Court Rules
district Judge
Verified Current9 days ago

Judge Lewis J. Liman

Southern District of New York

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Letter
5 pgs
Memorandum Of Law
25 pgs
Discovery Opposition
3 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Filings (Pretrial Submission)

Required

Filings

Not Required

Adjournments

Notice Required
48Hours

Must Include

  • 1
    Original Date
  • 2
    Number Of Previous Requests
  • 3
    Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
  • 4
    Adversary Position
  • 5
    Proposed Rescheduled Date
Notice Required
72Hours
Notice Required
2Business Days

Must Include

  • 1
    Stipulation
  • 2
    Reason For Request
  • 3
    Proposed Rescheduled Date
Notice Required
0Calendar Days

Communication

Phone

Chambers

SchedulingEmergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Email

Chambers

LimanNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov
Technical Issues
Advance Notice Required
No Hours, Status Inquiries
Letter Fax

Chambers

Emergencies
Advance Notice Required
No Description
Letter Fax

Chambers

No Description
Email

Chambers

Emergencies
Letter Ecf

Intake Unit

No Description
Letter Ecf

Chambers

ServiceScheduling
Advance Notice Required
No Description
Phone

Intake Unit

(212) 805-0175
No Description
Letter Ecf

Intake Unit

Service
Hand Delivery

Intake Unit

Service
Hand Delivery

Chambers

Advance Notice Required
Phone

Chambers

646-453-4442
Scheduling
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingCommunicationECF FilingElectronicsLettersTRO/InjunctionMemorandaConferences

Detailed Drafting Rules

Communication ProtocolImportant

Mobile phones must be turned off in courtroom; non-compliance may result in sanctions.

Mobile phones are permitted inside the courtroom, but they must be kept turned off at all times. Non-compliance with this rule may result in sanctions including forfeiture of the device for the remainder of the proceedings.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    none
Prohibited
  • Hours
    courtroom_use
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPolicy on Use of Electronic Devices
Communication ProtocolMandatory

24-hour advance email required for permission to bring non-personal electronic devices.

Any attorney seeking to bring such equipment into the courthouse must email a proposed order to Chambers (LimanNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov) at least 24 hours in advance of the relevant trial or hearing requesting permission to use such equipment.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
SchedulingEmergenciesStatus InquiriesTechnical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    24_hours
Prohibited
  • Hours
    24_hours_advance
  • Status Inquiries
Page 1
|SecPolicy on Use of Electronic Devices
Format RequirementMandatory

Letters to chambers must be ECF-filed, text-searchable, max 3 single-spaced pages.

All letters shall be filed on ECF in text-searchable form and should not exceed three single-spaced pages in length.

Typography
Line SpacingSingle
Required Format

ECF

Page 2
|SecCommunications with Chambers
Document RequirementMandatory

Letters to chambers must be ECF-filed, text-searchable, max 3 single-spaced pages.

All letters shall be filed on ECF in text-searchable form and should not exceed three single-spaced pages in length.

Document Type

Letter

Content & Formatting
Text Searchable
Max Pages

3

Page 2
|SecCommunications with Chambers
Communication ProtocolImportant

Telephone calls to Chambers limited to urgent matters not addressed by court orders or rules.

Except as set forth elsewhere in these Individual Practices, telephone calls to Chambers should be reserved only for urgent matters requiring immediate attention that cannot be answered by reference to the Court’s prior orders in the case, these Individual Practices, the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules, or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
EmergenciesStatus Inquiries
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Page 4
|SecTelephone Calls
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Hand deliveries require advance permission.

Nothing may be hand delivered absent advanced permission.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    advanced permission
Page 4
|SecHand Deliveries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Hand deliveries must be left with Court Security Officers at Worth Street entrance.

Hand-delivered mail should be left with the Court Security Officers at the Worth Street entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States District Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 and may not be brought directly to Chambers.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Description
    Hand-delivered mail should be left with the Court Security Officers at the Worth Street entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States District Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 and may not be brought directly to Chambers.
Page 4
|SecHand Deliveries
Communication ProtocolImportant

Urgent hand deliveries require notification to Chambers staff through Court Security Officers.

If the hand-delivered letter is urgent and requires the Court’s immediate attention, ask the Court Security Officers to notify Chambers that an urgent package has arrived that needs to be retrieved by Chambers staff immediately.

Letter Fax

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Prohibited
  • Description
    If the hand-delivered letter is urgent and requires the Court’s immediate attention, ask the Court Security Officers to notify Chambers that an urgent package has arrived that needs to be retrieved by Chambers staff immediately.
Page 4
|SecHand Deliveries
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Urgent submissions require phone and email notification to Chambers with specific information.

As a general matter, the Court reviews materials filed via ECF at the latest on the business day after they have been filed. If a submission requires immediate attention, please notify Chambers by telephone and by email after filing it on ECF. The email should include (1) the word “URGENT” in the subject line; (2) the case name and case number; (3) a brief description of the nature of the urgent issue; and (4) a telephone number at which the party (and any other relevant parties) can be reached.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Page 4
|SecUrgent Communications
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must communicate with Pro Se Intake Unit unless approved for ECF filing.

Unless a pro se party is approved for ECF filing pursuant to Paragraph 2(O), all communications with the Court by a pro se party must be sent to the Pro Se Intake Unit at the following mailing address: Pro Se Intake Unit Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States District Courthouse 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Intake Unit

Prohibited
  • Description
    Unless a pro se party is approved for ECF filing pursuant to Paragraph 2(O), all communications with the Court by a pro se party must be sent to the Pro Se Intake Unit at the following mailing address
Page 4
|SecCommunications by a Pro Se Party
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties cannot send documents directly to Chambers or copies of correspondence to Court.

No documents or court filings should be sent directly to Chambers. Copies of correspondence between a pro se party and opposing parties shall not be sent to the Court.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Prohibited
  • Description
    No documents or court filings should be sent directly to Chambers. Copies of correspondence between a pro se party and opposing parties shall not be sent to the Court.
Page 4
|SecCommunications by a Pro Se Party
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Pro se parties must contact Pro Se Intake Unit for questions, not the Court directly.

Any questions should be directed to the Pro Se Intake Unit at (212) 805-0175; pro se parties may not call the Court directly except as provided in Paragraph 1(E).

Phone

Direct to: Intake Unit

Prohibited
  • Description
    pro se parties may not call the Court directly except as provided in Paragraph 1(E)
Page 4
|SecCommunications by a Pro Se Party
Communication ProtocolNote

Pro se communications docketed upon receipt constitute service on ECF users.

Unless the Court orders otherwise, all communications with the Court by a pro se party will be docketed upon receipt; such docketing shall constitute service on any user of the ECF system.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
Service
Page 4
|SecCommunications by a Pro Se Party
Format RequirementMandatory

All ECF filings must be in text-searchable format.

All documents (e.g., motions, briefs, and letters) filed by parties on ECF must be in text-searchable format.

Required Format

PDF

Format RequirementImportant

Exhibits on ECF should be text-searchable when possible.

Exhibits filed on ECF should be in text-searchable format, where possible.

Applies When:Document Type Set Undefined
Required Format

PDF

Page or Word LimitMandatory

Memoranda of law have no page limits, but if parties can't agree, motions are limited to 25 pages and replies to 10 pages.

The Court does not impose page limitations on memoranda of law. The parties should agree upon reasonable page limits for principal briefs and reply briefs, exercising their sound judgment so as not to unnecessarily burden the Court. If parties are unable to agree, memoranda in support of and in opposition to motions are limited to 25 pages while reply memoranda are limited to 10 pages.

Document RequirementMandatory

Memoranda over 10 pages must include table of contents and table of authorities.

Memoranda of more than 10 pages shall contain a table of contents and table of authorities.

Document Type

Memorandum Of Law

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Table Of Authorities
Communication ProtocolNote

For large electronic files, email the Court to request a file transfer link, including case name, docket number, and file details.

N. Submission of Large Electronic Files. The Court has a file transfer protocol for the safe electronic transmission of large files. If a party needs to submit large files by email (as opposed to ECF), the party should email the Court (at LimanNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov) requesting a link to be used for such transfer. The email should include the name and docket number of the case and the nature and size of the materials to be submitted electronically.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Technical Issues
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    required
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Non-e-filing pro se parties must send all papers to the Pro Se Intake Unit at the Moynihan Courthouse.

In the event that a pro se party is not participating in e-filing, and notwithstanding anything in the foregoing Individual Practices to the contrary, all papers to be filed with the Court by a pro se party shall be sent to the Pro Se Intake Unit at the following mailing address: Pro Se Intake Unit Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States District Courthouse 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
Service
Communication ProtocolNote

Non-e-filing pro se parties may also deliver papers in person to the Pro Se Intake Unit at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse.

or delivered in person to the Pro Se Intake unit at the following physical address: Pro Se Intake Unit Thurgood Marshall United States District Courthouse, Room 105 40 Foley Square New York, NY 10007.

Hand Delivery

Direct to: Intake Unit

Approved Topics
Service
Communication ProtocolMandatory

TRO applications must be emailed to Chambers with specific requirements.

Parties intending to file applications for TROs or other emergency relief must send all of their papers (in text-searchable .pdf format) to Chambers by email. The email should also include (1) the word “URGENT” in the subject line; (2) a telephone number at which the party (and any other relevant parties) can be reached; and (3) the relevant parties’ available for a teleconference in the next few days.

Email

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Emergencies
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Hand delivery of documents requires advance permission.

As noted above, parties should not hand-deliver any documents without advance permission.

Hand Delivery

Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    advance_permission
Communication ProtocolMandatory

Civil conferences are held by telephone using specific conference line and ID.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, all conferences and proceedings in civil cases will be held by telephone. The parties should call the Court’s dedicated conference line at 646-453-4442 and enter the conference ID 358639322, followed by the pound (#) key.

Phone

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Communication ProtocolMandatory

All parties except pro se must notify others that conference is telephonic.

With the sole exception of pro se litigants, each party is responsible for ensuring that every other party is aware that the conference will proceed telephonically.

Phone

Direct to: Other Parties

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Prohibited
  • Status Inquiries
Communication ProtocolNote

Represented parties must notify pro se parties of conference changes; no notification required if all parties are pro se.

If there is a combination of represented and pro se parties, the represented parties shall take responsibility to notify any pro se parties. If all parties are pro se, there is no responsibility for any party to notify another.

Letter via ECF

Direct to: Chambers

Approved Topics
Scheduling
Requirements
  • Advance Notice Required
    two_business_days
Pre-Motion ProcedureMandatory

Discovery disputes require good faith meet-and-confer attempt before filing 3-page single-spaced letter-motion on ECF.

Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first attempt to confer in good faith with the opposing party, in person or by telephone, to try and resolve the dispute. If, after attempting to meet and confer, the dispute has not been resolved, any party may file a letter-motion on ECF, no longer than three single-spaced pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and the relief requested.

Pre-Motion Conference

A pre-motion conference is mandatory before filing. You must submit a letter first.

Letter Requirements

Status
Required
Max Length3 pgs
Page or Word LimitMandatory

Opposition to discovery letter-motion must be filed as letter not exceeding 3 single-spaced pages.

If the opposing party wishes to respond to the letter-motion, the opposition (which should take the form of a letter, not to exceed three single-spaced pages) must be filed

Document RequirementMandatory

Deposition excerpts offered as substantive evidence require a one-page synopsis with page citations.

Any deposition excerpts that will be offered as substantive evidence, as well as a one-page synopsis of those excerpts for each deposition. Each synopsis shall include page citations to the pertinent pages of the deposition transcripts;

Document Type

Deposition Excerpts

Content & Formatting
Page Citations
One Page Synopsis
Offered As Substantive Evidence
Page 14
|SecC. Additional Submissions in Non-Jury Cases