Courtesy copies are required for exhibit lists and witness lists. Details: 1 copy, delivery morning of trial, by hand delivery. On the morning of trial, counsel must provide the court reporter with copies of the joint exhibit list and witness lists.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Counsel must make all good faith efforts to resolve disputed matters before seeking court involvement.
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.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's rule states these limits: 15 pages. Reply briefs are limited to 15 pages.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's formatting rule includes 12 point type, double spacing. Memoranda must be double spaced and use 12-point font.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must submit jointly proposed jury instructions with citations of legal authority by the scheduling order deadline, noting areas of agreement and objections.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must submit a jointly prepared verdict form or proposed special interrogatories by the scheduling order deadline.
Parties may contact Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. Counsel must immediately notify Judge Toplin's chambers if a matter settles before arbitration or the parties need to continue the arbitration.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Elizabeth L Toplin. Confidentiality or sealing orders will be approved consistent with applicable legal standards.
Judge Elizabeth L Toplin's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include reason for request. Extensions are granted upon a good cause showing of circumstances beyond counsel's reasonable expectation, and require a letter brief requesting the extension.
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 written conference summary one week before the settlement conference.
Counsel may correspond with the Court on any matter provided all other counsel receive copies of the correspondence.
Letter motions are sometimes permitted in lieu of formal motions.
Counsel may contact the courtroom deputy and law clerks on scheduling and administrative matters, but never on the merits of a case.
Confidentiality or sealing orders will be approved consistent with applicable legal standards.
Telephone conferences are preferred for scheduling, extensions of time, and routine discovery disputes; counsel seeking relief must initiate the conference by contacting the courtroom deputy.
Oral arguments and evidentiary hearings are scheduled through the courtroom deputy, with reasonable efforts to accommodate counsel schedules.
Counsel must complete and submit a Pro Hac Vice Attorney Admission Application before the non-admitted attorney's first appearance.
Counsel must make all good faith efforts to resolve disputed matters before seeking court involvement.
Extensions are granted upon a good cause showing of circumstances beyond counsel's reasonable expectation, and require a letter brief requesting the extension.
Every factual assertion in a memorandum must cite the record with pinpoint cites.
Memoranda are limited to 25 pages, excluding table of contents and appendices.
Memoranda must be double spaced and use 12-point font.
Memoranda over 15 pages must include a table of contents and table of authorities.
Reply briefs are limited to 15 pages.
Sur-reply briefs require prior permission from the Court by letter brief.
A courtesy copy of all motion papers must be emailed to chambers.
Exhibits over 20 pages require a hard copy sent to chambers.
Discovery disputes should be resolved without court intervention; if needed, contact the courtroom deputy to set up telephone or chambers conferences, as motion practice is discouraged.
Settlement conference scheduling questions should be emailed to Judge Toplin's chambers.
Counsel must submit a written conference summary one week before the settlement conference.
Parties must provide an updated demand and offer four days before the settlement conference.
Settlement conference summaries are limited to 5 pages, excluding attachments.
Settlement conference summary attachments over 20 pages require a hard copy sent to chambers by the due date.
Do not include docketed exhibits in the summary; reference them instead.
Counsel must exchange their settlement conference summaries.
Settlement conference summaries must not be filed with the Clerk's Office.
Parties must engage in good faith settlement discussions and submit a joint letter updating settlement positions before the conference.
Continuance requests for settlement conferences must be made within 14 days of receiving the scheduling notice and will only be granted for the most compelling reasons.
A joint Rule 16(f) report must be filed on the docket one week before the Rule 16 conference if not previously filed.
Counsel must immediately notify Judge Toplin's chambers if a matter settles before arbitration or the parties need to continue the arbitration.