Judge Richard A. Bell

Responses to motions in limine must be served within 14 days after service of the motion.

Responses must be served within fourteen (14) days after service of the motions.

Page 1 | Motions in Limine

Motions in limine must be filed 28 days before trial, and responses must be served within 14 days after service of the motion.

Motions in limine are due twenty-eight (28) days prior to the start of trial and responses must be served within fourteen (14) days after service of the motions.

Page 1 | Motions in Limine

The parties must provide the listed proposed or agreed trial materials to the court no later than 14 days before trial.

No later than fourteen (14) days before the trial date, the court must receive from the parties proposed/agreed jury instructions, jury interrogatories, jury verdict forms, trial briefs, witness lists, and stipulations.

Page 1 | Trials

Within two business days after objections are filed, counsel must either file a brief supporting use of the deposition testimony or indicate agreement to delete the objected-to portion.

Counsel proposing to use the deposition testimony shall file a brief in support within two (2) business days after the objections are filed or indicate an agreement to delete the portion for which there is an objection.

Page 1 | Trials

Plaintiff must communicate its demand to defendant at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference.

Plaintiff shall communicate a demand to the defendant at least fourteen (14) days prior to the final pretrial conference.

Page 1 | Final Pretrials

Objections to testimonial depositions requiring a court ruling must be submitted to the court at least three business days before trial.

Objections to testimonial depositions that require rulings from the court are to be given to the court at least three (3) business days before the scheduled trial date.

Page 1 | Trials

The parties must exchange proposed exhibits seven days before trial.

The parties are also to exchange proposed exhibits seven (7) days prior to trial.

Page 1 | Trials

Plaintiff must notify all opposing parties of the default hearing by regular and certified mail at least 14 days before the hearing.

Plaintiff to notify all parties against whom default judgment is sought of the time and date of the default hearing by regular and certified mail at least fourteen (14) days prior to the default hearing date.

Page 1 | Motions for Default Judgment

If the contract and current records show different defendant addresses, plaintiff should send notice of the default hearing to both known addresses.

If the underlying contract from which the complaint originates and plaintiff’s current records reflect different addresses for the defendant, the court requests plaintiff send notice of the scheduled default hearing to both known addresses.

Page 1 | Motions for Default Judgment

Parties should provide courtesy copies of all trial exhibits on the trial date and place the trial exhibits in a binder.

Parties should provide the court with courtesy copies of all exhibits on the day of the trial; trial exhibits should be contained in a binder.

Page 1 | Trials

For motions other than summary judgment or motions in limine, the opposition brief is due 14 days after filing and the reply brief is due seven days after the opposition brief.

A Brief in Opposition is due fourteen (14) days after the filing of a Motion. A Reply Brief is due seven (7) days after the filing of a Brief in Opposition.

Page 1 | Any Motions other than a Motion for Summary Judgment or Motion in Limine

For a motion for summary judgment, the opposition brief is due 28 days after filing and the reply brief is due seven days after the opposition brief, without leave of court.

A Brief in Opposition is due twenty-eight (28) days after the filing of a Motion for Summary Judgment. A Reply Brief is due within seven (7) days after the filing of the Brief in Opposition. No leave of court is required when filing a Reply Brief.

Page 1 | Motions for Summary Judgment

Before filing a Motion to Compel, parties must contact the court if their efforts to resolve the discovery dispute were unsuccessful.

If those attempts are unsuccessful, the parties shall contact the court prior to filing a Motion to Compel to help timely resolve any issues.

Page 1 | Discovery Disputes

No reply brief is permitted for motions in limine.

No Reply shall be permitted.

Page 1 | Motions in Limine

Parties must confer before filing a nondispositive motion and should indicate their agreement where possible.

Parties are to confer regarding non-dispositive motions before filing and indicate the parties' agreement where possible.

Page 1 | Motions

All parties must contact the court at the listed telephone number at the scheduled default hearing date and time.

All parties are to contact the court at 216-443-8736 at the scheduled date and time.

Page 1 | Motions for Default Judgment

At a case management conference conducted by telephone, plaintiff’s counsel must initiate the call with defense counsel and then include the Staff Attorney.

Plaintiff’s counsel is to initiate the telephone call with defense counsel and then conference in Judge Bell’s Staff Attorney, Kristin Brown, at 216-443-8581.

Page 1 | Case Management Conferences (“CMCs”)

A party may request a telephone conference with the court by calling Judge Bell’s Staff Attorney at the listed number.

To request a telephone conference, the party should call Judge Bell’s Staff Attorney, Kristin Brown, at 216-443-8581.

Page 1 | COVID-19 Update

Parties may request a settlement conference by contacting the Staff Attorney at the listed telephone number.

Parties may request a settlement conference by contacting Staff Attorney Kristin Brown at 216-443-8581.

Page 1 | COVID-19 Update