Hood County District Court, Texas Filing Timing and Cure Windows

CRITICAL

In civil cases other than family law cases, plaintiff and defense attorneys must complete and file the Joint Case Questionnaire within 30 days after the defendant’s answer date, or service if no answer is filed; failure results in placement on the dismissal docket.

In all civil cases (except family law cases), attorneys for plaintiff and defendant shall complete and file with the Court a Joint Case Questionnaire (Appendix "B") within 30 days following answer date for defendant or service on defendant if no answer is filed. Failure to file the Joint Case Questionnaire within such time will result in the placement of the case on the Court' s dismissal docket.

CRITICAL

An attorney challenging expert testimony under Daubert must contact the Court Coordinator and request a hearing to be set at least 10 days before trial.

5.6 Any attorney challenging the admissibility of expert witness testimony under Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its progeny shall contact the Court Coordinator and request a hearing thereon to be set at least ten ( 10) days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

If no pretrial hearing is held in a civil jury trial, the written submissions are due seven days before trial.

In all civil jury trial cases, anticipated special questions, definitions and instruction shall be submitted to the Court in writing at the pretrial hearing, or if there is no pretrial hearing, seven (7) days prior to the beginning of the trial, with copies to opposing counsel or pro se parties.

CRITICAL

Responsible counsel must submit orders, decrees, and judgments within 30 days of the decision or settlement announcement, except temporary orders, which are due within 15 days after decision.

All orders, decrees and judgments shall be submitted to the Court by the responsible attorney for entry within thirty (30) days from the date of announcement of the Court's decision or announcement of settlement by counsel, except temporary orders, which shall be submitted to the court within fifteen (15) days after decision.

CRITICAL

If a final judgment order or decree is not furnished within 30 days, the case will be placed on a dismissal docket and may be dismissed, with costs potentially taxed at the Court’s discretion.

Upon failure to furnish the Court with a final judgment order or decree disposing of the case within the thirty (30) day period set forth above, the Court shall place the case on a dismissal docket, with notice to all attorneys, whereupon the case may be dismissed and costs may be taxed at the Court' s discretion.

CRITICAL

The completed questionnaire must be filed by the date specified in the form; otherwise, the case will be placed on the dismissal docket.

The completed questionnaire must be filed with the Court by or the case will be placed on the Court's DISMISSAL DOCKET.

WARNING

A proposed judgment, decree, or order may be presented with a request for signature if the Court receives no written objection from opposing counsel within 10 days of the letter.

Present the Court with the proposed judgment, decree or order, together with a letter requesting the Court to sign the same if the Court has not received a written objection from opposing counsel within ten (10) days from the date of the letter.