Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 368 rules apply across Ventura Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 160
  • Applies to
    Health care provider note

    A current jury-duty medical excuse must identify the juror by full name and badge number and state that the juror cannot currently serve jury duty; no diagnosis is necessary.

  • Applies to
    Health care provider note

    A permanent medical-excuse note must include the juror’s full name and badge number and state that the juror has a permanent physical or mental disability or impairment.

  • Applies to
    Civil action or proceeding

    A qualifying civil action or proceeding must be accompanied by the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum, Local Form VN278, signed by counsel for the plaintiff or the self-represented plaintiff.

Service

All 55
  • Applies to
    Notice of case assignment and mandatory appearance

    The filing party must serve a copy of the Notice of Case Assignment and Mandatory Appearance on all named defendants or respondents with the complaint or petition, and with any cross-complaint or complaint in intervention naming a new party.

  • Applies to
    Civil case cover sheet addendum

    A copy of the Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum must be served with the summons and complaint or petition.

  • Applies to
    Mediators notice of acceptance or recusal

    The assigned mediator must serve the Mediator’s Notice of Acceptance or Recusal within 10 days after receiving the Notice of Assignment of Mediator.

Filing Timing

All 44
  • Deadline
    2 court days

    Interpreter requests for Spanish must be submitted at least two court days before the hearing, and requests for all other languages, including ASL, must be submitted at least ten court days before the hearing.

  • The interpreter request form should be returned to the clerk in one of the listed offices as soon as possible.

  • Deadline
    15 calendar days

    In complex cases, the parties must file a joint complex status report in pleading format at least 15 calendar days before the first case management conference.

Adjournments

All 37

  • A motion, RFO, or MSC continuance request must be submitted no less than two court days before the currently scheduled date.

  • An evidentiary hearing or trial continuance request must be filed more than 30 days in advance when based on good cause, or less than 30 days in advance when extraordinary circumstances are set forth in the declaration; the request must state the number of prior continuances.

  • A mediation continuance requires obtaining a new mediation date or dates from Family Court Services before submitting the continuance form.

More categories

View all Ventura Superior Court rules
About Judge Dana K. Caudill

- **Press release:** Judge Dana K. Caudill Takes the Bench - **Press release date:** February 26, 2024

- **Department:** 21 - **Courtroom:** Courtroom 21 - **Assignment:** Civil Trials, Law & Motion - **Title:** Judge - **Address:** Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 - **Department public phone:** (805) 289-8705 - **Email:** Courtroom21@ventura.courts.ca.gov - **Judicial secretary phone:** (805) 289-8705 - **Ex parte applications:** heard each court day at 8:30 a.m. with a limit of 2 per day - **Ex parte reservation deadline:** 10 a.m. the court day before the hearing - **Rules document:** Department 21 Rules and Procedures, Revised July 1, 2026

Common questions about Judge Dana K. Caudill's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Dana K. Caudill?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for summary judgment. Details: delivery two weeks before hearing. Courtesy copies are required for all papers supporting or opposing a motion for summary judgment.

View ruleSource: page 4, section V. Law & Motion Procedures

What page or word limits apply to idc request before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

Judge Dana K. Caudill's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Excludes exhibits. IDC requesting papers may not exceed five pages, excluding exhibits, and exhibits must contain only information necessary to explain the discovery dispute.

View ruleSource: page 3, section IV. Informal Discovery Conferences (“IDC”)

What page or word limits apply to trial brief before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

Judge Dana K. Caudill's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Trial briefs may not exceed five pages, must be served on all parties, and must be emailed to the court at least three court days before trial.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. Trial Rules & Procedures

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

Judge Dana K. Caudill's formatting rule includes binding tabbed 3-ring, pre-mark all exhibits, including impeachment materials, with exhibit numbers and assign each party a unique number range., place the master set of exhibits, excluding impeachment materials, in numerically tabbed binders., binders must not be more than two inches thick., label each binder spine with the number range of exhibits contained in it., and ensure that each party has a complete set of exhibits..

View ruleSource: page 6, section VI. Trial Rules & Procedures

What must be included with idc request filings before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. An informal discovery conference must be requested jointly and in writing by all parties.

View ruleSource: page 3, section IV. Informal Discovery Conferences (“IDC”)

What must be included with exhibits filings before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Exhibits must be identified and authenticated by a supporting declaration.

View ruleSource: page 4, section V. Law & Motion Procedures

How may parties contact Judge Dana K. Caudill's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Dana K. Caudill's chambers. The rule lists email Courtroom21@ventura.courts.ca.gov. A request for an IDC must be sent by email to Courtroom 21, copied to all attorneys and self-represented litigants, and use the subject line “REQUEST FOR IDC.”

View ruleSource: page 3, section IV. Informal Discovery Conferences (“IDC”)

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Trial dates are firm, continuances are disfavored, and continuance requests must comply with CRC 3.1332.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Case Management

Is electronic filing required before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. The court prohibits electronic delivery of trial documents and does not require resubmission if the trial is continued.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. Trial Rules & Procedures

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Counsel must file a meaningful Case Management Conference statement at least 15 days before the hearing to avoid sanctions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. Case Management

What rule applies to service for trial brief before Judge Dana K. Caudill?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by email, recipient: all parties, timing: 3 court days before hearing. Trial briefs must be served on all parties and emailed to the court at least three court days before trial.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. Trial Rules & Procedures
Complete rules summary for Judge Dana K. Caudill

Counsel must file a meaningful Case Management Conference statement at least 15 days before the hearing to avoid sanctions.

Trial dates are firm, continuances are disfavored, and continuance requests must comply with CRC 3.1332.

Ex parte moving papers must be filed by noon on the court day before the hearing; late papers may result in continuation of the hearing.

The parties must meet in advance to prepare a joint ADR Status Conference Statement.

The joint ADR Status Conference Statement must be filed and served at least five court days before the conference and must state the case summary, resolution efforts, remaining discovery, planned resolution steps, and trial readiness or issues requiring court involvement.

The joint ADR Status Conference Statement must state the nature and causes of the case, relief and defenses, resolution efforts and remaining discovery, planned resolution steps, and trial readiness or potential court-involvement issues.

An informal discovery conference must be requested jointly and in writing by all parties.

A request for an IDC must be sent by email to Courtroom 21, copied to all attorneys and self-represented litigants, and use the subject line “REQUEST FOR IDC.”

IDC requesting papers may not exceed five pages, excluding exhibits, and exhibits must contain only information necessary to explain the discovery dispute.

IDC requests should describe the discovery dispute, resolution efforts, timing concerns, and willingness to modify the requests or response.

Courtesy copies are required for all papers supporting or opposing a motion for summary judgment.

All summary-judgment courtesy copies must be delivered to Courtroom 21 by 8:30 a.m. at least two weeks before the hearing.

Exhibits supporting or opposing a motion must be consecutively numbered at the bottom of each page, and exhibit references in briefs or declarations should include page numbers.

Exhibits should be tabbed at the bottom of the pleadings.

Exhibits must be identified and authenticated by a supporting declaration.

For an exhibit longer than five pages, the relevant portions should be highlighted.

A party may submit on a tentative decision by email to Courtroom 21, copying all other parties, before 8:00 a.m. on the hearing day, using a subject line that includes the specified text, case number, title, and party.

A tentative-decision submission email must use a subject line containing “SUBMISSION ON TENTATIVE,” the case number, title, and party.

The court prohibits electronic delivery of trial documents and does not require resubmission if the trial is continued.

Courtesy paper copies of all trial documents must be delivered to Courtroom 21 by 8:30 a.m. on the court day after the documents are emailed to the court.

Trial briefs may not exceed five pages, must be served on all parties, and must be emailed to the court at least three court days before trial.

Trial briefs must be served on all parties and emailed to the court at least three court days before trial.

Motions in limine may not exceed five pages.

All motions in limine must be emailed to the court three days before trial.

Exhibits must be numerically pre-marked, organized in tabbed binders no more than two inches thick, labeled by exhibit number range, and provided as a complete set to each party.

With court approval, abbreviated opening statements may be presented for no more than two minutes per party and must contain only neutral, non-argumentative descriptions of claims and defenses.

A party presenting slides to the jury must provide printed copies to all other parties and the court clerk at least 15 minutes before the presentation.

Unless otherwise agreed, the plaintiff must prepare, serve, and lodge the final jury instructions and verdict forms.

A party requesting a jury questionnaire must serve and lodge the joint proposed questionnaire, including written juror instructions, by the trial-call date.

The court will direct the prevailing parties to serve and file a proposed judgment consistent with the jury verdict and applicable California rules.

More Judges in Ventura Superior Court

Benjamin F. Coats
Judge
Charmaine H. Buehner
Judge
Jacquelyn D. Ruffin
Judge
Mark S. Borrell
Judge
Maureen M. Houska
Judge
Ronda J. McKaig
Judge