UnderstandingtheDecember2016Revisions(aswellassomeofthemoveoverlookedprovisions)totheLocalRulesoftheSouthernDistrictofFlorida

RobertH.Thornburg

DyerCourthouseinMiami:Builtin1931Architect:PhineasPaist

FergusonCourthouseinMiami:Builtin2007

SouthernDistrictofFlorida:FoundedonFebruary23,1847

Note:Nextmonthmarksthe170thanniversaryoftheSouthernDistrictofFlorida–Makesureyoucelebrate!

•  Original“UnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheDistrictofFlorida”wascreatedbyCongressonthesamedaythatFloridawasadmiQedasastate–March3,1845.See5Stat.788.

•  OnFebruary23,1847,theDistrictwassubdivided

intotheNorthernandSouthernDistricts,by9Stat.131,baseduponthefollowingboundaries:

•  [T]hatpartoftheStateofFloridalyingsouthofalinedrawndueeastandwestfromthenorthernpointofCharloQeHarbor,includingtheislands,keys,reefs,shoals,harbors,baysandinlets,southofsaidline,shallbeerectedintoanewjudicialdistrict,tobecalledtheSouthernDistrictofFlorida;aDistrictCourtshallbeheldinsaidSouthernDistrict,toconsistofonejudge,whoshallresideatKeyWest,insaiddistrict...

U.S.Courthouse(Completed1891–TransferredtoNavyin1932)

CurrentCourthouseat301SimontonSt.(completedin1932)

319MilesofJudicialAwesomeness:FromSebasPanInlettoKeyWest

9Coun`esServed:Broward,Highlands,IndianRiver,Mar`n,Miami-Dade,Monroe,Okeechobee,PalmBeach,andSt.LucieCoun`es.

18CurrentSeats(lastseatestablishedin2002)(24-ifoldseatsarecounted)Note:MiddleDistrictofFloridawascreatedfromaporPonoftheNorthernDistrictonJuly30,1962.WhatisnowtheTampaDivisionandtheOrlandoDivisionwaspartoftheSouthernDistrictofFlorida(i.e.,Seat6–GeorgeC.Young).Note:RobinRosenbergisdedicatedtoFortPierceDivision,butGonzalezalsohearscasestherenow.Note:Moore,MarPnez,andKinghearcasesinKeyWestDivision.Note:Currentlythereistwovacancies:Seat9(whenRobinRosenbaumwasappointedto11thCircuitonJune2,2014)andSeat24(CohnhastakenseniorstatusasofAug.5,2016)Note:SeniorStatus(acPve)includesKing,Graham,Hurley,Gold,Seitz,HuckandCohn.Note:Hoeveler,Ryskamp,andGoldallnowinacPveasofJan2017(butnotJ.LawrenceKingwhoisnow89yearsyoung).

Note:L.R.3.1providesthat“[a]cPonsandproceedingsshallbetriedintheircountryoforigin,exceptthatHighlands,IndianRiver,MarPn,Okechobee,andSt.LucieCountyAcPons....ShallbetriedinFortPierce”Division.

TheDistricthasFiveCityLocaPons(SevenAcPveCourthouses)

Note:Ft.Pierce,W.PalmBeach,FtLauderdale&Miamihaveclerksofcourts(noclerkinKeyWest)

AltoLeeAdamsCourthouse(FortPierce)

C.ClydeAtkinsCourthouse(Miami)LawrenceKingCourthouse(Miami)AronovitzCourthouse(KeyWest)

PaulG.RogersCourthouse(WestPalm) FederalBuilding(Ft.Lauderdale)

StatusoftheDyerBuilding

StatusoftheDyerBuilding

StatusoftheDyerBuilding

12Mon.PeriodEndingSept.30,2016

Source:hQp://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/data_tables/fcms_na_distcomparison0930.2016.pdf

• 

QualificaPonsforAdmission:

SpecialRules1-3SpecialRule1:“AnajorneyisqualifiedforadmissiontothebarofthisDistrictiftheajorneyiscurrentlyamemberingoodstandingoftheFloridaBar.SpecialRule2:“EachapplicaPonforadmissionshallsubmitaverifiedpePPonselngforththeinformaPonspecificontheformavailableontheCourt’swebsitetogetherwithanapplicaPonfeeintheamountsetbytheCourt.”January2017Fee:$206.00

SpecialRule3:Ajorneysmustpayrenewalfeeeveryotheryear.“AjorneyswhoarenotingoodstandingofthebarofthisCourtmaynotpracPcebeforetheCourt.”RenewalFee:CurrentlySuspended(was$25)SpecialRule4:“onlymembersofthebarofthisCourtmayappearasajorneysintheCourtsofthisDistrict.AjorneysresidingandpracPcingwithinthisDistrictareexpectedtobemembersofthebarofthisCourt”Note:IfyouareamemberoftheFloridaBar,youcannotseekprohacadmission(whichcurrentlycosts$75.00toapplyfor)

AjorneyAppearance:MustbeTimelyMustFileNo`ceofAppearanceBeforeAnyHearing:L.R.11.1(d)(2):“AnyajorneyrepresenPngawitnessinanycivilacPon...shallfileanoPceofappearance...WiththeClerkofCourt...exceptthatthenoPceneednotbefiledwhensuchappearancehaspreviouslybeenevidencedbythefilingofapleadingintheacPonorproceeding.ThenoPceshallbefiledbytheajorneypromptlyuponundertakingtherepresenta:onandpriortotheajorney’sappearanceonbehalfoftheajorney’sclientatanyhearing...”Note1:Thisisajorneyspecificnotlawfirmspecific.IfthereisamoPonforpreliminaryinjuncPon,etc–makesureyoufileaPmelynoPce.Note2:ThisrequiresonetofileanoPceofappearancebeforesilnginadeposiPon(confirmedinspeakingwithClerkofCourt)

ContemptofCourtifnotamemberoftheSouthernDistrict:L.R.11.1(b):“AnypersonwhobeforehisorheradmissiontotheBarofthisCourt...exercisesinthisDistrictinanyacPonorproceedingpendinginthiscourt...maybefoundguiltyofcontemptofCourt.Note:ThismoPvatesanyajorneywhoisassisPnginanycaseheretobecomeamember–as“exercises”isverybroad-otherwise,thereisariskofacontemptproceeding.Thisincludespatentprosecutorshelpingwithinvalidity/infringement.

AjorneyAppearance:MustbeTimelyOn-linemembershipLook-up:hQp://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/website/aQyadm/barlookup.asp

ContemptofCourtifnotamemberoftheSouthernDistrict:L.R.11.1(b):“AnypersonwhobeforehisorheradmissiontotheBarofthisCourt...exercisesinthisDistrictinanyacPonorproceedingpendinginthiscourt...maybefoundguiltyofcontemptofCourt.Note:ThismoPvatesanyajorneywhoisassisPnginanycaseheretobecomeamember–as“exercises”isverybroad-otherwise,thereisariskofacontemptproceeding.Thisincludespatentprosecutorshelpingwithinvalidity/infringement.

On-lineFilingofComplaints:Wewillletyousue7daysaweekbabyL.R.5.1(b):“...alldocumentsrequiredtobeservedshallbefiledincompliancewiththeCM/ECFAdministraPveProcedures...”CM/ECFAdmin.Rule8A:PursuanttoAdministraPveOrder2009-36,asofApril5,2010,ajorneysauthorizedtoelectronicallyfileintheCM/ECFsystemmustelectronicallyfilenewcivilcomplaintsorothercivilcaseiniPaPngdocumentsviatheCM/ECFsystem.”Note:ThisincludestheCivilCoversheetandsummons.

CM/ECFAdmin.Rule8C:“Thefilingfeesfornewcivilcomplaints...arefiledelectronicallybyUsers...using‘Pay.gov”,asecuregovernmentwidecollecPonportal.”Note:ThisisimportanttojurisdicPonunderthe“FirsttoFileRule”asMiamialwayswinsagainstcourtsthatsPllrequiretradiPonalfilingofComplaints.

WeProtectOurOwnandWeDon’tLetBigFirmsBeatUpontheHomeTeam

AQorneyPreserva`onRule:CM/ECFRule2B.11.1(g):“AnyajorneywhohasbeenpermijedtoappearprohacvicewillnotbepermijedtoregisterasaUSERinthisDistrict,butmayaccesstheelectronicrecordthroughthePASERSystem...[a]lldocuments,includingthemoPontoappearprohacvice,mustbefiledelectronicallythroughtheirlocalcounsel[.]”Note:ThisisabuiltinFloridapreservaPonsystem.Italsoraisestheethicalrequirementsthatyoureadeverythingyourco-counselpreparedbeforeyoufile(andputyoursignatureonit).Lesson?Onlyagreetoco-counselifyourespectyourco-counsel’slegalposiPonandreputaPon.Note:Onlycosts$206.00tobecomemember(solongasyouareingoodstandingwiththeFloridaBar).

7DayUpdateRuleastoContact:L.R.11.1(g):EachmemberoftheSouthernDistrictofFloridaBarmustinformthecourtwithinsevendaysofanychangestocontactinformaPon(failuretodosomayresultinrelieffromdeadlinesbyotherside,etc).BigFirmCannotBeatMeUpRule:L.R.11.1(d)(7):“notmorethantwo(2)ajorneysonsearchsideshallarguethemeritsoftheacPonorproceedingunlesstheCourtshallotherwisepermit”

ItsMiamisowealsoprotectyourCocaineandFirearms(andjewelry)

CocaineProtec`onRuleL.R.5.3(b):“...allexhibitsreceivedorofferedinevidenceatanyhearingshallbedeliveredtotheClerkoftheCourt,whoshallkeepthemintheClerkofCourt’spossession,exceptthatanynarco:cs,cash,counterfeitnotes,weapons,preciousstonesreceived,includingbutnotlimitedtootherexhibitswhich,becauseofsizeornature,requirespecialhandling,shallremaininpossessionofthepartyintroducingsameduringpendencyoftheproceedingandanyappeal.NothingcontainedinthisLocalRuleshallpreventtheCourtfromenteringanorderwithrespecttothehandlingorstorageofanyexhibit.TheClerkoftheCourtshallpermitUnitedStatesMagistrateJudgesandofficialcourtreporterstohavecustodyofexhibitsasmaybenecessary.”

Reasoning:Note:thisisofspecialimportanceforcasesinvolvingknives,firearms,Tasers,etc.Note:“custodyofexhibitsasmaybenecessary”forofficialcourtreportersimpliesthattheycantakepossessionifanitemispresentedatdeposiPon/hearing.

Thatsaid,weareabitskilshaboutcopyrightclaimsinvolvingporn...

CM/ECFAdminProceduresSecPon6E–FilingofMaterials,IncludingImages,InappropriateforDisplayorDistribuPontothePublic,IncludingMinors“UsersshallnotelectronicallyfilematerialswhichwouldotherwisebeinappropriatefordisplayordistribuPontothepublic...throughPACERortheCM/ECFSystem.”“Theseinappropriatematerialsincludeimages(nottextualdescripPons)depicPngsexualactsorexcretoryactsthatcouldbedescribedaspornographyorindecentorvulgarevenifnotlegallyobscene”

Note:inappropriatematerialscanbefiledelectronicallyiftheimagesareredactedandtheimageisdescribedinwordsNote:DocumentswithinappropriatematerialscanbefiledconvenPonallyaslongasitisdoneunderseal–  “CounselandparPesarecauPonedthat

failuretoprotectsuchimagesfrompublicdisseminaPon,whichincludesminors,maysubjectthemtothedisciplinaryauthorityoftheCourt.”

TheDavidSigalow’sClientProtec`onRule:

AsofDec.2016:EmailServiceOnly(withoutNeedforSPpulaPon)

FederalRule5(a)(1)(D):“Unlesstheserulesprovideotherwise,eachofthefollowingpapersmustbeservedoneveryparty....adiscoverypaperrequiredtobeservedonaparty,unlessthecourtordersotherwise[.]”

(New)L.R.5.1(e):“ServiceofpapersrequiredtobeservedpursuanttoFed.R.Civ.P.5(a)...butnotfiled,suchasdiscoveryrequests,maybemadeviaemailtotheaddressdesignatedbyanajorneyforreceiptofnoPcesofelectronicfilings.Point1:ThisbasicallyremovedtheneedtoservewrijendiscoveryviaemailandU.S.Mail–asopposingcounselneednotreachsPpulaPonastoe-mailserviceastradiPonallyrequired.Point2:NomoretrickswhenaddressingcounselinmulPoffices(i.e.,servetheADDMGMiamiOfficewhenleadtrialcounselisinOrlando).

AsofDec.2016:NewDiscoveryDeadlines(nomailingdays)

ResponsesinOpposi`on(20pg):14Days(ifservedviaCM/ECForhand-delivery):CountstarPngthedayauerthefiling.IflastdaysfallsonSaturday,Sundayorlegalholiday–responsedueonthenextbusinessday.17Days(ifbyMail):IfthemoPon/memorandaisservedonlyviamail(likelyineventofproseparty),thenitseffecPvely17days.Courtthedayitwasmailed,thenadd14days,then3mailingdays,andresponseisdue(unlessitfallsonaSat.,Sun.orlegalholiday).Note:WatchforFriday11:59pmfilingsunderthisscenario–asitaffordsonlyten(10)businessdaysforresponse.

ReplyBriefs(automa`c)(10pg):7Days(ifservedviaCM/ECForhand-delivery):CountstarPngthedayauerthefiling.IflastdaysfallsonSaturday,Sundayorlegalholiday–responsedueonthenextbusinessday.10Days:IfthemoPon/memorandaisservedonlyviamail(likelyineventofproseparty),thenitseffecPvely17days.Courtthedayitwasmailed,thenadd14days,then3mailingdays,andresponseisdue(unlessitfallsonaSat.,Sun.orlegalholiday).Note:Theseshortdeadlinesdobenefitbigfirms/biggerliPgaPonpracPces.

AsofDec.2016:Rule26.1(g)(1)WaiverofDiscoveryMoPonPracPce

30DayWaiverRule:

L.R.26.1(g)(1): “Alldisputes relaPngto discovery shall be president to theCourtbymoPon. . .Withinthirty(30)daysfromthe(a)originalduedate...of the response or objecPon to thediscovery request . . . (b) date of thedeposiPon inwhich thedisputearose,or (c) date on which a party firstlearnedoforshouldhavelearnedofapurported deficiency concerning theproducPonofdiscoverymaterials.”Note:Beforethe30daysbeganrunningaueranimpasseofameetandconfer–nowitsjustresponse/objecPondate.

TimetableforNo`cingofDeposi`onsL.R.26.1(g):“ApartydesiringtotakethedeposiPonwithinFloridaofanypersonuponoralexaminaPonshallgiveatleastseven(7)daysnoPceinwriPngtoeveryotherpartytotheacPonandtothedeponent(ifthedeposiPonisnotofaparty).”Note:Ifdeponentisoutofstate(ie,outsideofFlorida),reasonablenoPceisfourteen(14)daysnoPceinwriPngperabove.Caveat–IntroductoryStateoftheLocalRules:“counselwillseektoaccommodatetheirfellowpracPPoners,includinginmajersofscheduling,wheneverreasonablypossibleandthatcounselwillworktoeliminatedisputesbyreasonableagreementtothefullestextentpermijedbytheboundsofzealousrepresentaPonandethicalpracPce.”Note:Absentcaveat,possibletosuggestcompliancewith26.1(g)basedupon11:59pmFridaynoPce,fordeposiPonfollowingFriday.

RulesforFiling(underCM/ECF)MaterialsunderSeal

IfEn`reCaseUnderSeal:

•  CM/ECFAdminProceduresSecPon5A–Casesfiledunderseal–  “IftheenPrecivilcaseis

sealed,theiniPalcomplaintorotheriniPalingdocumentaswellassubsequentsealedfilingsmustconPnuetobefiledconvenPonally.”

–  “DocumentsfiledundersealwillnotbeavailableforinspecPonbycaseparPcipantsorthepublic.LiPgantsmustserveanoPceoffilinguponallotherparPesbyconvenPonalmeansandmustfilesuchnoPcewiththesealeddocument”

ForRegularFilingsUnderSeal:•  Rule5.4(b)(1)–seekingtomakeafiling

underseal•  amoPontosealmust

–  befiledelectronically–  “setforththefactualandlegalbasisfor

deparPngfromthepolicythatCourtfilingsbepublic”

–  “describetheproposedsealedfilingwithasmuchparPcularityaspossiblewithoutrevealingconfidenPalinformaPon”

–  “specifytheproposedduraPonoftherequestedsealing”

•  theproposedsealedfilingmust–  “befiledelectronicallyasasealeddocument

inCM/ECFusingeventsspecificallyearmarkedforsealedcivilfilingsasdescribedindetailinSecPon9oftheCM/ECFAdministraPveProcedures”Seesec2on9below

•  “filermustcompleteanyrequiredserviceofthesealeddocument(s)convenPonally,indicaPngthecorrespondingdocumentnumberofthesealeddocument(s)”

RulesforFiling(underCM/ECF)MaterialsunderSeal

IfCourtDeniesMo`ontoSeal:

Rule5.4(d)(1)–Courtrulingsonsealedfilings

–  “IftheCourtdeniesthemoPontoseal,theproposedsealedfilingshallnotbepublicandshallbedeletedfromthedocketbytheClerk’sOffice”

ForRegularFilingsUnderSeal:•  Rule5.4(b)(1)–seekingtomakeafiling

underseal•  amoPontosealmust

–  befiledelectronically–  “setforththefactualandlegalbasisfor

deparPngfromthepolicythatCourtfilingsbepublic”

–  “describetheproposedsealedfilingwithasmuchparPcularityaspossiblewithoutrevealingconfidenPalinformaPon”

–  “specifytheproposedduraPonoftherequestedsealing”

•  theproposedsealedfilingmust–  “befiledelectronicallyasasealeddocument

inCM/ECFusingeventsspecificallyearmarkedforsealedcivilfilingsasdescribedindetailinSecPon9oftheCM/ECFAdministraPveProcedures”Seesec2on9below

•  “filermustcompleteanyrequiredserviceofthesealeddocument(s)convenPonally,indicaPngthecorrespondingdocumentnumberofthesealeddocument(s)”

RulesforFiling(underCM/ECF)MaterialsunderSeal

•  CM/ECFAdminProceduresSecPon9A–ElectronicFilingofMoPonstoSeal

andProposedOrders–  Ifacaseisotherwiseopentothepublic,sealedfilesmustbesubmijedelectronically

•  “AjorneysauthorizedtofileelectronicallyintheCM/ECFsystemmustfilesealeddocumentsincasesotherwiseopentothepublicandcivilexpartemajers”

–  MoPonstosealandproposedordermustbeuploadedusingthe“MoPontoSeal”(public)eventandnoPficaPonswillbesenttoCM/ECFusers,convenPonalservicemustbeprovidedtonon-ECFusers•  “AjorneysmustuploadmoPonstosealandtheproposedorderviaCM/ECFusingthe“MoPon

toSeal”(public)event.NoPcesofElectronicFilingwillbesenttoCM/ECFusers.AjornyesmustconPnuetoprovideservicetoproseparPesandothernon-ECFusers.”

–  IfthemoPontosealisdenied,theCourtmaydeletethematerialfromthedocket.•  “IfthemoPontosealisdenied,theClerk’sOfficewillprocessthemajerasdirectedbythe

Court(e.g.,replacetheimageoftheproposedsealedfilingwithanimageindicaPngthedocumenthasbeenreplacedpursuanttoCourtorderdenyingthemoPontoseal).”

–  IfyouwouldlikeforthemoPontosealbe“underseal”anaddiPonalrequesttosealthemoPontosealmustbefiled•  “AjorneysrequesPngtofileamoPontosealsuchthatthemoPonitselfwillbe“underseal”

mustfiletherequestasamoPontosealandtheproposedmoPontoseal(whichwillitselfbesealed)mustbefiledasaproposedsealeddocumentasinstructedbelow.”

RulesforFiling(underCM/ECF)MaterialsunderSeal

•  CM/ECFAdminProceduresSecPon9A–ProposedSealedFilingsandSubsequentSealedDocuments–  ThesealedfilingsmustbefiledseparatelyfromthemoPontosealunder

“SealedDocument”eventsinCM/ECF•  “Ajorneysmustfileelectronicallyproposedsealedfilingsseparatefromthe

moPontoseal(whichispublicrecord),using“SealedMoPonorSealedDocument”eventsinCM/ECF.”

–  Youmustindicatetheauthorityunderwhichsealeddocumentsarebeingfiled,aswellasthedateanddocketentrynumberoftheorder.•  “Whenuploadingsealeddocuments,ajorneysmustindicatetheauthority

underwhichthedocumentsarebeingfiledunderseal(e.g.,LocalRule5.4(b),sealedperpreviouslyenteredprotecPveorder,orotherCourtorder),andthedateanddocketentrynumberofanyapplicableorder.”

–  “AjorneyswillnothaveaccesstotheirsealedfilingsviaPACER”–  “Ajorneysmustcompleteanyrequiredserviceofasealeddocument

convenPonally,indicaPngthecorrespondingdocketentrynumberofthesealeddocument.”

THANKYOU