Judge Mark Serrott
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Receivership Plan, Receiver Progress Report
Court-wide- Upon Filing
Adjournments
- A stalled or overage case is less amenable to a continuance unless exceptional circumstances exist.
- Continuance requests must be written as soon as practicable, state specific reasons, and demonstrate good cause.
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Document Format Requirements5 rules
For disputed exhibits, counsel must create and deliver a separate hard-copy binder for each party to the staff attorney one day before trial.
If there are exhibits that are not jointly agreed to, counsel shall create a separate hard copy binder per party with disputed exhibits and also drop them off to the court one day before trial, directed to the staff attorney.
Paper
If counsel cannot agree on jury instructions, one draft with highlighted differences must be emailed to the staff attorney one day before trial.
If counsel do not agree upon joint jury instructions, one draft shall be submitted to the staff attorney via email, with differences highlighted, one day before trial.
Each filed motion's signature block must include a working email address and phone number.
Counsel shall also include a working email address and phone number in the signature block of each motion filed.
Counsel must deliver a hard-copy binder containing the jointly agreed exhibits to the staff attorney one day before trial.
Exhibits: Counsel shall drop off to the court a jointly agreed exhibit binder in hard copy form one day before trial, directed to the staff attorney.
Paper
Counsel using electronic presentations must ensure compatibility with courtroom equipment before trial.
Counsel intending to use electronic presentations shall ensure compatibility with courtroom equipment in advance of trial.
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
Counsel must attempt to agree on joint jury instructions and email them to the staff attorney one day before trial.
Jury Instructions: Counsel shall attempt to confer and agree upon joint jury instructions and send them to the staff attorney via email one day before trial.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Whenever possible and reasonable, a proposed entry should be electronically filed with a motion.
Whenever possible and reasonable, parties shall e-file a proposed entry with motions.
Document Type
Motion
At least three days before a scheduled mediation, counsel must submit to the staff attorney a brief mediation statement of two to three pages.
If a mediation is scheduled, Judge Serrott requests a brief mediation statement (2-3 pages), at least three days before the mediation to be submitted to the staff attorney.
Document Type
Mediation Statement
Relevant trial forms, including interrogatories and verdict forms, must be emailed to the staff attorney one day before trial.
Miscellaneous Forms: Other forms that may be relevant besides jury instructions, such as interrogatories and verdict forms, shall be submitted to the staff attorney via email one day before trial.
Document Type
Trial Forms
Each party must provide a written witness list to the Court and Court Reporter on the first day of trial.
On the first day of trial, each party shall provide the Court and Court Reporter with a written witness list.
Document Type
Witness List
A mediation statement submitted to Judge Serrott must address the dispute history, facts, procedure, negotiations, last demand and offer, settlement outlook, client expectations, settlement barriers, case strengths and weaknesses, and any other pertinent matter.
If mediation is scheduled with Judge Serrott, please include the following information in the mediation statement: Brief History of Dispute Factual Procedural (include any outstanding motions) Status of Negotiations Last Demand/Last Offer Realistic Statement as to Potential Settlement Client Expectations Potential Barriers to Settlement (e.g., legal or personal issues) Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Factual Legal Any Other Matter Client/Counsel May Believe Pertinent to Mediation
Document Type
Mediation Statement
The jury-instruction submission must be a single unified set, with disputed instructions clearly identified.
The submission shall consist of a sAingle, unified set of instructions, with any disputed instructions clearly identified.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Instructions
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Whenever possible and reasonable, the proposed entry accompanying a motion must be filed electronically.
Whenever possible and reasonable, parties shall e-file a proposed entry with motions.
Page 1 | IV. Motions
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Motions in limine must be filed with the court three days before trial.
Motions in Limine: Motions in Limine shall be filed with the court three days before trial.
Page 1 | VI. Trial
Proposed jury instructions must be submitted no later than two days before closing arguments.
The parties shall submit proposed jury instructions no later than two (2) days prior to closing arguments.
Page 1 | III. Trial Procedure — Jury Instructions
Motions in limine must be filed no later than three business days before trial.
Motions in limine shall be filed no later than three (3) business days prior to trial.
Page 1 | III. Trial Procedure — Motions in Limine
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
When court intervention is needed for a discovery dispute, the court prefers a status conference before motion practice.
If a discovery dispute necessitates court intervention, however, the court prefers scheduling a status conference first to avoid unnecessary motion practice.
Page 1 | III. Discovery Disputes
When a dispute would benefit from an ad hoc status conference outside the normal case schedule, parties are encouraged to contact the court and schedule one.
Ad Hoc: If parties believe a dispute would benefit from a status conference with the court outside the normal case schedule, parties are encouraged to contact the court to schedule a conference.
Page 1 | II. Status and Pretrial Conferences
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance requests must be written as soon as practicable, state specific reasons, and demonstrate good cause.
Requests for continuances shall be made in writing as soon as practicable and shall state the specific reasons for the request. Continuances will be granted only for good cause shown.
Page 1 | IV. Additional Considerations — Continuances
A stalled or overage case is less amenable to a continuance unless exceptional circumstances exist.
If a case stalls or becomes overage, it will be less amenable to continuances absent exceptional circumstances.
Page 1 | I. Case Scheduling
Chambers Communication Rules
Relevant trial forms must be emailed to the staff attorney one day before trial.
Miscellaneous Forms: Other forms that may be relevant besides jury instructions, such as interrogatories and verdict forms, shall be submitted to the staff attorney via email one day before trial.
Page 1 | VI. Trial
Joint jury instructions must be sent to the staff attorney by email one day before trial.
Jury Instructions: Counsel shall attempt to confer and agree upon joint jury instructions and send them to the staff attorney via email one day before trial.
Page 1 | VI. Trial
If an evidence cart is needed, counsel must email the staff attorney about it one day before trial.
Evidence Cart: If an evidence cart is needed, counsel shall inform the staff attorney one day before trial via email.
Page 1 | VI. Trial
Communications with the Court must be on the record or in writing unless otherwise permitted, and ex parte communications are prohibited except as authorized by law.
All communications with the Court shall be on the record or in writing, unless otherwise permitted. Ex parte communications are prohibited except as authorized by law.
Page 1 | I. Appearing in Court — Communication with the Court
Counsel must notify the court immediately after settling a case.
Further, counsel shall notify the court immediately upon settling a case so as to avoid unnecessary work on motions
Page 1 | V. Settlement Conferences/Mediation
Counsel should alert chambers as soon as possible when a case appears genuinely to require trial.
If a case genuinely appears to require a trial, alert chambers as soon as possible so that the court may do its best to assign a trial date with the court’s calendar.
Page 1 | VI. Trial
Civil practice communications and submissions should be directed to staff attorney Paige Kohn.
All civil practice communication and submissions should be directed to the staff attorney, Paige Kohn.
Page 1 | Civil Practice Guidelines
The court may address discovery and other issues during telephone conference calls.
The court will also address discovery and other issues on telephone conference calls.
Page 1 | II. Status and Pretrial Conferences
The court is amenable to conducting status and pretrial conferences by telephone unless personal appearance is necessary.
Telephone: The court is amenable conducting telephone status and pretrial conferences unless circumstances exist that necessitate counsel appear in person.
Page 1 | II. Status and Pretrial Conferences
The court will provide counsel with its conference line before a scheduled telephone conference.
The court retains a conference line and will share it with counsel in advance of the call.
Page 1 | II. Status and Pretrial Conferences
Email is the preferred way to communicate with the staff attorney, who may also be reached at 614.525.6087.
Email is the preferred method of communication, but the staff attorney may also be reached at 614.525.6087.
Page 1 | Civil Practice Guidelines
Courtroom staff may be contacted by phone at 614.525.3660 or by email for general court information.
Melissa Benson Secretary 614.525.3660 Email General court information.
Page 1 | Courtroom Staff
Jeffrey Murphy may be contacted by phone at 614.525.6087 or by email to request a status conference or inquire about pending civil matters.
Jeffrey Murphy Staff Attorney 614.525.6087 Email Request a status conference or to inquire about any pending civil matters before the court. Report settlement of a civil case.
Page 1 | Courtroom Staff
April Scott may be contacted by phone at 614.525.5214 or by email about procedures and processes in criminal matters, including expungements.
April Scott Bailiff 614.525.5214 Email Inquire about procedures and processes in any criminal matters including expungements.
Page 1 | Courtroom Staff
Ebony Reynolds-Spivey may be contacted by phone at 614.525.3760 or by email to order transcripts.
Ebony Reynolds-Spivey Court Reporter 614.525.3760 Email Order transcripts.
Page 1 | Courtroom Staff
Mike Thompson may be contacted by phone at 614.525.5320 or by email about scheduling mediation, magistrate trials, or damages hearings.
Mike Thompson Magistrate 614.525.5320 Email Inquire about scheduling mediation, magistrate trials, or damages hearings.
Page 1 | Courtroom Staff