Court Rules
About Judge Paul J. Cusick

Paul J. Cusick is a district judge on the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, the state trial court serving Wayne County. The court handles trial matters across the county.

This judge's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge Paul J. Cusick's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Paul J. Cusick?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for rule 56. Details: 1 copy, delivery at least five business days before hearing. A judge's hard copy of all summary disposition motions and responses must be received by the courtroom at least five business days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUMMARY DISPOSITION MOTIONS:

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

Judge Paul J. Cusick's formatting rule includes 14 point type, each instruction must be on a separate page, instructions must be case specific, and instructions must be gender specific. Each jury instruction must be on a separate page in size 14 font and must be case specific and gender specific.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trial:

What must be included with praecipe filings before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. After receiving a time-stamped copy of a motion, a Praecipe must be submitted to have the motion scheduled on the docket.

View ruleSource: page 1, section General Motions

What must be included with stipulated order filings before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Stipulations opting out of case evaluation must include the date of facilitation and the date of the discovery cutoff.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Opting out of Case Evaluation:

How may parties contact Judge Paul J. Cusick's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Paul J. Cusick's chambers. The rule lists email janet.wolters@3rdcc.org. For summary disposition motions, the moving party must first e-file the motion, then email the judicial attorney (janet.wolters@3rdcc.org, call 313-224-6267, or email JudgeCusick-Court@3rdcc.org) to obtain a hearing date by order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUMMARY DISPOSITION MOTIONS:

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Facilitation must be completed by the originally set case evaluation date unless a motion for extension has been filed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Opting out of Case Evaluation:

Is electronic filing required before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Summary disposition motions must be filed electronically (e-filed).

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUMMARY DISPOSITION MOTIONS:

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Summary disposition motions must be e-filed no later than 28 days after notice of trial unless otherwise ordered.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SUMMARY DISPOSITION MOTIONS:

What rule applies to service for scheduling order before Judge Paul J. Cusick?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service, recipient: all parties. Counsel need not appear at status conferences; scheduling orders are electronically signed and e-served on counsel of record.

View ruleSource: page 1, section STATUS CONFERENCE:
Complete rules summary for Judge Paul J. Cusick

After receiving a time-stamped copy of a motion, a Praecipe must be submitted to have the motion scheduled on the docket.

All exhibits filed with summary disposition judge's copies must be tabbed with numbers or letters.

Facilitation must be completed by the originally set case evaluation date unless a motion for extension has been filed.

Emergency motions to be heard before the next general motion date require contacting the court clerk at (313) 224-2415.

Summary disposition motions must be e-filed no later than 28 days after notice of trial unless otherwise ordered.

Summary disposition motions must be filed electronically (e-filed).

For summary disposition motions, the moving party must first e-file the motion, then email the judicial attorney (janet.wolters@3rdcc.org, call 313-224-6267, or email JudgeCusick-Court@3rdcc.org) to obtain a hearing date by order.

After the hearing-date order is issued, the moving party must file a Praecipe stating the hearing date and time and file a Notice of Hearing.

A judge's hard copy of all summary disposition motions and responses must be received by the courtroom at least five business days before the hearing.

To adjourn a summary disposition motion, the moving party must contact the judicial attorney for a new date, e-file a Re-Notice of Hearing afterward, and must not submit adjournment praecipes.

Questions about summary disposition motions should be directed to judicial attorney janet.wolters@3rdcc.org (or 313-224-6267) or JudgeCusick-Court@3rdcc.org.

Counsel need not appear at status conferences; scheduling orders are electronically signed and e-served on counsel of record.

Attorneys may stipulate to one adjournment of scheduling orders from Track I to Track II; any further adjournment requires a filed motion.

Stipulated orders opting out of case evaluation must be filed within 120 days from the first responsive pleading under MCR 2.403(A)(3).

Stipulations opting out of case evaluation must include the date of facilitation and the date of the discovery cutoff.

Settlement conference adjournments must be requested from the court clerk; if granted, counsel must e-file a stipulated order with the new date, and attorneys may stipulate to adjourn the first settlement conference up to 90 days if willing to facilitate.

A stipulated order adjourning the first settlement conference must include the facilitator's name, the facilitation date (within 90 days of the originally scheduled conference), and the new settlement conference date obtained from the court clerk.

Without a stipulation, a settlement conference may be adjourned only one to two weeks and only on Wednesday or Thursday mornings; any further adjournment requires a motion.

Parties must file a judge's copy of all motions and responses pursuant to MCR 2.119(A)(2).

Parties may e-file an order the same day or once it is approved as to form and signed by all parties under the 7-day rule (MCR 2.602(B)).

To adjourn an appeal, a party must call the court and submit a stipulation of the parties.

Joint pre-trial orders must be filed in advance of the final pre-trial conference as ordered by the court.

Motions in limine must be filed at least three weeks before trial and will be heard on any Friday prior to trial.

Counsel must schedule motions in limine with the clerk and a Praecipe is required.

By 12:00 PM on the Thursday before trial, counsel must deliver two hard copies of joint jury instructions to the courtroom and email a copy to the court clerk.

Joint jury instructions must include separate indexes for Preliminary and Final Jury Instructions and list each JI number and title.

Each jury instruction must be on a separate page in size 14 font and must be case specific and gender specific.

By the first day of trial, counsel must deliver two hard copies of the jury verdict form to the court and email a copy to the judicial attorney.

The jury verdict form must be stipulated to by the parties in advance of trial.

The Third Circuit Court is an e-filing court and parties must register for e-filing through MiFILE at https://mifile.courts.michigan.gov/register.

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