Los Angeles Superior Court Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

All parties who use e-filing must accept electronic service, except where personal service is required by law or any party is self-represented.

Pursuant to CCP Section 1010.6 and Local Rule 3.4 which references General Order 2020-GEN-018-00 issued June 11, 2020, the Court orders all parties who use e-fling to accept electronic service, except in those circumstances when personal service is required by law or where any of the parties are self-represented.

CRITICALCivil cases

Notice of an ex parte application may be given by the listed methods, including mail when time permits five days of mail time.

Notice must be given via telephone, in person, electronically if permitted by the CCP or CRC, by other agreed-upon methods evidenced in writing, or, if time permits, with five days of mail time.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Objections to proposed jury instructions and verdict form

Any objections to the proposed jury instructions or verdict form must be filed and served.

The parties must file and serve their objections, if any, to the proposed jury instructions and to the proposed verdict form.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions in limine and motions affecting the order of proof must be filed and served with sufficient CCP § 1005 notice to be heard by the FSC at the latest.

All motions in limine and motions that affect the order of proof, such as motions pursuant to CCP Sections 597 (trial of special defenses), 598 (change in the order of proof or bifurcation of the trial), and 1048 (consolidation or severance), must be filed and served with sufficient statutory notice under CCP Section 1005 so that they may be heard no later than at the FSC.

CRITICAL

Applies to

All documents

Service

Electronic service to all parties

At the Initial Status Conference, the Court will order the parties to engage an e-service provider to serve all documents (preferably Case Anywhere) and utilize the bulletin board function to communicate with the Court. Self- represented litigants are not required to engage an e-service provider but are still encouraged to do so.

At the Initial Status Conference, the Court will order the parties to engage an e-service provider to serve all documents (preferably Case Anywhere) and utilize the bulletin board function to communicate with the Court. Self- represented litigants are not required to engage an e-service provider but are still encouraged to do so.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Trial brief

Trial briefs must be served on all parties.

The briefs must be signed, filed with the Court and served on all parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

All documents requiring filing

Service

Electronic service

Posting documents on the e-service provider does not replace filing; documents that require filing, such as motion papers, must be filed with the Court and separately served via the selected e-service provider.

Posting on an e-service provider is not a substitute for filing documents with the Court. All documents that require filing with the Court, such as motion papers, must be filed with the Court and separately served via the selected e-service provider.

CRITICAL

Motions in limine and bifurcation motions must be served with proper statutory notice.

MOTIONS IN LIMINE AND BIFURCATION MOTIONS must be filed and served with proper statutory notice and set for hearing on the FSC date. LASC Rule 3.25 (f)(2).

CRITICAL

Applies to

ISC order and minute order

The plaintiff is responsible for serving the ISC and Minute Orders scheduling the Initial Status Conference as set forth in the ISC Order.

It is the plaintiff's responsibility to serve the ISC and Minute Orders scheduling the ISC as set forth in the ISC Order itself.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed jury questionnaire

Proposed jury questionnaires must be filed with the Court and served on all parties.

Proposed jury questionnaires shall be filed with the Court and served on all parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request for dismissal of paga action

A plaintiff dismissing a pending PAGA action must serve the dismissal request, supporting declarations, complaint, predicate LWDA letter, and settlement release portions on the LWDA at or around the time of filing, with proof of service filed with the Court.

Consistent with this goal, the Court concludes that a plaintiff seeking to dismiss a pending PAGA action must, at a minimum, serve on the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) the request for dismissal of the PAGA action and supporting declarations, a copy of the complaint that alleges the PAGA claims to be dismissed, a copy of the predicate letter that was sent to the LWDA seeking an investigation of the claims before the lawsuit was filed, and a copy of the portion of any settlement agreement that includes releases applicable to Plaintiff and/or to the PAGA claims. These documents must be served on the LWDA at or around the time the request for dismissal of PAGA claims is filed with the Court, with proof of service filed with the Court.

CRITICAL

Ex parte applications and all supporting documents must be served before 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing.

Ex parte applications and all documents in support thereof must be served and filed before 10:00 a.m. on the court day before the hearing. (See First Amended General Order dated May 3, 2019, subd. (8); Local Rule 3.4(f).)

CRITICAL

Written opposition to an ex parte application must be served before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing.

Any written opposition to an ex parte application must be filed and served before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing. (Ibid.)

CRITICAL

The moving party's counsel must deliver its portion of the joint statement, with all supporting declarations and exhibits, to opposing counsel by personal delivery, e-mail, or fax.

Counsel for the moving party must personally deliver, e-mail, or fax to counsel for the opposing party the moving party's portion of the statement, together with all declarations and exhibits to be offered in support of the moving party's position.

CRITICAL

Deadline

1 business days

After the moving party assembles the full statement, opposing counsel must sign it and return it by the end of the next business day so it can be filed with the notice of motion.

After the opposing party's material is added to the statement by the moving party's counsel, the statement must be provided to opposing counsel, who must sign it (electronically or otherwise) and return it to counsel for the moving party no later than the end of the next business day, so that it can be filed with the notice of motion.

CRITICAL

Deadline

18 calendar days

Applies to

Exhibits

Counsel and self-represented parties must exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at trial no later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at Trial.

CRITICAL

Within seven days of receiving the moving party's material, opposing counsel must deliver its portion of the joint statement, with supporting declarations and exhibits, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Unless the parties agree otherwise, within seven days of receipt of the moving party's material, counsel for the opposing party must personally deliver, e-mail, or fax to counsel for the moving party the opposing party's portion of the statement, together with all declarations and exhibits to be offered in support of the opposing party's position.

CRITICAL

Both parties must serve verifications along with the documents they produce in discovery.

Plaintiff and Defendant shall serve verifications with the documents they produce.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

All parties using e-filing must accept electronic service, except when personal service is required by law or any party is self-represented.

Pursuant to CCP § 1010.6 and local Rule 3.4 which references General Order 2020-GEN-018-00 issued June 11, 2020, the Court orders all parties who use e-filing to accept electronic service, except in those circumstances when personal service is required by law or where any of the parties are self-represented.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

All parties who use e-filing must accept electronic service, except when personal service is required by law or where any party is self-represented.

Pursuant to CCP § 1010.6 and local Rule 3.4 which references General Order 2020-GEN-018-00 issued June 11, 2020, the Court orders all parties who use e-filing to accept electronic service, except in those circumstances when personal service is required by law or where any of the parties are self-represented.

CRITICAL

Deadline

18 calendar days

Applies to

Exhibits

Counsel and self-represented parties must exchange intended trial exhibits at least 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at trial.

CRITICAL

All defendants must be served with the complaint no later than the case management conference.

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

CRITICAL

Trial documents must be served on opposing counsel five days before the final status conference.

Pursuant to SCLAC Rule 3.25(f)(l), trial documents, including a statement of the case, exhibit list, witness list, jury instructions and verdict form must be filed with the court and served on opposing counsel five (5) days prior to the final status conference.

CRITICAL

Counsel must exchange exhibits at the final status conference unless the court and counsel agree otherwise.

Counsel are ordered to exchange exhibits at the time of the Final Status Conference unless the court and counsel agree otherwise.

CRITICAL

Parties must promptly notify the Court and all other parties when taking a motion off calendar.

A party/counsel who takes a motion off calendar shall promptly notify the Court and all other parties/attorneys.

CRITICAL

All defendants must be served with the complaint no later than the case management conference.

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

CRITICAL

The required trial documents must be served along with filing no later than five court days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than five court days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall file and serve the following documents:

CRITICAL

Both plaintiff and defendant must serve verification together with the documents they produce in discovery.

Plaintiff and defendant shall serve verification with the documents they produce.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

All defendants must be served with the complaint no later than the case management conference.

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

CRITICAL

Deadline

18 calendar days

Applies to

Trial exhibits

Counsel and self-represented parties must exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at trial no later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties’ counsel and any self-represented parties shall exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at trial.

CRITICAL

Deadline

18 calendar days

Applies to

Exhibits

Counsel and self-represented parties must exchange all trial exhibits no later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference.

No later than 18 calendar days before the Final Status Conference, the parties' counsel and any self-represented parties shall exchange all exhibits they intend to introduce at trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions in limine must be served on the opposing party and submitted to the Court five court days prior to the FSC, or they will be deemed untimely.

Motions in limine must be served on the opposing party and submitted to the Court five court days prior to the FSC, or they will be deemed untimely.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Complaint

Under CRC 3.110, the complaint must be served on all named defendants and proof of service must be filed within 60 days after the complaint is filed.

Counsel are reminded that pursuant to CRC 3.110, the complaint must be served on all named defendants and proof of service must be filed with the Court within 60 days after the filing of the complaint.

CRITICALCivil cases

Papers required to be served under this order must be served in a manner calculated to reach the other party no later than the date indicated, and the parties are encouraged to agree on the service method (e.g., email).

NOTE RE SERVICE: Any papers required to be served on another party pursuant to this order must be served in a manner calculated to reach that party no later than the date indicated in this order. The parties are encouraged to agree on the method (e.g., by email).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Complaint

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

All defendants must be served with the complaint by the time of the CMC.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Document production

Both parties must serve verifications along with the documents they produce.

Plaintiff and defendant shall serve verifications with the documents they produce.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Complaint

All defendants must be served with the complaint no later than the case management conference.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Document production

Both plaintiff and defendant must provide copies of the enumerated case documents in their possession, custody, or control to the opposing side within 30 days of this order.

Within 30 days of this order both plaintiff and defendant shall provide copies of the following documents, which are in their respective possession, custody and/or control, to the opposing side(s):

WARNING

Parties should carefully review proofs of service to ensure they accurately identify the documents served, the method of service, the persons served, and the correct service addresses. Defective or incomplete proofs of service may delay consideration of the requested relief or require the matter to be continued or denied without prejudice.

Parties should carefully review proofs of service to ensure they accurately identify the documents served, the method of service, the persons served, and the correct service addresses. Defective or incomplete proofs of service may delay consideration of the requested relief or require the matter to be continued or denied without prejudice.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pretrial documents

Unless otherwise ordered, all pre-trial service deadlines are extended based on the manner of service as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013.

Unless otherwise ordered, the below pre-trial filing and service deadlines apply. All deadlines for service are extended based on the manner of service as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013.

WARNING

Service

Personal service to all parties

Self-represented parties bringing an opposition to the courtroom on the hearing day must bring enough copies for the court and all other parties.

If a self-represented party elects to bring in his or her opposition to the Court on the day of the hearing, he or she shall bring a sufficient number of copies of the opposition to provide to the court and all other parties.

WARNINGCivil cases

The initial case management conference notice goes to plaintiff's counsel, who must thereafter give notice of the conference to all other parties.

The Court generally follows and applies the case management rules specified by CRC 3.700 et seq., but the initial case management conference notice is given to plaintiff's counsel, with notice to all other parties to thereafter be given by plaintiff's counsel.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Parties must exchange trial exhibits in advance of trial to the extent required by law.

The parties shall exchange exhibits in advance of trial to the extent required by law.

WARNING

Pre-trial service deadlines are extended based on the manner of service as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013.

All deadlines for service are extended based on the manner of service as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013.

WARNINGCivil cases

Pre-trial filing and service deadlines apply unless otherwise ordered, and all service deadlines are extended based on the manner of service under Code of Civil Procedure § 1013.

Unless otherwise ordered, the following pre-trial filing and service deadlines apply. All deadlines for service are extended based on the manner of service as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure § 1013.

WARNING

Applies to

Summons and complaint

The court sets an OSC at the CMC regarding, among other things, failure to file a proof of service of the summons and complaint.

An OSC will be set concurrently with the CMC date regarding 1) prosecution of the case, 2) filing a proof of service of the summons and complaint; and 3) filing a case management statement.

WARNINGCivil cases

Before questioning about potentially inflammatory or highly prejudicial evidence, counsel should flag the intended area of inquiry to opposing counsel and the Court outside the jury's presence.

Before inquiring into evidence that may reasonably be anticipated to be inflammatory or highly prejudicial, and potentially excludable pursuant to Evidence Code section 352, counsel should bring the intended area of inquiry to the attention of opposing counsel and the Court outside the presence of the jury. (LASCR 3.107)