Common Pleas Court Judges

COUNSEL AND LITIGANTS SHOULD VISIT THIS PAGE FROM TIME TO TIME FOR UPDATES.

Attorneys and pro se litigants are expected to be familiar with this Court’s litigation preferences and requirements. They are also expected to be familiar with the Local Rules as well as the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.

Attorneys should be prepared to discuss settlement at the earliest opportunity. Mediation and arbitration will be used in cases where appropriate. Court endeavors to resolve cases within one year of filing, absent extraordinary circumstances.

Pro se litigants are, by law, presumed to know the law and correct procedure (and must accept the results of their errors).

Counsel moving for default judgment is to send notice to the defendant at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the default hearing. Notice may be sent via certified or regular U.S. mail. Failure to send the appropriate notice letter will result in denial of the Motion.

Attorneys are to be present in person at case management conferences. All named parties are to be present, in person, along with counsel at all settlement conferences, pretrials, and on the day of trial. Telephone appearance is not permitted for any reason, regardless of whether or not a party resides out of state.

Please direct calls relating to scheduling, motions, and deadlines to the Judge's Staff Attorney. Motions in Limine and stipulations should be in writing filed seven days prior to trial. Courtesy copies to be delivered to the Court upon filing. Reply and surreply briefs are allowed with leave of court. Any party filing a motion electronically that is more than ten (10) pages in length, is to additionally forward a time-stamped copy of that motion to the Court immediately upon filing.

This court sets a paper discovery cut-off date. All parties must have completed admissions interrogatories and production of documents by this date. Dates are not set for IME's, other examinations and depositions.

Conference: All parties with settlement authority must be present at the settlement conference and the final pretrial. Failure of plaintiff to appear shall result in dismissal of his case with prejudice pursuant to Civil Rule 41(b). Failure of defendant to appear may result in a default judgment or judgment being rendered. This court holds a settlement conference after the close of paper discovery. All parties with settlement authority must be present, including adjusters.

Discovery deadlines may be extended by motion as long as such extensions do not hinder the current scheduled trial date.

The trial date set shall be set without any known trial conflicts at the case management conference. Continuances of the trial date are a rarity. All motions in limine, exhibit lists, witness lists, and proposed jury instructions shall be filed and walked up to the judge's chambers seven days prior to trial. Adjusters to be present on trial date for settlement purposes.