UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Eastern District of Virginia

ATTORNEY CIVIL CASE

OPENING INSTRUCTIONS

Attorney Civil Case Opening Instructions

Effective: November 1, 2018

Page 2

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………………...….3 Part 2: Case Opening Screen………………………………………………………………..4 Part 3: Selecting Proper Division……………………………………………………..….…5 Part 4: Entering Civil Case Statistical Information……………………………………...…6 Part 5: Adding Parties………………………………………………………………….…...7 Part 6: Participant Screen…………………………………………………………….……..8 Part 7: Functional Icons……………………………………………………………..……....9 Part 8: Docketing Lead Event……………………………………….…………….……10-11 Part 9: Filing Fee Information…………………………………………………….………..12 Part 10: Completing Your Transaction…………………………………………………….13

Attorney Civil Case Opening Instructions

Effective: November 1, 2018

Page 3

Part 1: Introduction

THINGS YOU NEED BEFORE YOU BEGIN Complaint Notice of Removal

1. Complaint in PDF 2. Civil Case Cover Sheet in PDF 3. Summons in PDF (if you want a summons issued)

1. Notice of Removal in PDF 2. Civil Case Cover Sheet in PDF 3. Copies of State Court Documents in PDF Format, particularly: Complaint, Summonses Served, Any Answers, Any Pending Motions, State Court Docket Sheet.

If you have opened a case incorrectly, do not open another case. Call the Help Desk and we will resolve any issues with the first case. The Clerk’s Office Operations Section Helpdesk is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of federal holidays or closures.

Division Helpdesk Contact Number Alexandria 703-299-2101 Norfolk/Newport News 757-222-7201 Richmond 804-916-2220 The civil event Civil Case (Attorney) should be used to file the following civil initiating documents:

Complaint Notices of Removal Petition for Confirmation of Arbitration Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus Petitions for Writ of Mandamus Miscellaneous Cases (e.g., motion to compel or quash a subpoena from another district

court).

Exemptions: Civil initiating documents exempted from electronic submission and to be filed traditionally on paper are:

Cases filed by a pro se litigant Ship Attachment cases Qui tam cases Cases to be filed under seal Receivership cases Registrations of Foreign Judgment Bankruptcy Appeal Cases transferred in from another district

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