Judge Elizabeth L Toplin is a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which handles a broad docket including securities fraud, antitrust, asbestos mass torts, and civil rights matters.
The judge's published procedures are contained in the document eltpol.pdf.
Courtesy-copy scope is not stated in the structured details. Details: 1 copy, by email. A courtesy copy of all motion papers must be emailed directly to chambers.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for sur reply. Sur-reply briefs are not normally permitted, and counsel must first seek the Court's permission by letter brief before one will be accepted.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's rule states these limits: 25 pages. Excludes table of contents and appendices. Memoranda are limited to 25 pages (excluding table of contents and appendices) and must be double spaced in 12-point font.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's rule states these limits: 15 pages. Reply briefs may not exceed 15 pages.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must complete and submit a Pro Hac Vice Attorney Admission Application before the non-admitted attorney's first appearance.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Extension requests must be made by letter brief.
Communication method is not stated in the structured details. Counsel must notify Judge Toplin's chambers immediately if a matter settles before the scheduled arbitration date or if the parties need to continue the arbitration.
Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Continuance requests for settlement conferences will only be granted for the most compelling reasons.
No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. Settlement conference summaries must not be filed with the Clerk's Office.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Counsel must submit a brief written settlement conference summary one week before the scheduled conference.
The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Counsel must exchange their settlement conference summaries with each other.
Judge Toplin's chambers email address is Chambers_Judge_Toplin@paed.uscourts.gov.
Judge Toplin's chambers telephone number is 267-299-7500.
Counsel may send correspondence to Judge Toplin on any matter, provided all other counsel receive copies.
All correspondence to the Court must be copied to all other counsel in the matter.
Judge Toplin sometimes permits letter motions in lieu of formal motions.
Counsel may contact the courtroom deputy and law clerks about scheduling and administrative matters, but never about the merits of the case.
Judge Toplin prefers telephone conferences for scheduling conferences, scheduling changes, extensions of time, and routine discovery disputes.
Counsel must complete and submit a Pro Hac Vice Attorney Admission Application before the non-admitted attorney's first appearance.
Counsel must make good faith efforts to resolve disputed matters between themselves before seeking the Court's involvement.
Counsel seeking relief must initiate the telephone conference by contacting courtroom deputy Tashia Reynolds.
Extensions will only be entertained upon a good cause showing that circumstances beyond counsel's reasonable expectation hampered the progress of the case.
Extension requests must be made by letter brief.
Every factual assertion in a memorandum must be supported by a record citation, and all legal and record citations must include pinpoint cites.
Memoranda are limited to 25 pages (excluding table of contents and appendices) and must be double spaced in 12-point font.
Memoranda over 15 pages must include a table of contents and a table of authorities.
Reply briefs may not exceed 15 pages.
Sur-reply briefs are not normally permitted, and counsel must first seek the Court's permission by letter brief before one will be accepted.
Parties must attempt to resolve discovery disputes in good faith; if unresolved, counsel may contact the courtroom deputy to arrange telephone or chambers conferences, and motion practice in discovery matters is discouraged.
Questions about scheduling a settlement conference should be emailed to Chambers_of_Magistrate_Judge_Elizabeth_Toplin@paed.uscourts.gov, and counsel will receive scheduling instructions from the Deputy after referral.
A courtesy copy of all motion papers must be emailed directly to chambers.
If motion exhibits exceed 20 pages, a hard copy must be sent to chambers.
Counsel must submit a brief written settlement conference summary one week before the scheduled conference.
The parties must provide the Court with an updated demand and offer four days before the scheduled settlement conference.
Settlement conference summaries must not exceed 5 pages, excluding attachments.
If settlement summary attachments exceed 20 pages, a hard copy must be sent to chambers by the date the summaries are due.
Settlement summaries must not attach documents already on the docket; counsel should reference them in the summary instead so the Court may take notice.
Counsel must exchange their settlement conference summaries with each other.
Settlement conference summaries must not be filed with the Clerk's Office.
Parties must engage in good faith settlement discussions before submitting the conference summary, then update their settlement positions and submit a joint letter prior to the conference.
Parties must confer and advise the Court whether they prefer an in-person or Zoom settlement conference; if they cannot agree, the conference will be conducted in person.