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

CRITICAL

A paper complying with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure cannot be refused based on a local electronic-filing requirement or practice.

4) No legal paper that complies with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure shall be refused for filing by the clerk of courts or the electronic filing system based upon a requirement of a local rule or local administrative procedure or practice pertaining to the electronic filing of legal papers.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A status conference in a PCRA proceeding must be scheduled within 60 days of counsel’s appointment.

At the time counsel is appointed to represent an indigent defendant for a PCRA proceeding, the Order shall include scheduling a status conference within sixty days of appointment. The District Court Administrator shall be copied on the order and shall schedule the status conference at the time of counsel’s appointment.

CRITICAL

A legal paper is filed upon submission and clerk acceptance, with the submission time and date controlling if accepted; the clerk may reject a noncompliant filing.

3) A legal paper shall be considered filed upon submission of the legal paper to the system and acceptance of the filing by the clerk of courts. If the clerk of courts determines that the requirements for filing have been met, the time and date of filing shall be the time and date that the legal paper was submitted to the system. If the clerk of courts finds that the requirements for filing are not met, the clerk may reject the filing.

CRITICAL

An electronic filing must be completed by 11:59:59 p.m. EST/EDT to be considered filed that day.

2) Electronic filings may be submitted at any time, except during times of periodic maintenance. The electronic submission must be completed by 11:59:59 p.m. EST/EDT to be considered filed that day.

WARNING

The filing party is responsible for delays, disruptions, interruptions, and document legibility issues unless the system website caused them.

5) A filing party shall be responsible for any delay, disruption, and interruption of the electronic signals and legibility of the document electronically filed, except when caused by the failure of the system's website.

WARNING

Electronic filings may be submitted at any time except during periodic maintenance.

2) Electronic filings may be submitted at any time, except during times of periodic maintenance.

CRITICAL

Defense expert reports are due by the listed track deadlines.

| Defense Expert Reports | 8 Months | 12 Months | 18 Months |

CRITICALCivil cases

Fast-track cases are scheduled for disposition within 12 months.

Fast 12 Months

CRITICALCivil cases

Praecipe for Arbitration 9 Months

Praecipe for Arbitration 9 Months

CRITICALCivil cases

Standard-track cases are scheduled for disposition within 18 months.

Standard 18 Months

CRITICALCriminal cases

Deadline

48 hours

Bail money and signed original bond forms must be transmitted within 48 hours to the issuing authority, or to the Clerk of Courts if the case has been held for court.

All money received by the Venango County Prison for bail shall be transmitted along with a set of signed original bond forms to the issuing authority within forty-eight (48) hours, or if the case has been held for court then to the Clerk of Courts.

CRITICAL

The conciliator must schedule the conciliation no sooner than 20 days after the pre-trial statement is filed.

Conciliator will schedule the conciliation not sooner than 20 days from the date of filing the pre-trial statement.

CRITICALCivil cases

Upon filing the award or report, the Prothonotary must promptly enter judgment and advise the parties in writing within three days.

Upon filing the award or report the Prothonotary shall forthwith enter the same as a judgment of record in the proper dockets in favor of the party prevailing before the Board of Arbitrators and shall within three (3) days thereafter advise the parties or their counsel in writing of such filing.

CRITICAL

The case management conference or management order is scheduled four months after filing on all three tracks.

| Case Management Conference/Management Order | 4 Months after the date of filing | 4 Months after the date of filing | 4 Months after the date of filing |

CRITICALCivil cases

Pre-Trial Statement Due 60 days prior to trial 60 days prior to trial

Pre-Trial Statement Due 60 days prior to trial 60 days prior to trial

CRITICAL

Dispositive motions are due by the listed track deadlines.

| Dispositive Motions | 8 Months | 12 Months | 18 Months |

CRITICALCivil cases

Defense expert reports are due eight, twelve, or eighteen months after filing, depending on the case track.

Defense Expert Reports 8 Months 12 Months 18 Months

CRITICALCivil cases

The Board must be appointed within ten days after the case is at issue or the Agreement of Reference is filed, following a praecipe and notice to opposing counsel.

The Board of three members shall be appointed within ten (10) days after a case is at issue, or after filing of the Agreement of Reference upon praecipe filed by counsel for either party, with notice to the opposing counsel.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial is scheduled within 18 months of filing in the Standard track and within 24 months in the Complex track.

Trial Date within 18 months of within 24 months of filing filing

CRITICALCivil cases

After the qualifying praecipe is filed, the Prothonotary must notify the arbitrators in writing within ten days.

After a case is at issue, or after the filing of the Agreement of Reference, upon praecipe filed by counsel for either party, together with written certification thereon of notice to opposing counsel or opposing litigant, the prothonotary shall notify the arbitrators in writing within ten (10) days thereafter that the case is at issue or that an Agreement of Reference has been filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

For applicable civil actions, excluding custody matters, compulsory-arbitration appeals, and the specified divorce matters, the Court will issue a Case Management Order within four months of filing that gives notice of the earliest trial date.

This rule shall apply to all civil actions, both jury and non-jury, with the exception of custody matters, appeals from compulsory arbitration, actions in divorce, and other issues permitted by law relating to the termination or validity of marriages. (a) Case Tracks and Case Events: Upon the filing of a civil action, the District Court Administrator shall assign a Judge to the case. Within four months of filing a case, the Court will issue a Case Management Order providing notice of the earliest date the case may be tried, pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 212.1.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Deadline

1 business days

The affiant must deliver the original signed search warrant application to the issuing authority the next business day.

The affiant shall deliver to the issuing authority the original signed search warrant application the next business day.

CRITICAL

Pre-trial statements must be filed no later than seven days before the pre-trial conference.

Pre-Trial Statements shall be filed no later than seven (7) days before the pre-trial conference

CRITICALCriminal cases

The petition must be filed no later than ten days before the appearance date.

(B) The petition may have an appropriate Order attached thereto, and the petition shall be filed no later than ten (10) days before the date of appearance.

CRITICALCivil cases

The responding party must file a response and, if appropriate, a brief within 20 days after service of the motion.

In all cases the responding party shall file a response and a brief, if appropriate, within twenty (20) days after service of the motion.

CRITICAL

Motions in limine must be filed with the Prothonotary by the pre-trial conference.

Motions in limine must be in writing and shall be filed with the Prothonotary no later than the pre-trial conference.

CRITICAL

The other party must file the inventory and pre-trial statement at least 7 days before conciliation, but the conference will proceed even if a party has not made the required filings.

(3) The other party shall then file the inventory and pre-trial statement not later than 7 days before the scheduled conciliation. Conciliation will proceed whether or not one of the parties has made the required filings.

CRITICALCivil cases

Motions in limine must be filed with the Prothonotary no later than the pre-trial conference.

Motions in limine must be in writing and shall be filed with the Prothonotary no later than the pre-trial conference.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Deadline

24 hours

The judge must notify the District Attorney 24 hours before intending to unseal the affidavit.

The Judge shall give notice to the District Attorney twenty-four (24) hours prior of his or her intent to unseal the affidavit.

CRITICALCivil cases

Pre-trial statements must be filed no later than seven days before the pre-trial conference.

Pre-Trial Statements shall be filed no later than seven (7) days before the pre-trial conference

CRITICALCivil cases

Complex-track cases are scheduled for disposition within 24 months.

Complex 24 months

CRITICALCivil cases

Pre-Trial Conference 14 Months 18 Months

Pre-Trial Conference 14 Months 18 Months

CRITICAL

The fast-track schedule lists the praecipe for arbitration filing at nine months.

| Praecipe for Arbitration Filed | 9 Months | | |

CRITICALCivil cases

The Board must render its decision and make its report within twenty days after the final hearing.

The Board shall render its decision and make report within twenty (20) days after final hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Discovery must be complete by six, nine, or twelve months, depending on the case track.

Discovery Complete; 6 Months 9 Months 12 Months

CRITICALCivil cases

Plaintiff expert reports are due six, nine, or sixteen months after filing, depending on the case track.

Plaintiff Expert Reports 6 Months 9 Months 16 Months

CRITICAL

The conciliator must file a report within 20 days after the session concludes.

(5) The conciliator will file a report within 20 days of the conclusion of the session,

CRITICAL

The trial date is within 18 months of filing on the standard track and within 24 months on the complex track.

| Trial Date | | within 18 months of filing | within 24 months of filing |

CRITICALCivil cases

A motion to attend conferences by telephone or videoconference must be submitted at least seven days before the pre-trial conference, and the Court may grant it in its discretion.

A Motion to the Court to participate in the conferences via telephone or videoconference must be submitted no later than seven (7) days prior to the pre-trial conference date, which the Court may grant in its discretion.

CRITICALCivil cases

The case management conference and management order are scheduled four months after filing in all three tracks.

Case Management 4 Months after 4 Months after 4 Months after Conference/ the date of filing the date of filing the date of filing Management Order

CRITICALCriminal cases

Deadline

1 business days

The arresting agency must deliver the original signed criminal complaint to the issuing authority the next business day.

The arresting agency shall deliver to the issuing authority the original signed criminal complaint the next business day.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Deadline

48 hours

The Clerk of Courts must forward the sealed documents to the issuing judge 48 hours before the stated expiration date for review and, if appropriate, public filing in the criminal proceeding or as a separate proceeding.

Forty-eight (48) hours before the recited expiration date, the Clerk of Courts shall forward the sealed documents to the issuing Judge who will then review the matter and, if appropriate, open the file and provide for filing the matter publicly as part of the criminal proceeding, if one has been initiated, or as a distinct proceeding.

CRITICAL

The updated inventory and pretrial statement are due no later than 20 days before the trial is scheduled before a judge.

(b) When the trial is conducted, the parties will file an updated inventory and pretrial statement not later than 20 days before the trial is scheduled before a judge.

CRITICAL

If the parties consent to a divorce, they must file the necessary consents and waivers immediately after conciliation.

(4) The parties, if they consent to a divorce, will file the necessary consents and waivers immediately after the conciliation.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff expert reports are due by the listed track deadlines.

| Plaintiff Expert Reports | 6 Months | 9 Months | 16 Months |

CRITICAL

The pre-trial statement is due 60 days before trial on the standard and complex tracks.

| Pre-Trial Statement Due | | 60 days prior to trial | 60 days prior to trial |

CRITICAL

The verification is due by the initial in-person court contact and in no event later than 30 days after service of the complaint or petition, whichever occurs first.

You must file with the Court a verification regarding any criminal record or abuse history regarding you and anyone living in your household on or before the initial in-person contact with the court (including, but not limited to, a conference with a conference officer or judge or conciliation), but not later than 30 days after the service of the complaint or petition, whichever first occurs.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial statement

The pre-trial statement must be filed before the preliminary conference.

Each party shall file and serve upon the other party a pre-trial statement in accordance with Pa. R.C.P. 1920.33(b) and deliver a copy to the Divorce Master prior to the preliminary conference.

CRITICALCivil cases

Either party may appeal, as of course, from the decision, award or report of the Board to the Court of Common pleas not later than twenty (20) days after the filing thereof under the following conditions:

Either party may appeal, as of course, from the decision, award or report of the Board to the Court of Common pleas not later than twenty (20) days after the filing thereof under the following conditions:

CRITICAL

A motion to participate in a conference by telephone or videoconference must be submitted at least seven days before the pre-trial conference, and the Court may grant it in its discretion.

(2) A Motion to the Court to participate in the conferences via telephone or videoconference must be submitted no later than seven (7) days prior to the pre-trial conference date, which the Court may grant in its discretion.

CRITICAL

The pre-trial conference is scheduled at 14 months on the standard track and 18 months on the complex track.

| Pre-Trial Conference | | 14 Months | 18 Months |

CRITICAL

Discovery must be complete and a motion to compel filed by the listed track deadlines.

| Discovery Complete; Motion to Compel Filed | 6 Months | 9 Months | 12 Months |

CRITICALCivil cases

Dispositive motions are due by eight, twelve, or eighteen months, depending on the case track.

Dispositive Motions 8 Months 12 Months 18 Months

WARNING

For covered civil actions, the Court will issue a Case Management Order within four months of filing; custody matters, compulsory-arbitration appeals, divorce actions, and other marriage-termination or validity issues are excluded.

This rule shall apply to all civil actions, both jury and non-jury, with the exception of custody matters, appeals from compulsory arbitration, actions in divorce, and other issues permitted by law relating to the termination or validity of marriages. (a) Case Tracks and Case Events: Upon the filing of a civil action, the District Court Administrator shall assign a Judge to the case. Within four months of filing a case, the Court will issue a Case Management Order providing notice of the earliest date the case may be tried, pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 212.1. The Order will set forth a Case Track and establish timelines for Case Events, in accordance with the following schedules:

WARNING

| CASE TYPE | MANAGEMENT TRACK | DISPOSITION WITHIN | | --- | --- | --- | | - Cases involving damages of less than $50,000 - Landlord/Tenant actions and appeals - Residential Assessment appeals - Contract - Debt Collection - Employment Dispute - Replevin - Mechanic's Lien - Tax/Judicial sale petitions | Fast | 12 Months | | - Cases involving damages in excess of $50,000 - Actions to Quiet Title - Ejectment (other than residential lease) - Ejectment/Eminent Domain/Condemnation - Declaratory Judgment - Mortgage Foreclosure - Commercial assessment appeals - Partition - Right to Know - Tort - Civil appeals/Administrative Agencies | Standard | 18 Months | | - Class Action - Medical/Professional Liability - Product Liability - Mass Tort: Asbestos, Tobacco - Toxic Tort/Waste - Personal Injury - Injunctions - Actions in Equity | Complex | 24 months | | Any case type not listed will be allocated to a Case Track by the Court in its own discretion. | | |

| CASE TYPE | MANAGEMENT TRACK | DISPOSITION WITHIN | | --- | --- | --- | | - Cases involving damages of less than $50,000 - Landlord/Tenant actions and appeals - Residential Assessment appeals - Contract - Debt Collection - Employment Dispute - Replevin - Mechanic's Lien - Tax/Judicial sale petitions | Fast | 12 Months | | - Cases involving damages in excess of $50,000 - Actions to Quiet Title - Ejectment (other than residential lease) - Ejectment/Eminent Domain/Condemnation - Declaratory Judgment - Mortgage Foreclosure - Commercial assessment appeals - Partition - Right to Know - Tort - Civil appeals/Administrative Agencies | Standard | 18 Months | | - Class Action - Medical/Professional Liability - Product Liability - Mass Tort: Asbestos, Tobacco - Toxic Tort/Waste - Personal Injury - Injunctions - Actions in Equity | Complex | 24 months | | Any case type not listed will be allocated to a Case Track by the Court in its own discretion. | | |