Butler County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Filing Rules

Counsel seeking to seal a document, documents, or a case file must file a motion, submit a proposed entry, and provide the trial judge a courtesy copy of the motion.

All trial counsel must file a notice of appearance unless their participation is limited solely to reports or other non-evidentiary hearings.

Each party must prepare a pretrial statement containing a concise statement of its claims and defenses.

Pretrial statements must include the parties' claims and defenses, admitted and stipulated facts, disputed factual and legal issues, supporting authority, and witness information.

“Filed” means the acceptance of a document into the record of a case.

The written expert report must be supplied no later than 30 days after the expert-disclosure deadline.

Joint jury instructions must use the Microsoft Word file format and be submitted electronically at least two weeks before trial.

Pretrial statements must be delivered to the court in chambers by 4:00 p.m. on the indicated date, and the deadline may be extended only with leave of court.

Electronic return receipts may be used for certified mail service, and electronic proof of service for certified or express mail sent by the Court satisfies the applicable service requirements, but the use of electronic return receipts is optional.

Hearing notices are mailed only to counsel who have filed a notice of appearance, and motions or entries submitted by counsel who have not done so may be stricken or disregarded.

A separate set of trial materials must be delivered to opposing parties or their attorneys and to the court before 4:00 p.m. on the date specified in the pretrial order.

After the Clerk's initial registration and filing assistance, all subsequent pro se filings must be submitted through the e-Filing Portal or they will be returned unfiled.

All entries and orders must be electronically filed and electronically served on the parties.

A $30 dispute-resolution fee is charged when each civil or criminal action or proceeding is filed in the General Division.

A continuance will not be granted merely because of a scheduling conflict.

Continuances may be granted only when good cause is shown.

All pleadings, motions, briefs, and other filed papers must be legible, typewritten or printed on one side of letter-size white bond paper, suitable for flat filing, securely bound and unfolded, without backing or a cover.

The text of a proposed order must be submitted as a Word document only.

Joint jury instructions must be created in Microsoft Word format.

Each assembled set of trial materials must be placed in a binder or cover.

The clerk must place documents authorized for sealing in white envelopes taped shut and covered with an embossed seal.

Counsel must immediately notify the assigned judge's judicial staff about a refiled case so it can be transferred to the original judge.

If an initial scheduling order does not order mediation, the parties may request judge mediation by contacting chambers.

Counsel must contact the Clerk's office before trial to ensure the availability of the depositions.

Counsel must provide one courtesy copy of a motion to seal to the trial judge upon filing.

The filing party shall also provide a courtesy copy to chambers, as stated in Local Rules, so that the Court is aware of the filing. A filing party bears the burden of responsibility for providing a courtesy copy and the failure to provide a courtesy copy may result in the Court not considering the arguments contained in the filing. A courtesy copy should be provided electronically, via email to stephenscc@bcohio.gov, rather than as a paper copy.

Briefs are limited to 15 pages unless the court grants leave for an exception.

All briefs and memoranda are limited to 15 pages unless leave is obtained sufficiently in advance; excess filings and last-minute leave motions will be stricken.

A motion to consolidate cases on common issues of law or fact must be filed in every case proposed for consolidation.

Counsel must assemble complete sets of trial materials, place each set in a binder or cover, and deliver separate sets to opposing counsel and the court by 4:00 p.m. on the indicated date.