI, VGA, and/or adapter cables for audio/visual connections. Cables will NOT be provided by court staff. Parties are encouraged to arrange with court staff to test any audio/visual equipment prior to trial.

WARNING

Jury instructions must be submitted in clean format with all case-specific changes incorporated and no brackets, blank spaces, or alternative wording options.

The jury instructions must be in clean format with all changes and modifications applicable to the case; that means no brackets, blank spaces or multiple options (he/she, him/her) in the instruction.

WARNINGCivil cases

Blow-ups of exhibit portions will not be identified or marked as sub-parts and typically will not be admitted into evidence.

Blow-ups of portions of exhibits will not be identified nor marked as a sub-part to the exhibit. Typically, a blow-up will not be admitted into evidence.

WARNINGCivil cases

Counsel should work out a marking scheme such that all parties are utilizing numbers (not letters) and there are no duplicative numbers.

Counsel should work out a marking scheme such that all parties are utilizing numbers (not letters) and there are no duplicative numbers.

WARNING

Multi-page documentary exhibits must be internally paginated in sequential numerical order.

Documentary exhibits consisting of more than one page must be internally paginated in sequential numerical order.

WARNING

MIL oppositions must be in writing, numbered, and must refer to the numbers used by the moving party.

An opposition to any motion in limine must be in writing, numbered, and served and electronically filed by represented parties at least five (5) calendar days prior to the FSC. The opposition must refer to the numbers used by the moving party.

WARNING

Those exhibits can be numbered consecutively in the lower, right-hand corner of each document. Each page should be given an exhibit number, so that if an exhibit contains multiple pages, it should have a "-"(dash) delineating each page. For example, if Exhibit 1 consists of 3 pages, it would be numbered as follows: Exhibit 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3.

Those exhibits can be numbered consecutively in the lower, right-hand corner of each document. Each page should be given an exhibit number, so that if an exhibit contains multiple pages, it should have a "-"(dash) delineating each page. For example, if Exhibit 1 consists of 3 pages, it would be numbered as follows: Exhibit 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3.

WARNING

Motions in limine must be in writing and numbered.

All motions in limine, if any, must be in writing, numbered, and shall be served on all opposing parties and counsel and electronically filed at least ten (10) calendar days before the FSC.

WARNINGCivil cases

Bulk exhibits such as voluminous medical records may not be permitted, but counsel may separately mark and identify specific items within them and use consistently marked blow-ups of exhibit portions.

Bulk exhibits, e.g., voluminous medical records may not be permitted; however, counsel may separately mark and identify the specific items within the bulk exhibit. Blow-ups of portions of those exhibits may also be identified and marked consistently.

WARNINGCivil cases

Jury instructions should use perforated forms with authorities above the perforation and boxes filled in, and all sets must be in the same format.

Use the perforated forms as a guide for the instructions with any authorities place above perforation and with the boxes filled in. The final set of jury instructions will be printed on the perforated forms; however, all sets should be in the same format.

WARNING

For alternative summary adjudication issues, counsel should not repeat facts verbatim or restart numbering; instead, list repeated facts by number and incorporate them by reference beneath each issue heading.

Where counsel intends to move for summary adjudication in the alternative, the court asks counsel not to repeat verbatim facts that were previously given or to re-start the numbering sequence for each issue. Counsel should simply list the relevant repeated facts by number and incorporate them by reference beneath each issue heading.

WARNINGCivil cases

Proposed jury instructions should be prepared in WORD and emailed to Dept. 508 when final.

The instructions should be prepared in WORD and, when final, emailed to Dept. 508.

WARNINGCivil cases

Declarations and exhibits attached to motions should be tabbed.

PLEASE PROVIDE TABS FOR ALL DECLARATIONS AND EXHIBITS ATTACHED TO MOTIONS.

WARNINGCivil cases

The proposed verdict form should be prepared in WORD and emailed to Dept. 508 when final.

The proposed verdict form should be prepared in WORD and, when final, emailed to Dept. 508.

WARNING

When many exhibits are stipulated into admission, the parties should prepare an Admitted Exhibits notebook for the clerk.

Where the parties have stipulated to the admission of a good number of exhibits, they should prepare an Admitted Exhibits notebook for the clerk.

WARNING

Where a witness will be testifying on a number of exhibits from different volumes, the attorney conducting the direct examination should prepare a notebook for the witness with the exhibits to be used on direct.

Where a witness will be testifying on a number of exhibits from different volumes, the attorney conducting the direct examination should prepare a notebook for the witness with the exhibits to be used on direct.

WARNING

The full text jury instructions should be in a form suitable to be provided to the jury. There should be no footers or headers or titles except references to CACI. The party proposing an instruction should not be identified on the instruction and the boxes provided when the tear-off forms were in use should not be used.

The full text jury instructions should be in a form suitable to be provided to the jury. There should be no footers or headers or titles except references to CACI. The party proposing an instruction should not be identified on the instruction and the boxes provided when the tear-off forms were in use should not be used.

WARNING

Exhibits should be three-hole punched in notebooks marked with the case caption, number, and title on the front and spine of the notebook and with each exhibit paginated sequentially at the bottom center of each page. For example, Exhibit 1 should be paginated 1 - 1, 1 - 2, 1 - 3, etc.

Exhibits should be three-hole punched in notebooks marked with the case caption, number, and title on the front and spine of the notebook and with each exhibit paginated sequentially at the bottom center of each page. For example, Exhibit 1 should be paginated 1 - 1, 1 - 2, 1 - 3, etc.

WARNING

Exhibits should be clearly identified as to the party offering them and the parties should use clearly identified number and/or letter sequences to pre-mark exhibits.

Exhibits should be clearly identified as to the party offering them and the parties should use clearly identified number and/or letter sequences to pre-mark exhibits.

WARNING

Where electronic exhibits are being used, each exhibit should be on a separate thumb drive and the parties should stipulate to a clean laptop to be provided to the jury for viewing electronic exhibits and should instruct the courtroom attendant as to its use.

Where electronic exhibits are being used, each exhibit should be on a separate thumb drive and the parties should stipulate to a clean laptop to be provided to the jury for viewing electronic exhibits and should instruct the courtroom attendant as to its use.

WARNING

The motion notebook must contain the moving papers, opposition, reply, and any requests for judicial notice with tabbed evidence, and must be lodged in Department 834 on the date the reply is due or as set by the court.

The motion notebook shall contain the moving papers, opposition, reply, and any requests for judicial notice. The evidence shall have exhibit tabs. The motion notebook will be lodged in Department 834 on the date the reply must be filed or as set by the court.

WARNING

The verdict form must follow CACI and use proper spacing.

The verdict form shall be adopted to CACI with proper spacing (LACCR 3.173, 3.25(i)(8.)

WARNING

Exhibits longer than one page must be internally paginated.

Note: All exhibits greater than one page must be internally paginated.

WARNING

Each designation and counter-designation must be highlighted, with each party using a different color.

Each designation or counter-designation shall be highlighted, with each party using a different color highlighter.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions must use Los Angeles Superior Court form LASC LACIV 129 or a Word document in the same format.

The proposed jury instructions shall be prepared on Los Angeles Superior Court form LASC LACIV 129 or in a Word document that is in the same format.

WARNING

Blow-ups of portions of exhibits should be identified and marked as sub-part A. Typically, a blow-up will not be admitted into evidence.

Blow-ups of portions of exhibits should be identified and marked as sub-part A. Typically, a blow-up will not be admitted into evidence.

WARNING

Counsel should agree in advance that their respective party will have a range of exhibit numbers, i.e., plaintiff 1-99; defendant 100-199. Each exhibit must be separately identified. Subparts to an exhibit, i.e., IA, IB, etc., must also be identified and listed separately.

Counsel should agree in advance that their respective party will have a range of exhibit numbers, i.e., plaintiff 1-99; defendant 100-199. Each exhibit must be separately identified. Subparts to an exhibit, i.e., IA, IB, etc., must also be identified and listed separately.

WARNING

Each page of a multi-page exhibit must be consecutively paginated.

Each page of a multi-page exhibit must be consecutively paginated.

WARNING

The table of contents of any e-filed document must be bookmarked.

The table of contents for any document submitted must be bookmarked.

WARNING

Bookmarks are required for documents including depositions, declarations, exhibits, transcripts, points and authorities, citations, and supporting briefs (lead-in sentence truncated by page split).

but are not limited to, the following: (A) Depositions; (B) Declarations; (C) Exhibits (including exhibits to declarations); (D) Transcripts (including excerpts within transcripts); (E) Points and Authorities; (F) Citations; and (G) Supporting Briefs.

WARNING

Electronic documents such as declarations, proofs of service, and exhibits must be bookmarked with hyperlinks to each item's first page and bookmark titles that identify and briefly describe each item.

Electronic documents, including but not limited to declarations, proofs of service, and exhibits or attachments, must be bookmarked within the document pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1110(f)(4). Electronic bookmarks must include links to the first page of each bookmarked item (e.g., exhibits, declarations, deposition excerpts) and with bookmark titles that identify the bookmark item and briefly describe the item.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Accompanying documents must be e-filed as separate digital documents in PDF format.

Accompanying documents must be electronically submitted as a separate digital document in PDF format.