Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties Document Filing Requirements

WARNING

Applies to

Discovery hearing request

Counsel and parties must review the Court’s civil-discovery procedures before scheduling a discovery-related hearing.

Counsel and parties are instructed to review this Court’s “Procedures Related to Civil Discovery Matters” prior to scheduling such discovery related hearings.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of filing summary judgment materials

The Court suggests timely filing materials placed in the record with a cover pleading titled “Notice of Filing Documents/Materials in Support of/Opposition to Summary Judgment” that identifies them.

To increase the efficiency and ease in confirming whether materials are “in the record”, the Court suggests that any materials the movant and nonmovant put in the record be timely filed with a “Notice of Filing Documents/Materials in Support of/Opposition to Summary Judgment” cover pleading that identifies the documents/materials being added to the record.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

the proposed orders granting/denying the summary judgment motion should contain at, a minimum the following three well-defined sections: (1) summary of facts with citations to particular parts of materials in the record supporting each fact with such specificity the Court could readily locate the portion of the materials supporting such factual positions in the record (i.e., depositions page(s)/line(s), location of materials, records, affidavits, and pleadings in the record by docket/line number together with page and paragraph number), (2) Applicable Law (i.e., general summary judgment standard caselaw, case specific caselaw relevant to any summary judgment issues or legal issues inherent to the cause of action/theory of liability), (3) Legal Conclusions (containing the application of the law to the facts, summary judgment analysis, and specific reasons for granting or denying the motion);

the proposed orders granting/denying the summary judgment motion should contain at, a minimum the following three well-defined sections: (1) summary of facts with citations to particular parts of materials in the record supporting each fact with such specificity the Court could readily locate the portion of the materials supporting such factual positions in the record (i.e., depositions page(s)/line(s), location of materials, records, affidavits, and pleadings in the record by docket/line number together with page and paragraph number), (2) Applicable Law (i.e., general summary judgment standard caselaw, case specific caselaw relevant to any summary judgment issues or legal issues inherent to the cause of action/theory of liability), (3) Legal Conclusions (containing the application of the law to the facts, summary judgment analysis, and specific reasons for granting or denying the motion);

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

If the parties cannot resolve their disagreement, each side should submit a proposed order and an extra copy highlighting the disputed portions.

If the disagreement cannot be worked out, each side should submit a proposed order with an extra copy highlighting the portions which are not agreed upon.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

Motions in limine must concern specific trial evidence; boilerplate motions will not be heard or considered.

All motions in limine must relate to specific evidence to be offered at trial. The Court will not hear or consider “boiler-plate” motions in limine

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

the proposed orders should also contain a section identifying, in the event the Court fails to grant all the requested relief, “any material fact – including an item of damages or other relief – that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.” Fla. R. Civ. P 1.510(g).

the proposed orders should also contain a section identifying, in the event the Court fails to grant all the requested relief, “any material fact – including an item of damages or other relief – that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.” Fla. R. Civ. P 1.510(g).

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Hearing notice

Include the Zoom instructions in a hearing notice when applicable.

Include Zoom instructions, if applicable, above in any notices for hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

The judicial assistant may reject offering hearing time for a motion that lacks the required good-faith certification.

The judicial assistant may reject offering hearing time if a motion does not include certification of a “good faith attempt” to resolve the issue(s) in the motion prior to filing the motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Include Zoom instructions in hearing notices when applicable.

Include the Zoom instructions (if applicable) in any notices.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

On hearing notices, list the location as Judge Roberts’s Chambers; no room number is provided.

There is no room number – just list as Judge Roberts’s Chambers.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Include the Zoom instructions in any hearing notice when applicable.

Include Zoom instructions, if applicable, above in any notices for hearing

WARNING

Applies to

Cover letter

The cover letter should indicate whether the proposed order is agreed to by opposing counsel/party or not.

The cover letter should indicate whether the proposed order is agreed to by opposing counsel/party or not.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

All matters set on the motion calendar should be noticed to start at 9:00 am (CST)

All matters set on the motion calendar should be noticed to start at 9:00 am (CST)

WARNING

Applies to

Trial request email

The litigants can avoid steps #3-6 above if they agree on a trial docket to set the matter. In that case, the procedure under #5 will include specifying the jury trial docket agreed to and specifying the number of days needed, exclusive of jury selection. The judicial assistant will then confirm receipt of the email agreeing to a docket.

The litigants can avoid steps #3-6 above if they agree on a trial docket to set the matter. In that case, the procedure under #5 will include specifying the jury trial docket agreed to and specifying the number of days needed, exclusive of jury selection. The judicial assistant will then confirm receipt of the email agreeing to a docket.

WARNING

Applies to

Hearing time request email

A hearing-time request email must use the Bay County case number and case style as its subject line.

Use Bay County case number and style of case as your subject line

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders must comply with the preceding submission instructions or they will not be entered.

Any proposed order not complying with the above instructions will not be entered.

WARNING

Applies to

Hearing time request email

State the hearing time needed accurately; insufficient time may result in denial of the motion or request, or continuation of the hearing.

Please be accurate in the amount of time needed for the hearing. Failure to have sufficient time for the hearing may result in the motion or request being denied or the hearing continued.

WARNING

Applies to

Notice of hearing

4. All matters set on a motion calendar should be noticed to start at 9:00 am (CST) or 1:00 pm (CST), depending on which docket is selected.

4. All matters set on a motion calendar should be noticed to start at 9:00 am (CST) or 1:00 pm (CST), depending on which docket is selected.

WARNING

Applies to

Trial request email

Use the Bay County case number and case style in the trial-request email subject line.

Use Bay County case number and style of case as your subject line.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Must include

certificate of conference

The judicial assistant may reject offering hearing time for a motion that lacks the required certification of a pre-filing good faith attempt.

The judicial assistant may reject offering hearing time if a motion does not include certification of a “good faith attempt” to resolve the issue(s) in the motion prior to filing the motion.

INFO

Applies to

Hearing time request email

A copy of the petition or motion may be attached to the hearing-time request email.

You may attach a copy of the petition(s)/motion(s) to the email

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders do not need to list recipients’ addresses or email addresses at the end.

5. Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Reply memorandum of law

The movant may file and serve a reply memorandum of law separate from the required Reply Statement of Material Facts.

The movant may file and serve a reply memorandum of law, which is separate and distinct from the required Reply Statement of Material Facts addressing the opponent’s additional facts.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Statement of material facts

An opponent may assert additional material facts that it contends defeat the summary judgment motion.

An opponent’s Statement of Material Facts also may thereafter assert additional material facts that the opponent contends serve to defeat the motion for summary judgment.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Nonmovant statement of material facts

The nonmovant may also assert additional material facts in its Statement of Material Facts that it contends defeat summary judgment.

A non-movant’s Statement of Material Facts also may thereafter assert additional material facts that the opponent contends serve to defeat the motion for summary judgment.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders do not need to list recipients’ addresses or email addresses at the end.

Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.

INFO

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

The court suggests filing a notice of cancellation and emailing a copy to the judicial assistant.

It is suggested that a notice of cancellation be filed, and a copy should be sent via email to the judicial assistant.

INFO

Applies to

Hearing materials

Additional copies of materials already filed or in the court file generally need not be resubmitted, unless they are attached to or incorporated in other filings and are not easily accessible or identifiable.

However, additional copies of motions, memoranda already filed with the clerk or other documents which are already in the court file (unless attached to or incorporated in other filings and not easily accessible or identifiable) do not need to be submitted again prior to the hearing.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders need not list recipients’ mailing or email addresses at the end.

5. Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Recipient addresses and email addresses need not appear at the end of proposed orders.

Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.

INFO

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

Filing a cancellation notice and providing it to opposing counsel or a party, especially an opposing pro se party, is recommended as a professional courtesy.

However, filing such a notice and providing such to any opposing counsel or party (especially in the case of opposing pro se parties) is considered good professionalism and courtesy.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders need not list recipients’ addresses or email addresses at the end.

Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.

INFO

Applies to

Notice of cancellation

Filing a notice of cancellation is suggested, and a copy should be emailed to the judicial assistant.

It is suggested that a notice of cancellation be filed, and a copy the notice of cancellation should be sent via email to the judicial assistant.

INFO

Applies to

Proposed order

Proposed orders need not list recipients' addresses or email addresses at the end.

6. Proposed orders do not need to include the addresses or email addresses of recipients of the order at the end.