Los Angeles Superior Court Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

The joint exhibit list must list exhibits to be offered using consecutive arabic numerals. See, LASCR 3.52 and 3.53. Documentary exhibits consisting of more than one page should be internally paginated in sequential numerical order to facilitate reference to the document during interrogation of witnesses (e.g., 1-2, 1-2, 1-3). Counsel should agree in advance that their respective party will have a range of exhibit numbers, e.g., Plaintiff 1-99; Defendant 100-199.

The joint exhibit list must list exhibits to be offered using consecutive arabic numerals. See, LASCR 3.52 and 3.53. Documentary exhibits consisting of more than one page should be internally paginated in sequential numerical order to facilitate reference to the document during interrogation of witnesses (e.g., 1-2, 1-2, 1-3). Counsel should agree in advance that their respective party will have a range of exhibit numbers, e.g., Plaintiff 1-99; Defendant 100-199.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

The verdict form submitted to the clerk must be in MS Word format.

Please also submit the Verdict Form to the clerk via email (WCC-Dept6@lacourt.org) in MS Word format.

CRITICAL

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

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

CRITICAL

Non-documentary exhibits must be presented in a binder with a simple written description.

Non-documentary exhibits shall be represented in a binder with a simple written description.

CRITICAL

Bulk exhibits such as voluminous medical records are not permitted; counsel must separately mark and identify the specific items within a bulk exhibit.

Bulk exhibits, e.g., voluminous medical records will not be permitted. Counsel must separately mark and identify the specific items within a bulk exhibit.

CRITICAL

Counsel must bring copies of all trial documents plus electronic versions of the joint witness list, exhibit list, jury instructions, and verdict forms on USB/CD in Microsoft Word format, or alternatively email them directly to Department M.

In addition, Counsel shall bring to Department M copies of all trial documents and an electronic version of the joint witness list, exhibit list, jury instructions, and verdict forms on a thumb/USB drive or CD disk with the documents in Microsoft Word format or compatible format. In the alternative, Counsel may email those documents directly to Department M.

CRITICALCivil cases

When there is more than one motion in limine, submit them tabbed and indexed in a three-ring binder, in numerical order and grouped with the corresponding opposition and reply.

Multiple (more than 1) Motions in Limine should be tabbed and indexed and submitted in a three ring binder containing copies of those motions in limine e-filed by each party in numerical order and grouped with corresponding opposition and reply.

CRITICALCivil cases

Exhibits must be pre-marked with numbers.

Pursuant to L.A. County Court Rules 3.52 and 3.53, the exhibits must be pre-marked using numbers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each page of a multi-page exhibit must be sequentially Bates numbered.

In stances where an exhibit consists of multiple pages, each page must be “Bates” numbered sequentially.

CRITICAL

Papers filed directly by self-represented litigants must be stapled separately before filing or will be rejected.

All papers filed by self-represented litigants directly in the Clerk’s Office or courtroom must be stapled separately before filing or they will be rejected.

CRITICAL

Self-represented litigants must staple each paper separately before filing at the Clerk's Office or courtroom, or the papers will be rejected.

All papers filed by self-represented litigants directly in the Clerk's Office or courtroom must be stapled separately before filing or they will be rejected.

CRITICAL

Trial exhibits must be placed in tabbed binders with numbered pages, exhibit list included, and brought to court first day of trial.

TRIAL EXHIBITS: All document exhibits MUST be placed in binders under tabs, and each page must be numbered within each tab. The exhibit list must be included in the binders. Exhibits must be brought to the Court on the first day of trial.

CRITICAL

Trial document exhibits must be placed in binders under tabs with each page numbered within each tab.

All document exhibits MUST be placed in binders under tabs, and each page must be numbered within each tab.

CRITICAL

Copies of documentary exhibits must be one-sided.

Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one-sided copies.

CRITICAL

Trial binder must include a joint chart of deposition page/line designations behind Tab H and copies of the current operative pleadings behind Tab I.

TabH: Joint Chart of Page/Line Designations for Deposition/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).

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Each party must bring an electronic copy of its proposed verdict form in Word format to the Final Status Conference, ready to be edited in the courtroom.

each party must separately file a proposed verdict form, and bring an electronic copy of their proposed verdict form in Word to the FSC, ready to be edited in the courtroom

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions must be prepared on LASC form LACIV 129 or a Word document in the same format, including the disposition box.

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 including the disposition box.

CRITICAL

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

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

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be organized behind Tab F into three labeled groups: agreed-upon instructions, plaintiff's requested instructions to which defendant objects, and defendant's requested instructions to which plaintiff objects.

The parties shall organize proposed jury instructions into groups 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

Parties must attach copies of designated transcript pages to the joint chart with numbered tabs separating each transcript, and each designation or counter-designation must be highlighted using a different color highlighter per party.

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.

CRITICAL

Motions in Limine Binder must be two-sided, conformed copies in 3" three-ring binders, tabbed, indexed, with colored separators.

The Motions in Limine Binder shall include two-sided, conformed copies of all motions in limine, opposition papers, and reply papers, organized in one or more three-ring binders not to exceed 3" per binder, indexed and 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

The Motions in Limine Binder must contain two-sided conformed copies in 3-inch three-ring binders, indexed and tabbed numerically with colored separator sheets, and must not include proposed orders.

The Motions in Limine Binder shall include two-sided, conformed copies of all motions in limine, opposition papers, and reply papers, organized in one or more three-ring binders not to exceed 3" per binder, indexed and 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. Proposed orders should not be included in the Motions in Limine Binder.

CRITICAL

Parties must jointly prepare five sets of tabbed, internally paginated, properly marked exhibits organized numerically in three-ring binders for the Court, Judicial Assistant, witnesses, and each party.

The parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall work together to jointly prepare five 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, a set for the witnesses, and a set for each party) (“Exhibit Binders”).

CRITICAL

Motions in Limine Binders must be three-ring bound, tabbed, one-sided, and lodged 5 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than five calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall jointly prepare and lodge in Department 207 a Motions in Limine Binder. 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

Trial Binders must be three-ring bound, tabbed, one-sided, include a table of contents, and be lodged 5 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than five calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall jointly prepare and lodge in Department 207 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 (for trials by the Court without a jury, the Trial Binder shall only include the documents listed under Tabs A, B, C, H, and I):

CRITICAL

Parties filing more than one motion in limine must number the motions consecutively.

Parties filing more than one motion in limine shall number them consecutively.

CRITICAL

Parties must attach copies of the designated transcript pages to the joint chart, with numbered tabs separating each deposition or trial transcript.

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.

CRITICAL

Parties must attach copies of the designated transcript pages to the Joint Chart, with numbered tabs separating 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

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions must be prepared on LA Superior Court 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

Exhibit Binders must be three-ring bound, tabbed, internally paginated, one-sided, and five sets must be prepared.

The parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall work together to jointly prepare five 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, a set for the witnesses, and a set for each party) (“Exhibit Binders”). Copies of documentary exhibits shall be one- sided copies.

CRITICAL

Document exhibits must be placed in binders under tabs, with each page numbered within each tab.

All document exhibits MUST be placed in binders under tabs, and each page must be numbered within each tab.

CRITICAL

All document exhibits must be placed in tabbed binders with numbered pages, exhibit list included, and provided to judge, staff, and opposing counsel.

EXHIBITS: All document exhibits MUST be placed in binders under tabs, and each page must be numbered within each tab. The exhibit list must be included in the binders. Exhibits must be brought to Court on the first day of trial. Binders should be provided for the Judge, Judicial Assistant, Opposing Counsel and Reporter.

CRITICAL

Hard copy jury instructions must be on 2-hole punched, perforated paper.

The printed, hard copy of the jury instructions delivered directly to Department F43 shall be submitted on 2-hole punched, 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.

CRITICAL

All papers filed by self-represented litigants must be stapled separately before filing or will be rejected.

All papers filed by self-represented litigants must be stapled separately before filing, or they will be rejected.

CRITICAL

Self-represented litigants must staple each paper separately before filing, or the papers will be rejected.

All papers filed by self-represented litigants must be stapled separately before filing, or they will be rejected.

CRITICAL

The printed hard copy of jury instructions delivered to Department F43 must be on 2-hole punched, perforated paper so the instruction identification can be separated from the instruction text.

The printed, hard copy of the jury instructions delivered directly to Department F43 shall be submitted on 2-hole punched, 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.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Digital exhibits for the judge must be combined into a single PDF with the first page of every exhibit bookmarked with its exhibit number.

The digital copy for the judge must be in PDF format. All exhibits must be contained within one PDF. The first page of every exhibit must be bookmarked with the number of the exhibit.

CRITICAL

Paper exhibits for the clerk must be in a binder hard tabbed with exhibit numbers, and no exhibit may be used at trial unless the clerk has a copy.

The parties must provide the clerk with a paper or "hard" copy of every exhibit. No exhibit may be used during trial unless the clerk has a copy. The clerk's exhibits should be in a binder and must be hard tabbed with the exhibit number.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

An additional Word-format copy of proposed jury instructions must be provided on a flash drive, which will be returned after the court loads the document.

An additional copy must be provided to the court, Word format, on a portable storage device such as a flash drive. The device will be returned after the court has loaded the document.

CRITICAL

Proposed special jury instructions and addenda to form instructions must leave at least four inches of blank space at the top of every page.

Leave at least four inches of blank space of the top of every page of any proposed special jury instructions, or any addenda to form instructions.

CRITICAL

Each exhibit must be separately numbered to match the joint exhibit list, and multi-page exhibits must have internally numbered pages (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

Each exhibit must be separately numbered, with the numbers corresponding to the number of the exhibit on the joint exhibit list. If an exhibit contains more than one page, the pages must be internally numbered, i.e., 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 etc.

CRITICALCivil cases

Exhibits must be separately numbered to match the joint exhibit list, multi-page exhibits must be internally numbered (e.g., 3.1, 3.2, 3.3), and documents with original or deposition-transcript page numbers must be renumbered for trial.

Each exhibit must be separately numbered, with the numbers corresponding to the number of the exhibit on the joint exhibit list. If an exhibit contains more than one page, the pages must be internally numbered, i.e., 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 etc. Documents with original page numbers or that were attached to deposition transcripts shall be renumbered for use at trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

top 4 in

Proposed special jury instructions and addenda to form instructions must leave at least four inches of blank space at the top of every page.

Leave at least four inches of blank space of the top of every page of any proposed special jury instructions, or any addenda to form instructions.

CRITICAL

Parties offering deposition testimony must highlight the testimony they intend to offer in one color, the opposing party must countermark its intended testimony in a different color, and objected-to testimony must be highlighted in a separate color or boxed (except impeachment and where there is no objection to admission).

Each party intending to present any evidence by way of deposition testimony (except impeachment) shall do the following unless the parties have no objection to the admission of testimony: 1. Highlight the testimony the party intends to offer in one color. 2. The opposing party shall countermark (different color) any testimony it plans to offer. 3. Highlight in a separate color or draw a box around the objected testimony.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Jury Instruction --Display Copy: The Court requests one electronic copy of the instructions to the Department's email box (LBCDeptS29@lacourt.org) for display to the jury in the following format: title and text in Word, landscape format, Arial font, 14pt font, no headers or footers - except title/CACI Numbers.

Jury Instruction --Display Copy: The Court requests one electronic copy of the instructions to the Department's email box (LBCDeptS29@lacourt.org) for display to the jury in the following format: title and text in Word, landscape format, Arial font, 14pt font, no headers or footers - except title/CACI Numbers.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

for display to the jury in the following format: title and text in Word, landscape format, Arial font, 14pt font, no headers or footers - except title/CACI Numbers.

for display to the jury in the following format: title and text in Word, landscape format, Arial font, 14pt font, no headers or footers - except title/CACI Numbers.

CRITICAL

Jury instructions must have all brackets removed and all blanks filled in advance (e.g., party names, gender, number) and each instruction must conform to Rule 2.1055 of the California Rules of Court.

Counsel must remove all brackets, fill in allblanks in advance. Examples are names of the parties, appropriate gender and number (singular or plural). Each instr�ction shall conform to the requirements of Rule 2.1055, California Rules of Court.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

An additional copy of the proposed verdict form must be provided to the court in Microsoft Word format on a portable storage device such as a flash drive, which will be returned after loading.

An additional copy must be provided to the court, in Microsoft Word format, on a portable storage device such as a flash drive. The device will be returned after the court has loaded the document.

CRITICAL

Exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number and have a page number on each page.

The exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number and a page number must appear on each page of the exhibit.

CRITICAL

Pre-marked Exhibits: The exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number and a page number must appear on each page of the exhibit. 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 identified and listed separately.

Pre-marked Exhibits: The exhibits must be pre-marked with the exhibit number and a page number must appear on each page of the exhibit. 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 identified and listed separately.