Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICALCivil cases

The hearing must be scheduled between one and three months after the petition is filed.

The hearing on the petition will be scheduled for a date not less than one month or more than three months after the date of the filing of the petition.

CRITICAL

Upon filing the appeal, the Prothonotary must immediately issue a writ of certiorari.

Upon the filing of the appeal, the Prothonotary shall immediately issue a writ of certiorari and properly serve it on the municipal hearing board or local agency equivalent body from which the appeal was taken directing the board, agency or body to transmit a copy of the record required to be established by the board, agency or body in hearing the matter and issuing a decision, within 20 days of notice of the writ.

CRITICAL

A praecipe for writ of execution may not be presented to or accepted by the Prothonotary until the judgment is final.

No praecipe for writ of execution shall be presented to or be accepted by the Prothonotary until the judgment is final by operation of law or otherwise.

CRITICAL

Uncontested motions must be presented to the Office of the District Court Administrator during normal business hours.

Uncontested motions, with a proposed order, shall be presented to the Office of the District Court Administrator during the court's normal business hours.

WARNING

After pleadings close, any party may file a Praecipe to Appoint Arbitrators to place the case on the Arbitration List.

After the pleadings are closed, any party may place the case on the Arbitration List by filing a Praecipe to Appoint Arbitrators with the Prothonotary.

CRITICAL

The verification is due at the initial in-person contact with the Court or within 30 days after service of the initiating pleading, whichever occurs first.

You must file with the Court a verification regarding any criminal record or abuse history regarding you and any member of your household at the initial in-person contact with the Court (including, but not limited to, a conference with a conference officer or Judge or conciliation) or within thirty days of service of the initiating pleading, whichever occurs first.

CRITICAL

Outstanding discovery must be completed and dispositive motions filed within 90 days after the notice.

You are required to complete all outstanding discovery and file all dispositive motions within the 90-day period

CRITICAL

Every party must file and serve a pretrial statement at least 10 days before the pretrial conference.

At least 10 days prior to the pretrial conference, every party shall file and serve upon opposing counsel and any unrepresented party a pretrial statement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Complaint

If only a writ of summons has been filed, a complaint must be filed within 20 days after the statement of intent to proceed is filed or the court orders reinstatement.

(i) If only a writ of summons has been filed, a complaint must be filed within 20 days of either the date of filing the statement of intent to proceed or the court's order reinstating the case as an active case.

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Discovery and dispositive motions must be filed within the 90-day period unless the court enlarges it.

All discovery and dispositive motions must be filed within the 90-day period unless enlarged by the court.

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Deadline

2 business days

If the case is settled, withdrawn, or otherwise terminated, the parties must notify all appointed arbitrators and file a Praecipe to Discontinue more than two business days before the scheduled hearing.

If a case is settled, withdrawn, or otherwise terminated by or between the parties, the parties must, more than two (2) business days before the scheduled arbitration hearing date, so notify all arbitrators appointed for the case and file a Praecipe to Discontinue the action of record.

CRITICAL

All parties of record must file a pre-hearing statement no later than 10 days before the pre-hearing conference.

(a) All parties of record shall file a pre-hearing statement no later than 10 days prior to the pre-hearing conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Original pretrial statement

The written demand for a 12-member jury must be filed before the scheduled trial.

In cases to be tried by jury, trial shall be by a 12-member jury, if written demand is filed with the court by any party as part of that party's original pretrial statement filed in accordance with Pa.R.C. P. 212.2 and Rule L212 prior to the scheduled trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Praecipe to place case at issue

In cases with closed pleadings, a praecipe to place the case at issue must be filed within 30 days after discovery closes or, if dispositive motions are timely filed, after the court disposes of them.

(iii) A praecipe to place the case at issue shall be filed within 30 days after discovery is closed or following the court's disposition of all dispositive motions, if any dispositive motions are timely filed.

CRITICAL

Failure to pay the transcript fee in full within seven days after notice results in a rule to show cause why the party should not be held in contempt.

(c) Failure of the party to pay the fee in full within seven (7) days of receiving notice shall result in a rule being issued to show cause why the party failing to timely pay should not be held in contempt of court for failing to comply with this Local Rule of Judicial Administration, which shall be incorporated by reference in all orders of court directing that a transcript be prepared under Rule L5000.5.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff's counsel must file proof of deposit with the Prothonotary or Clerk of the Orphans' Court within 30 days after entry of the deposit order.

Plaintiff's counsel shall be responsible for filing a Proof of Deposit with the Prothonotary or Clerk of the Orphans' Court within 30 days of the entry of an order directing the deposit of funds.

CRITICAL

A party seeking to present additional evidence must present a motion during motion court within 10 days after the court schedules argument and sets a briefing schedule.

In the event that a party desires to present additional evidence, a motion indicating the reasons therefor shall be presented to the court, during motion court in accordance with Rule L211 (a), within 10 days after the court schedules argument and sets a briefing schedule.

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Applies to

Dispositive motion

In cases with pleadings not closed, all dispositive motions must be filed within 30 days of the discovery-completion deadline.

(iv) All dispositive motions shall be filed within 30 days of the deadline for completion of discovery.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Preliminary objections or answer

If a complaint has been filed, preliminary objections or an answer must be filed within 20 days after the statement of intent to proceed is filed or the court orders reinstatement.

(ii) If a complaint has been filed, then preliminary objections or an answer to the complaint must be filed within 20 days of either the date of filing the statement of intent to proceed or the court's order reinstating the case as an active case.

CRITICAL

The notice must be filed and served on all parties at least 90 days before the praecipe is filed.

No Praecipe to Place Case at Issue shall be filed unless the moving party also certifies that a Notice to Complete Discovery and Dispositive Motions has been filed and served upon all parties at least 90 days prior to the filing of a Praecipe to Place Case at Issue.

CRITICAL

The transcript balance is due within seven days after the completion notice.

(b) Once the party ordering the transcript is notified of the transcript's completion, the party shall pay the balance due and owing within seven (7) days of the notice of completion, except where the Commonwealth or a sub-division thereof is liable for the fee.

CRITICAL

The Chair must file the signed award with the Prothonotary immediately after it is signed.

The award shall be filed with the Prothonotary by the Chair of the Board of Arbitrators immediately after it is signed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Dispositive motion

In cases with closed pleadings, all dispositive motions must be filed within 30 days after the discovery-completion deadline.

(ii) All dispositive motions shall be filed within 30 days after the deadline for completion of discovery.

CRITICAL

If the court finds the record incomplete and orders its completion, the board, agency, or equivalent body must transmit a complete record within 20 days of the order.

If the court determines that the transmitted record is incomplete, it shall order the municipal hearing board, local agency or equivalent body to transmit a complete record within 20 days of the order, with the order enforceable by contempt of court, remand the case to the board, agency or body with directions to complete the record or schedule a de novo evidentiary hearing.

CRITICAL

Each party must file a conciliation conference statement at least ten days before the conference.

At least ten (10) days prior to the conciliation conference, each party shall file and serve upon opposing counsel, and any unrepresented party, a conciliation conference statement.

CRITICAL

File the praecipe to place the case at issue within 30 days after discovery closes or, if dispositive motions were timely filed, after the court disposes of them.

A praecipe to place the case at issue shall be filed within 30 days after discovery is closed or following the court's disposition of all dispositive motions, if any dispositive motions are timely filed.

CRITICAL

praecipe for argument within 10 days of being served with the motion, at which time the District Court Administrator shall forward the praecipe to the court, which shall schedule argument;

praecipe for argument within 10 days of being served with the motion, at which time the District Court Administrator shall forward the praecipe to the court, which shall schedule argument;

WARNING

Counsel should submit any additional voir dire to the court at least 10 days before jury selection.

If counsel desire any additional voir dire, it should be submitted to the court at least 10 days prior to jury selection.

WARNING

Opposing counsel may object within the prescribed 10-day period and request transcription of additional, lesser, or different portions of the record.

Within the 10-day prescribed time period under Pa.R.C.P. 227.3, opposing counsel may present an objection, in accordance with Rule L211 (a), requesting that an additional, lesser, or different portion of the record be transcribed.

WARNING

For ordered transcripts not required for a pretrial proceeding or trial, completion is due within a reasonable time determined by the President Judge.

In cases not involving a transcript required for a pretrial proceeding or for a trial, all ordered transcripts shall be completed within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the President Judge.

WARNING

The Board must make the award promptly after the hearing ends, including authorized and warranted costs, interest, and attorney fees.

The Board of Arbitrators shall make an award, including costs, interest, and attorney fees if authorized by law and are warranted, promptly upon termination of the hearing.

WARNING

The court reporter must notify the requesting party of transcript completion within two days.

(a) Upon completion of the transcript, the court reporter shall notify the party requesting the transcript within two (2) days of its completion.