Los Angeles Superior Court Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be prepared on Superior Court of Los Angeles County form SCLAC LACIV 129 or in a Word document in the same format.

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

CRITICAL

FSC Exhibit Books must be 5 tabbed, indexed sets delivered to Dept. B.

6. Exhibit Books, 5 sets, tabbed and indexed, delivered to Dept. B

CRITICAL

Motions in limine must be placed in binders organized by MIL (plaintiff's MIL, defendant's opposition, reply), with the party filing more MILs providing the binders for the court.

Motions in Limine in binders in the following format: (1) plaintiffs MIL#1;(2) defendant's opposition to MIL#1; (3) reply to MIL #1, for all plaintiffs MILs, then the same format for all defendants MILs. The party who files more MILs is to provide binders for the court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Pre-Trial Document trial binders must be three-ring binders containing one-sided, conformed copies, tabbed, and must include a table of contents.

At least five days before the Final Status Conference, the parties shall submit to the court Pre-Trial Document trial binders (3-ring), consisting of one-sided, conformed copies, tabbed, with a table of contents of the following:

CRITICALCivil cases

For documents (other than transcripts of depositions or other pretrial or trial proceedings), the designating party must affix a 'Confidential' or 'Highly Confidential' legend on each page containing designated material.

For Documents (apart from transcripts of depositions or other pretrial or trial proceedings), the Designating Party must affix the legend “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential” on each page of any Document containing such designated material.

CRITICALCivil cases

Confidential or Highly Confidential designations must be clearly made before the material is disclosed or produced.

Any Documents, Testimony, or Information to be designated as “Confidential” or “Highly Confidential” must be clearly so designated before the Document, Testimony, or Information is Disclosed or produced.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Separate Statements for summary judgment, summary adjudication, or discovery motions must be uploaded to FSX in Microsoft Word format.

Separate Statements for motions for summary judgement, summary adjudication, or discovery motions shall be uploaded to FSX in Microsoft Word.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PDF

All documents and correspondence uploaded to FSX must be in PDF format, except spreadsheets which may be uploaded in Excel format.

All documents and correspondence uploaded to FSX must be in .pdf format, except spreadsheets, which may be uploaded in Excel format.

CRITICALCivil cases

objections to evidence contained in a declaration that is filed in connection with a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication shall be made by filing a copy of the declaration, annotated with the objections asserted and in a format, such as bold, underlined, italics, or highlighted text (but not different text color) so as to distinguish the objection from the original text of the declaration.

objections to evidence contained in a declaration that is filed in connection with a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication shall be made by filing a copy of the declaration, annotated with the objections asserted and in a format, such as bold, underlined, italics, or highlighted text (but not different text color) so as to distinguish the objection from the original text of the declaration.

CRITICALCivil cases

All filed documents and documents served through eService must be in OCR searchable format.

All filed documents and documents served through eService must be in OCR searchable format.

CRITICALCivil cases

Proposed jury instructions must be prepared on Los Angeles Superior Court form LASC LACIV 129 or in 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.

CRITICAL

Parties must jointly prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated, properly marked exhibits in three-ring binders (max 3 inches) for the court, the Judicial Assistant, and the witnesses.

The parties' counsel and any self-represented parties shall work together to jointly prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated by document, and properly-marked exhibits, organized numerically in three-ring binders (not to exceed 3" per binder) (a set for the court, a set for the Judicial Assistant, and a set for the witnesses) ("Exhibit Binders").

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be placed in the trial notebook under a separate tab and prepared on LASC form LACIV 129 or an identically formatted Word document including the disposition box.

The proposed jury instructions shall be inserted into the trial notebook under a separate tab than the joint list of proposed jury instructions, and shall be prepared on Los Angeles Superior Court form LASC LACIV 129 or in a Word document that is in the same format including the disposition box.

CRITICAL

Electronic media evidence must be lodged on a flash drive because the court and jury cannot view CD/DVD format evidence.

The court does not have access to a CD or DVD player to view electronic evidence. Nor does the jury have access to any electronic evidence on CD/DVD format. Any evidence to be submitted on electronic media shall be lodged on a flash drive.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PDF

E-filed documents must be in text-searchable PDF form.

Documents must be electronically filed in PDF, text searchable form.

CRITICALCivil cases

Attachments to e-filed documents (depositions, declarations, exhibits, transcripts, points and authorities, and briefs) must be bookmarked per CRC 8.74; hyperlinks are suggested but not mandatory.

Attachments to primary documents including depositions, declarations, exhibits (including exhibits to declarations), transcripts (including excerpts), points and authorities, and supporting brief must be bookmarked and hyperlinks per California Rules of Court 8.74. Although bookmarks are mandatory, hyperlinks are suggested as well.

CRITICAL

Counsel and self-represented parties must jointly prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated, properly marked exhibits organized numerically in three-ring binders (for the court, the Judicial Assistant, and the witnesses).

The parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall work together to jointly prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated by document, and properly-marked exhibits, organized numerically in three-ring binders (a set for the court, a set for the Judicial Assistant, and a set for the witnesses) (“Exhibit Binders”).

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be prepared on Superior Court of Los Angeles County form SCLAC LACIV 129 or in a Word document in the same format (sentence truncated in source).

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PAPER

Hard copies of agreed and not-agreed jury instructions must be filed 5 court days before the final status conference.

Five court days before the final status conference, please file a “hard copy” of jointly agreed instructions, and each counsel's separate statement set of "not-agreed-upon" instructions with your objections.

CRITICALCivil 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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Exhibits must be prepared in three-ring binders with numbered divider tabs, with copies for court, clerk, witnesses, and counsel, prior to trial.

Three-ring binders with numbered divider tabs containing all exhibits marked for identification must be prepared prior to trial, including copies for the Court, Clerk, testifying witnesses and all counsel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Tabbed three-ring binders containing all marked exhibits must be prepared before trial, with copies for the Court, Clerk, testifying witnesses, and all counsel.

Three-ring binders with numbered divider tabs containing all exhibits marked for identification must be prepared prior to trial, including copies for the Court, Clerk, testifying witnesses and all counsel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Demonstrative evidence and blow-ups must be marked for identification and shown or played for opposing counsel before trial.

Demonstrative evidence and blow-ups must be marked for identification and shown to or played for opposing counsel before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Exhibit marking must conform to S.C.L.A.C. Rule 3.53: Arabic numerals in sequential party-number blocks, with multi-page documentary exhibits internally paginated in sequential order.

Your joint exhibit list must conform to S.C.L.A.C. Rule 3.53, which provides: "The most efficient method of marking exhibits is the use of Arabic numerals in which each party is allocated a block of numbers to be used sequentially. For instance, plaintiff may be allocated numbers 1 to 200, the first defendant numbers 201 to 400, and the second defendant numbers 401 to 600. Documentary exhibits consisting of more than one page must be internally paginated in sequential numerical order to facilitate reference to the document during interrogation of witnesses."

CRITICALCivil cases

The notice of case resolution must be prepared on 28-lined legal paper.

The notice of case resolution shall be prepared on 28-lined legal paper to include caption, title, and case number.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requested jury instructions must be submitted on perforated paper so the instruction identification can be separated from the instruction text for the jury's reference during deliberations.

All requested instructions shall be submitted on perforated paper so as to allow for separation of the identification of the instruction from the text of the instruction, to be submitted to the jury for reference during deliberation.

CRITICALCivil cases

Jury instructions must be submitted on perforated paper to allow separation of instruction ID and text.

All requested instructions shall be submitted on perforated paper so as to allow for separation of the identification of the instruction from the text of the instruction, to be submitted to the jury for reference during deliberation.

CRITICALCivil cases

Notice of case resolution must be prepared on 28-lined legal paper.

The notice of case resolution shall be prepared on 28-lined legal paper to include caption, title, and case number.

CRITICALCivil cases

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions in limine should be submitted in a separate tabbed binder with a table of contents.

Motions in limine should be submitted in a separate tabbed binder with a table of contents.

CRITICALCivil cases

All exhibits must be exchanged and pre-numbered, except exhibits anticipated in good faith for impeachment or rebuttal.

Pursuant to California Rule of Court 3.1110(f) and Los Angeles County Superior Court Rules 3.52 and 3.53, all exhibits must be exchanged and pre-numbered, except for those anticipated in good faith to be used for impeachment or during rebuttal.

CRITICAL

Documentary exhibit copies must be one-sided.

Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one-sided copies.

CRITICAL

Trial exhibits must be placed in one or more 3-ring binders and properly marked.

The exhibits shall be placed in one or more 3-ring binders for ease of access and shall be properly marked.

CRITICAL

All electronically filed documents must be text searchable and bookmarked.

All electronically filed documents must be text searchable and bookmarked.

CRITICAL

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

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

CRITICAL

Attachments to primary documents, such as depositions, declarations, and exhibits, must be bookmarked.

Attachments to primary documents must be bookmarked (e.g. depositions, declarations, exhibits, etc.);

CRITICAL

The Motions in Limine Binder must contain one-sided conformed copies tabbed in numerical order in three-ring binders, with opposition/reply behind each motion 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.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Each document accompanying a single pleading must be filed as a separate digital PDF document.

Each document accompanying a single pleading must be filed as a separate digital PDF document;

CRITICAL

The table of contents for any filing must be bookmarked.

The table of contents for any filing must be bookmarked;

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be grouped behind Tab F of the Trial Binder, labeled by cover sheets, in the order of agreed-upon instructions, plaintiff's objected-to requests, then defendant's objected-to requests.

The parties shall organize proposed jury instructions into group behind Tab F in the following order (labeled by cover sheets): 1) the agreed-upon instructions, 2) plaintiff’s requested instructions to which defendant objects, and 3) defendant’s requested instructions to which plaintiff objects.

CRITICAL

Deposition excerpts referenced in briefs must be marked on the transcripts attached as exhibits.

All deposition excerpts referenced in briefs must be marked on the transcripts attached as exhibits. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1116(c).)

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Electronic documents must be e-filed in PDF format that is text searchable when technologically feasible without impairment of the document's image.

Electronic documents must be electronically filed in PDF, test searchable format when technologically feasible without impairment of the document's image;

CRITICAL

Electronic documents (including declarations, proofs of service, and exhibits) must be bookmarked per CRC 3.1110(f)(4), with links to each bookmarked item's first page and titles that identify and briefly describe the item.

Electronic documents, including but not limited to, declarations, proofs of service, and exhibits, 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. exhibit, declaration, deposition excerpt) and with bookmark titles that identify the bookmarked item and briefly describe the item;

CRITICAL

Parties must attach designated transcript page copies to the joint chart with numbered tabs separating each transcript, and each designation must be highlighted with each party using a different color highlighter.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Final jury instructions and verdict forms must be in a clean format suitable for jury deliberations, without citations to authority, party identification, or letterhead/markings identifying the attorney.

The final set of jury instructions and verdict fonns shall be in a fonnat suitable for submission to the jury during deliberations, and shall not include any citations to authority, identification of the party requesting the instruction or verdict, or any letterhead or markings identifying the attorney who prepared or printed them.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel may not ask Court staff to print or photocopy the jury instructions or verdict forms.

Counsel shall not ask the Court's staff to print or photocopy the jury instructions or verdict fonns.

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties must jointly prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated, numerically organized exhibits in three-ring binders, with one-sided copies of documentary exhibits.

The parties shall work together jointly to prepare three sets of tabbed, internally paginated and properly marked exhibits, organized numerically in three-ring binders for the Court (a set for the Court, a set for the Judicial Assistant, and a set for the witnesses) ("Exhibit Binders"). Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one-sided copies.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PAPER

PowerPoint presentations and displays to the jury must be filed as paper copies.

PowerPoint presentations or other displays to the jury must be reduced to paper to be filed in the Court's docket.

CRITICALCivil cases

The FSC Trial Notebook must consist of one-sided, conformed copies tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder no larger than three inches.

consisting of one-sided, conformed copies, tabbed and organized in a three-ring binder (no larger than three inches)

CRITICALCivil cases

Special jury instructions (from other sources, specially prepared, or substantially modified approved instructions) must be numbered consecutively per CRC rule 2.1055(b)(3).

"Special jury instructions, meaning instructions from other sources, those specially prepared by the party, or approved instructions that have been substantially modified by the party," must be numbered consecutively. (CRC, rule 2.1055(b)(3).)