Los Angeles Superior Court Document Format Requirements

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 that includes the following:

WARNING

All non-documentary exhibits must be marked and a simple written description of each 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

The motions-in-limine binder must include an index indicating the tab number and caption title of each motion or opposition included in the binder.

indicating the tab number and the caption title of each such motion or opposition included in the binder. This index makes it easier for the parties, the Court, and the Court’s Judicial Assistant to keep track of the MILs.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

The jury instructions should be prepared in a Word document ready for distribution to the jury.

The jury instructions should be prepared in a Word document ready for distribution to the jury.

WARNING

Copies of documentary exhibits must be one-sided.

Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one-sided copies.

WARNING

The court's yellow evidence tags (filled in with only the case number and exhibit number) must be placed on each exhibit in the Judicial Assistant's copy of the Exhibit Binder.

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 copy of the Exhibit Binder.

WARNINGCivil cases

Exhibit books must use the exhibit list as the front index, tabs matching exhibit numbers, internal page numbering for multi-page exhibits, and a single exhibit number for jointly listed documents.

Place the exhibit list as the index in front of the exhibit book, and place tabs in the book to correspond with the exhibit number. If an exhibit contains more than one page, the pages must be internally numbered (i.e., 3.1, 3.2, etc.). If any document is listed by multiple parties, it should have only one exhibit number.

WARNING

Jury instruction sets must be attached loosely at the top with a clip or acco-fastener rather than stapled so they can be taken apart easily.

parties and shall be attached loosely at the top with the clip or acco-fastener, and not stapled, so they may be taken apart easily.

WARNING

b. The parties may separately file separate special jury instructions which are objected to. These jury instructions, and with the opposing party's objections immediately following, shall be attached loosely at the top with a clip or acco-fastener, and not stapled, so they may be taken apart easily.

b. The parties may separately file separate special jury instructions which are objected to. These jury instructions, and with the opposing party's objections immediately following, shall be attached loosely at the top with a clip or acco-fastener, and not stapled, so they may be taken apart easily.

WARNING

Trial exhibits must be placed in binders that are three-hole punched, tabbed, and paginated.

Place exhibits in binders, three-hole punched, tabbed and paginated.

INFO

Court reporters at trial should provide Real Time connections.

Reporters at trial should provide Real Time connections.

INFO

Produced information may optionally be provided to the opposing party electronically as a PDF, at the producing party's option.

The information may be provided to the opposing party in electronic form as a PDF at the option of the producing party.

INFO

Applies to

Discovery documents

Discovery documents may be provided in PDF format at the producing party's option.

The information may be provided to the opposing party in electronic form as a PDF at the option of the producing party.

INFO

The Court recommends numbering exhibits with Arabic numerals using distinct sequential number blocks assigned per party.

The most efficient system for numbering exhibits is to use Arabic numerals, with each party assigned a distinct block of numbers to be applied sequentially. For example, the plaintiff might be assigned numbers 1 through 200, the first defendant numbers 201 through 400, and the second defendant numbers 401 through 600.

INFO

Documents produced in discovery may be provided in electronic form as a PDF at the producing party's option.

The information may be produced in electronic form as a PDF at the option of the producing party.

INFO

The Court strongly encourages parties to Bates stamp documents produced in discovery where reasonably practicable.

Where reasonably practicable, the Court strongly encourages parties to Bates stamp (or Bates number) documents produced in discovery.

INFO

The proposed sealing order must be MS-Word editable.

a proposed sealing order that is MS-Word editable at least 15 days before the hearing on the motion to seal

INFO

Exhibit binders need not be prepared or delivered until the first day of trial.

Exhibit binders are not needed until the first day of trial.

INFOCivil cases

Labeled side tabs separating pages from different documents are permitted (but not required) in the joint appendix.

The joint appendix may have labeled side tabs separating the pages that come from different documents.

INFOCivil cases

Parties are permitted to highlight information on joint appendix pages that is important for the Court's review.

Any party may highlight information on a joint appendix page that is important for the Court's review.

INFOCivil cases

The joint appendix should be prepared and submitted in accordance with paragraphs 3-6 of the "JOINT APPENDIX" guidance above.

The joint appendix should be prepared and submitted in accordance with paragraphs 3-6 of the "JOINT APPENDIX" guidance above.

INFOCivil cases

The joint appendix may include document cover pages, witness identification pages, and other pertinent source-document pages for context, even if not actually cited.

to provide context to a cited page, the joint appendix may include the document cover page, a witness identification page, and/or other pertinent pages from the source document, even if not actually cited.

INFOCivil cases

The parties may prepare special instructions in a format ready for submission to the jury with the instruction number, title, and text only (i.e., there should be no boxes or other indication on the printed instruction itself as to which party is requesting the instruction).

The parties may prepare special instructions in a format ready for submission to the jury with the instruction number, title, and text only (i.e., there should be no boxes or other indication on the printed instruction itself as to which party is requesting the instruction).

INFO

Format

PDF

Electronically filed documents should be bookmarked and searchable (Local Rule 3.4).

The Court requests that all electronically filed documents be bookmarked and searchable. (Local Rule 3.4.)

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

A computer disk in Word format of the agreed upon instructions should be brought to court on the first day of trial.

A computer disk in Word format of the agreed upon instructions should be brought to court on the first day of trial.

INFOCivil cases

Special verdict forms should follow the suggested formats in the CACI instructions.

In drafting a form of special verdict, counsel should rely upon the suggested formats set forth in the CACI instructions.

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

A CD in Word format should be brought to court on the first day of trial.

A CD in Word format should be brought to court on the first day of trial.

INFO

Use of hyperlinks within documents, including attachments and exhibits, is strongly encouraged as helpful to the court.

The use of hyperlinks within documents (including attachments and exhibits) is helpful to the court and strongly encouraged;

INFO

Parties may highlight important information on joint appendix pages.

Any party may highlight information on a joint appendix page that is important for the Court’s review.

INFO

Exhibits may be projected in Department S-26 from a laptop or tablet using the court's projector and provided HDMI/VGA cables, with evidence presentation software or a simple PDF.

Department S-26 is equipped with a high definition projector and a ten foot, high -definition screen. This equipment is accessible from counsel table using either an HDMI or VGA cable. The cables are provided by the court. Parties may project exhibits to the court, jury and witnesses by loading all exhibits onto a laptop, tablet or other device. There are several evidence presentation software products on the market that can be used with the court's equipment. A simple PDF may also be used.

INFO

Dept. S25 provides an HD projector and screen accessible via court-supplied HDMI/VGA cables, and parties may project exhibits from a laptop or tablet using presentation software or a simple PDF.

Department S25 is equipped with a high-definition projector and a ten-foot, high-definition screen. This equipment is accessible from the counsel table using either an HDMI or VGA cable. The cables are provided by the court. Parties may project exhibits to the court, jury and witnesses by loading all exhibits onto a laptop, tablet or other device. There are several evidence presentation software products on the market that can be used with the court's equipment. A simple PDF may also be used.

INFO

Produced Song-Beverly documents may be provided to the opposing party electronically as PDF at the producing party's option.

The information may be provided to the opposing party in electronic form as a PDF at the option of the producing party.

INFOCivil cases

EXHIBIT BINDERS: Exhibits to be used at trial should be provided in binders. Three exhibit binders should be prepared for Court use: one to be used by the witnesses; one for the Judicial Assistant and another for the judge.

EXHIBIT BINDERS: Exhibits to be used at trial should be provided in binders. Three exhibit binders should be prepared for Court use: one to be used by the witnesses; one for the Judicial Assistant and another for the judge.

INFOCivil cases

Motions in limine that are too voluminous for the Trial Readiness Binder may be placed in a separate binder labeled with the case name and containing an index and tabs.

If the motions in limine are too voluminous to fit in the Trial Readiness Binder, they may be filed in a separate binder properly labeled with the case name and with an index and tabs.

INFO

There are no page limitations for joint discovery dispute statements, though they should be as concise as the subject matter permits.

Although the statement should present the disputed issues as concisely as the subject matter permits, no page limitations apply to statements regarding discovery disputes.

INFO

The Court permits the parties to propose an alternative identification method, including electronically marked deposition transcripts showing markings, counter-markings, and objections, in lieu of the paper joint chart format.

Alternatively, the Court invites the parties to agree on and propose to the Court a different way of identifying proposed deposition testimony to be used at trial. The Court can work with electronically marked deposition transcripts that present the parties' markings, counter-markings and objections in a way that the Court can efficiently make rulings and a proper record can be made of those rulings.

INFO

Parties may optionally highlight significant information on Joint Appendix pages using different colors to identify which party did the highlighting.

The parties may, but are not required to, highlight significant information on the Joint Appendix pages, using different colors to show which party highlighted the information on a particular page.

INFO

When a joint appendix is ordered, the administrative record may be submitted electronically as a Bates-stamped, searchable document via flash drive.

If a joint appendix is ordered, the administrative record may be submitted in electronic format (in a Bates-stamped, searchable document) via flash drive.

INFO

Use of hyperlinks within e-filed documents, exhibits, and attachments is strongly encouraged.

Use of hyperlinks within documents (including exhibits and attachments) is strongly encouraged.

INFO

Hyperlinks within documents (including exhibits and attachments) are strongly encouraged.

Use of hyperlinks within documents (including exhibits and attachments) is strongly encouraged.

INFO

Multiple case-related documents may be submitted in one electronic envelope.

Multiple documents relating to one case can be uploaded and submitted in one electronic envelope.

INFO

In most cases, parties should prepare enough copies of the jury instructions to give one to each juror and alternate.

In most cases, the Court will expect the parties to prepare a sufficient number of copies of the jury instructions to be able to give one to each juror and alternate.

CRITICAL

Trial binders must be three-ring binders with tabs labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I, J as specified.

By no later than 3 calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties are to submit to the Court a hard copy binder containing these previously filed documents under the following tabs: Tab A – Trial Briefs, Tab B – Joint Witness List, Tab C – Joint Exhibit List, Tab D – Joint Statement to Be Read to the Jury, Tab F – Full Text Jury Instructions (Joint and Contested), Tab G – Joint Verdict Form, Tab H – Joint Page and Line Designation for Deposition and Former Testimony, Tab I – Copies of the Current Operative Pleadings, Tab J – Motions in Limine (unless they are voluminous enough to merit their own binder).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Trial binder

Joint trial binder for FSC must be organized with specified tabs A–I.

Counsel must provide a joint trial binder for the Court at the FSC. The trial binder shall be organized as follows: Tab A: Trial Briefs Tab B: Joint Statement of the Case Tab C: Joint Witness List Tab D: Joint List of Jury Instructions Tab E: Joint and Contested Jury Instructions Tab G: Joint Exhibit List Tab H: Page and Line Designations for Deposition and Former Testimony Tab I: Stipulations

CRITICAL

Parties must attach the designated transcript pages to the joint chart with numbered tabs separating each deposition, using a different color highlighter for each deposition.

The parties shall attach copies of the pages of the transcripts of the deposition or former testimony they are designating or counter-designating to the Joint Chart of Page and Line Designations for Deposition and Former Testimony, with numbered tabs separating each deposition using a different color highlighter.

CRITICAL

The Trial Binder must be organized with tabbed sections A through I containing trial briefs, joint witness and exhibit lists, jury statements and instructions, verdict forms, deposition designations, and operative pleadings, with only tabs A, B, C, H, and I required in non-jury trials.

without a jury, the Trial Binder shall only include the documents listed under tabs A, B, C, H, and I): Tab A: Trial Briefs Tab B: Joint Witness List Tab C: Joint Exhibit List Tab D: Joint Statement to be Read to the Jury Tab E: Joint List of Jury Instructions Tab F: Joint and Contested Jury Instructions Tab G: Joint or Contested Verdict Form(s) Tab H: Joint Chart of Page and Line Designations for Deposition and Former Testimony Tab I: Copies of the Current Operative Pleadings (including the operative complaint, answer, cross-complaint, if any, and answer to any cross-complaint).