Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 323 rules apply across Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 114
  • Applies to
    Certification of appointed counsel

    Appointed counsel must certify awareness of Ohio Revised Code Section 120.03, review of Ohio Administrative Code Section 120-1-10, and ongoing compliance with the applicable training and experience requirements.

  • Applies to
    Preliminary judicial report

    The PJR must have an effective date within the 30 days before the complaint was filed.

  • Applies to
    Preliminary judicial report

    The PJR must identify the complete and correct property being foreclosed.

Filing Timing

All 56

  • Judgment entries may be rejected if the applicable items on the foreclosure checklist are not addressed promptly.

  • Effective March 4, 2022, the attached Foreclosure Order of Procedure applies to all foreclosure cases filed in the court and is deemed filed in each case.

  • Opposition papers in a summary-judgment motion must be filed no later than the twenty-eighth day after the motion is filed.

Service

All 48
  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Service
    Personal service to all parties

    Every person listed on the PJR must be properly served with service of process.

  • Applies to
    Appointing judgment entry
    Service
    Court service

    For later-filed cases, the clerk must accept a time-stamped copy of the appointing judgment entry as satisfying the court-designation requirement for an eligible process server.

  • Applies to
    Standing special process server appointment

    A Standing Special Process Server's authority to serve process ends if the server fails to satisfy the rule's requirements during the appointment period.

Fees

All 31
  • Applies to
    Jury summons

    A party settling or dismissing under Civil Rule 41(A) on the day before or morning of trial must pay the jury-summoning cost if a jury was summoned.

  • Fee
    $25
    Applies to
    Financial disclosure form

    Submitting the Financial Disclosure Form triggers a non-refundable $25 application fee unless the court waives or reduces it; any assessed fee must be paid to the clerk of courts within seven days, and inability to pay cannot result in denial of counsel.

  • Fee
    25 dollars
    Applies to
    Standing special process server affidavit and order

    A $25 filing fee is required for the affidavit and order, payable into and applied to Common Pleas Court General Division Special Project No. 1.

More categories

View all Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division rules
Common questions about Judge John P. O’Donnell's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge John P. O’Donnell?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for deposition objections. Details: by email. Deposition objections must be filed by motion at least fourteen days before trial, identify the specific objections and pertinent transcript portions, and be emailed as a courtesy copy to the Court.

View ruleSource: page 3, section TRIAL PROCEDURES

What page or word limits apply to document before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

Judge John P. O’Donnell's rule states these limits: 10 pages. The body or text of documents is limited to ten pages, except for complaints, counterclaims, crossclaims, and third-party complaints.

View ruleSource: page 3

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

Judge John P. O’Donnell's formatting rule includes electronic copy in word or word perfect on cd, or by email to commonpleascourtii@lakecountyohio.gov. and neither the written copy nor the electronic copy should be filed with the clerk of courts unless preservation of appellate rights is concerned.. Proposed jury instructions may be submitted in Word or Word Perfect on a CD or by email to the Court, but ordinarily should not be filed with the Clerk unless needed to preserve appellate rights.

View ruleSource: page 4

What must be included with pretrial statement filings before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Counsel must stipulate under Rule 11 that the pre-trial statement representations are accurate.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL STATEMENT

What must be included with motion for appointment filings before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. If counsel has not been appointed by arraignment, a motion for appointment must be filed with an affidavit of indigency.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Amended Order Judgment Entry

How may parties contact Judge John P. O’Donnell's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications. The court must be notified immediately by telephone when a nollie prosequi is entered or the defendant wishes to change the plea.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Amended Order Judgment Entry

How does Judge John P. O’Donnell handle sealed or redacted filings?

Judge John P. O’Donnell's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Filing parties and counsel must redact personal and private information, including social security numbers and full financial account numbers, before filing; unredacted documents may be stricken.

View ruleSource: page 3

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Filing a leave to plead, motion, or other pleading must not change the scheduled pretrial or trial dates.

View ruleSource: page 2, section PRETRIAL PROCEDURES

What filing deadlines does Judge John P. O’Donnell set?

Proposed jury instructions must be presented to the court one week before trial.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Amended Order Judgment Entry

What rule applies to serving the court before Judge John P. O’Donnell?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the court. The defendant and counsel must notify the court in writing of any address change and file the change with the clerk of courts.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Amended Order Judgment Entry
Complete rules summary for Judge John P. O’Donnell

Counsel must stipulate under Rule 11 that the pre-trial statement representations are accurate.

Contact the Court’s Scheduler directly at 350-2662 to request a hearing, request a continuance, or report a settlement.

If counsel has not been appointed by arraignment, a motion for appointment must be filed with an affidavit of indigency.

Appointed counsel must present the court with a judgment entry.

Every pleading, motion, brief, or other filed paper must identify the preparing attorney and include the attorney's email address.

The defendant and counsel must notify the court in writing of any address change and file the change with the clerk of courts.

Hearing notices and non-final appealable judgment entries must be emailed to counsel.

Defendant’s counsel must prepare a Judgment Entry directing the Lake County Adult Probation Department to evaluate the defendant, submit a report, prepare a Pre-Sentence report, and obtain a Victim Impact Statement if applicable.

Counsel must submit proposed jury instructions covering all charges, specifications, and affirmative defenses.

Parties need not provide proposed instructions for introductory or closing remarks or listed general topics unless a particular instruction outside the Ohio Jury Instructions is warranted.

Proposed instructions must be delivered to the court on a CD or by email one week before trial.

Word is an acceptable format for proposed jury instructions.

Proposed jury instructions must be presented to the court one week before trial.

The court must be notified immediately by telephone when a nollie prosequi is entered or the defendant wishes to change the plea.

Any requested leave should be accompanied by a judgment entry.

Two copies of the exhibit list must be delivered to the Court on the day of trial.

Every filed pleading, motion, brief, or other paper must identify the preparing attorney and include Civ.R. 11 information, particularly an email address.

All hearing notices and non-final-appealable judgment entries must be emailed to counsel, while final appealable orders are excluded.

A motion requiring an earlier ruling must be emailed to the court immediately upon filing, include certification of service on the motion and copies, and specify the requested advanced rule day.

Filing a leave to plead, motion, or other pleading must not change the scheduled pretrial or trial dates.

Only one 30-day extension will be permitted for an answer.

Counsel must give the pretrial form to the court’s bailiff at the pretrial, and the form must not be filed.

A continuance of a case management conference, settlement conference, or pretrial may be requested by telephone call to the Assignment Commissioner at (440) 350-2705.

The body or text of documents is limited to ten pages, except for complaints, counterclaims, crossclaims, and third-party complaints.

Filing parties and counsel must redact personal and private information, including social security numbers and full financial account numbers, before filing; unredacted documents may be stricken.

A trial continuance requires a written motion signed by the client, supporting affidavit or other appropriate documentation, and an accompanying judgment entry providing space for the court to insert new dates.

Deposition objections must be filed by motion at least fourteen days before trial, identify the specific objections and pertinent transcript portions, and be emailed as a courtesy copy to the Court.

Trial briefs must be filed with the Clerk of Courts fourteen days before the scheduled trial date.

Proposed jury instructions may be submitted in Word or Word Perfect on a CD or by email to the Court, but ordinarily should not be filed with the Clerk unless needed to preserve appellate rights.

The settlement judgment entry must be submitted within thirty days after reporting settlement or by the trial date, whichever is earlier, and should dispose of all claims and related claims.

More Judges in Lake County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Jeffrey W. Ruple
Judge
Patrick J. Condon
Judge
Vincent A. Culotta
Judge