Source: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/supctmanh/news_&_announcements.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-09-18 17:58:27
Document Index: 415259972

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News & Announcements | NYCOURTS.GOV
1st JD - Supreme Court, Civil Branch, NY County
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Conferences & Case Management
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FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & INFORMAL NOTICES OF INTEREST
REDEDICATION OF THE “TOMBS ANGEL” FRAGMENT
The Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, the New York City Public Design Commission, the Municipal Art Society, the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and the Historical Society of the New York State Courts will rededicate the surviving portion of the 1904 monument honoring Rebecca Salome Foster (1848-1902), the “Tombs Angel,” on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 1:00 PM in the Rotunda of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street. The monument was created to honor the memory and work of Mrs. Foster, who for many years labored daily as a volunteer to help those, especially the young and vulnerable, who were incarcerated in the original Tombs Prison.
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISMISSAL
The Civil Term of New York State Supreme Court, New York County, will calendar for administrative dismissal actions commenced prior to January 1, 2017 where no activity has been reported after August 1, 2018, and no future date has been scheduled for a court appearance. The calendar will take place as follows:
Please review this link for cases that will be calendared if no response is received as outlined below: Blockbuster32219.pdf
Parties who seek and/or agree to have their case remain active, must complete a Notice of Intent to prosecute/defend or a stipulation agreeing to proceed with the case and a future appearance date will be scheduled by the court. If either of the aforementioned documents are filed prior to March 18, 2019, counsel do not have to appear. Please E-TRACK your case for notification of a future appearance date in the appropriate part.
The failure to appear or to file a Notice of Intent or a stipulation shall result in the administrative dismissal of the action pursuant to Uniform Rule 202.27. Counsel may restore the case by motion filed within one year of the date of dismissal.
NEW JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND REASSIGNMENTS
At the end of 2018, three long-serving Justices of the court retired: Hon. Eileen Bransten, Commercial Division Part 3, Hon. Charles E. Ramos, Commercial Division Part 53, and Hon. Laura Visitacion-Lewis, Part 26. Early in 2019, Hon. Carmen V. St. George, Part 34, will transfer to another judicial district.
Justice Joel M. Cohen, formerly assigned to Part 45, has been assigned to succeed Justice Bransten in Commercial Division Part 3. Justice Cohen’s courtroom is Room 222 at 60 Centre Street, and the Part’s phone number is 646-386-4242. Justice Cohen’s Chambers are located in Room 570 at 60 Centre Street, with the phone number unchanged at 646-386-4927. Part 3 will be an e-filing Paperless Part; working copies of documents e-filed with the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (“NYSCEF”) should not be submitted unless the Part requests them in a particular matter. The inventory previously assigned to Justice Cohen in Part 45 will remain assigned to him and will be transferred to Part 3.
Justice Andrew Borrok, formerly assigned to Part 57, has been assigned to succeed Justice Ramos in Commercial Division Part 53. Justice Borrok’s courtroom is Room 238 at 60 Centre Street, the previous courtroom for this Part, and the Part’s phone number is 646-386-3657. As of February 11, 2019, Justice Borrok’s Chambers will be located in Room 659 at 60 Centre Street, with the phone number unchanged at 646-386-4203. Part 53 will be an e-filing Paperless Part. The inventory previously assigned to Justice Borrok in Part 57 will remain assigned to him and will be transferred to Part 53.
Justices Bransten and Ramos will remain with the court as Judicial Hearing Officers. Justice Bransten is assigned to Part 94 which is located in Room 637 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3184). Justice Ramos will be assigned to Part 95 and will be located in Room 564 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3229).
Hon. Mary V. Rosado has been assigned to this court. Justice Rosado will take over Part 26 and will handle a portion of Justice Visitacion-Lewis’s inventory. The former inventory of Part 26 will also be reassigned to Justice Kelly O’Neill Levy (Part 19) and Justice Tanya R. Kennedy (Part 63). The courtroom for Part 26 will be Room 731 at 111 Centre Street, with the Part’s phone number remaining unchanged at 646-386-3308. Justice Rosado’s Chambers will be in Room 541 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3196).
Hon. Alan C. Marin has been assigned to this court. Justice Marin will be assigned to Part 34, previously presided over by Justice St. George. Part 34 will remain in Room 308 at 80 Centre Street, with the phone number unchanged at 646-386-4370. Justice Marin’s Chambers will be Room 308 at 80 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-4613).
Justice Arthur F. Engoron’s Part, Part 37, is now an IAS General Assignment Part. The Part 37 courtroom is located in Room 418 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3222). Justice Engoron’s Chambers will remain unchanged at Room 566 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3181). Part 37 remains an e-filing Paperless Part.
Justice Alexander M. Tisch, formerly assigned to City Part 52, has been reassigned to a new IAS General Assignment Part 18. The inventory of this Part consists of various cases that will be reassigned to this Part from other Parts. The Part 18 courtroom is located in Room 623 at 111 Centre Street (phone number 646-386-3472). Justice Tisch’s Chambers will be located in Room 326 at 111 Centre Street and the phone is 646-386-3968.
Hon. Louis L. Nock has been assigned to this court. Justice Nock will be assigned to a new IAS General Assignment Part 38. The inventory of this Part will comprise several groups of cases that will be transferred from other inventories. Part 38 will be located in Room 1166 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3235). Justice Nock’s Chambers will be located in Room 563 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3206).
Hon. Francis A. Kahn, III has been assigned to this court. Justice Kahn is assigned to IAS General Assignment Part 14. The inventory of this Part comprises several groups of cases that will be transferred from other inventories. Part 14 is located in Room 1045 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3219). Justice Kahn’s Chambers are located in Room 532 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3081).
Hon. Lyle E. Frank has been assigned to this court. Justice Frank is assigned to City Part 52, formerly assigned to Justice Tisch. Part 52 will continue to be located in Room 289 at 80 Centre Street, with the phone unchanged at 646-386-3742. Justice Frank’s Chambers are located in Room 289 at 80 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3112).
Hon. Julio Rodriguez III has been assigned to this court. Justice Rodriguez is assigned to City Part 62, which shall be a new City Part. The inventory of this Part consists of City cases that will be transferred from other City inventories. Part 62 is located in Room 122 at 80 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3274). Justice Rodriguez’s Chambers are located in Room 122 at 80 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3191).
The courtroom of Justice Lori S. Sattler (Part 9) is changed to Room 355 at 60 Centre Street Her phone is unchanged (646-386-3848). Justice Sattler will maintain her matrimonial inventory. She will also take on the tax certiorari inventory
In addition, changes in room assignments (but not inventory assignments) of various Justices are as follows.
The Chambers of Justice Arlene P. Bluth (Part 32) are now located in Room 521 at 60 Centre Street. Her phone number is unchanged (646-386-5725).
As of January 25, 2019, the Chambers of Justice O. Peter Sherwood will be located in Room 555 at 60 Centre Street. His phone number will be unchanged (646-386-3807).
The courtroom of Justice Manuel J. Mendez (Part 13) has changed to Room 442 at 60 Centre Street, with the Part’s phone number unchanged at 646-386-3736. Justice Mendez’s Chambers are now located in Room 669 at 60 Centre Street, with the phone unchanged at 646-386-5705.
The courtroom of Justice Robert R. Reed (Part 43) has changed to Room 412 at 60 Centre Street, with the Part’s phone number unchanged at 646-386-3238. Justice Reed’s Chambers are now located in Room 691 at 60 Centre Street, with the phone unchanged at 646-386-3026.
The courtroom of Justice Douglas E. Hoffman (Part 44) has changed to Room 210 at 71 Thomas Street, with the Part’s phone number unchanged at 646-386-3370. Justice Hoffman’s Chambers are now located in Room 209 at 71 Thomas Street, with the phone unchanged at 646-386-4807.
The courtroom of Justice James d’Auguste (Part 55) has changed to Room 684 at 111 Centre Street, with the Part’s phone number unchanged at 646-386-3289. Justice d’Auguste’s Chambers are now located in Room 934 at 111 Centre Street, with the phone unchanged at 646-386-5698.
The following Judicial Hearing Officers are located in the rooms indicated.
Hon. Philip Straniere (Part 99) is located in Room 528 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3950).
Hon. Charles Thomas (Part 93) is located in Room 562 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3326). As of February 11, 2019, he will be located in Room 517, with the phone number unchanged.
Hon. Renee Roth (Part 92) is located in Room 515 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5034).
Cases affected by the foregoing changes are being reassigned in the court’s case history computer system, and changes of room assignments are being effectuated, in as expeditious a manner as is possible.
Motion and conference appearances previously scheduled in cases that had been assigned to Justices Bransten, Ramos, St. George, Tisch and Visitacion-Lewis will remain in effect unless the Justice in question directs otherwise.
Information on cases in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, including assignments and scheduled appearance dates, is available in the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (Scroll), an application that is accessible at no charge on the court’s website at the “Case Information” link at the following address:
www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh
Counsel are advised to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service. E-Track allows counsel to list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well. E-Track provides notification by e-mail of all appearances and adjournments in covered cases that are recorded in the court’s electronic case history program, as well as other developments, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to the following address: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
There is no charge for the E-Track service.
Additional information will be added to this notice in coming weeks if it becomes available. Counsel are advised to follow this notice.
RULES FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION PART – 2018
Proceedings brought by Orders to Show Cause to validate or to invalidate designating petitions for the Thursday, September 13, 2018 State and Local Offices Primary Election, required to be commenced on or before Thursday, July 26, 2018, or within three (3) business days after a petition is invalidated by the Board of Elections in the City of New York, shall be initially returnable before the Honorable Carol R. Edmead, Justice of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., in IA Part 35, Courtroom 438, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. The calendar call must be answered either by counsel or by the self-represented litigant(s) if not represented by an attorney, who must be ready for assignment on the return date. Non-lawyer "Representatives" of the parties are not permitted to answer the calendar. The parties must comply with the filing requirements of CPLR 304.
On the return date, all counsel and parties appearing self-represented shall advise either the Clerk of the Part, or the Special Referee, of their addresses and telephone numbers. Proof of Service of the Order to Show Cause, as well as any interposed Counterclaims or Answers, shall be filed either with the Clerk of the Part or the Special Referee (not the County Clerk) on that date.
Specifications of objections to a designating or a nominating petition previously served and filed, pursuant to the Rules of the Board of Elections, need not be filed with the Clerk of the Part.
Specifications of objections not previously served and filed with the Board of Elections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday August 1, 2018. Failure to serve and file any such specifications of objections shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of such specifications shall be precluded.
In any proceeding by an aggrieved candidate to invalidate a designating or nominating petition, a bill of particulars as to the specifications of objections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Failure to serve and file a bill of particulars shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of the specifications shall be precluded.
In any proceeding or matter alleging a question of residency of a candidate, a complete written offer of proof shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part or the Special Referee on the return date. The written offer of proof shall specify: [I] the reasons the petitioner believes the address where the candidate actually resides, or that the candidate does not reside at the address stated in the designating/nominating petition; and [ii] the names of any witnesses which the party intends to call to testify regarding the residency issue. Failure to serve and file this offer of proof shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of residency shall be precluded.
A complete written offer of proof, in all matters alleging a question of fraud, including a statement as to the number of witnesses expected to be called, the identification of each such witness (by name, address, volume, page and line) and the status of each such witness (e.g., candidate, signatory, subscribing witness, notary public, etc.), shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part no later than 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Failure to serve and file such offer of proof shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of fraud shall be precluded.
Proceedings brought by Order to Show Cause to validate a designating or nominating petition, required to be commenced within three (3) business days of a determination of its invalidity by the Board of Elections, shall be returnable either on Wednesday August 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in IA Part 35, Courtroom 438, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, or at such other time and place as required by the date on which the Board of Elections made its final determination.
In preparing their proposed Order to Show Cause, petitioners are directed to refrain from drafting proposed language directing the Board of Elections to produce in court, on the return date, all of the petition volumes, specifications of objections, and prima facie findings. Rather, petitioners are directed to draft proposed language calling for the Board of Elections to produce in court, on the return date, only the necessary documents. The balance of the Board of Elections documents can be produced at a later stage of the litigation.
The Appellate Division, First Department, has scheduled and reserved Tuesday, August 21, 2018, and if necessary, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, to consider appeals related to the Thursday, September 13, 2018 primary election.
NEW JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND TEMPORARY RELOCATIONS
In or about July 2018, two new Justices will be joining the court. These Justices, who are newly-appointed Court of Claims Judges who will be serving as Supreme Court Justices by Designation, are the Honorable Lillian Wan and the Honorable Joel M. Cohen.
It is expected that both of the new Justices will be assigned to General Assignment Parts. Justice Wan will be assigned to Part 18 and Justice Cohen to Part 45. Cases will be reassigned from other General Assignment Parts to make up the inventories of these new Parts. New cases will also be assigned to the Justices.
Part 18 will be located in Room 731 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5216). Justice Wan’s Chambers will be located in Room 466 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5247). The courtroom of Part 45 will be located in Room 412 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-4242). Information on Justice Cohen’s Chambers will be made available in the near future.
The courtroom of Justice Saliann Scarpulla (Commercial Division Part 39) has moved temporarily to Room 300 at 60 Centre Street to allow for certain improvements in her regular courtroom (Room 208). It is expected that this move will last for a month or more. The telephone number of the Part will remain unaltered at 646-386-3275.
The Administrative Coordinating Part (Part 40TR) and Part MFP, are moving temporarily to Room 422, 60 Centre Street. The phone number of these Parts will remain unchanged at 646-386-3095.
The Special Referee calendar (Part SRP) will be called in Room 130. The telephone number for the Special Referee Clerk remains unchanged at 646-386-3028.
The courtroom of Justice Douglas Hoffman, (Matrimonial Division, Part 44) at 111 Centre Street, currently Room 583, will change to Room 684 in that building. This change is expected to occur at about the end of the week of July 9. The phone number of the Part will remain unchanged at 646-386-3370.
Cases that will be affected by the new judicial assignments will be reassigned in the court’s case history computer system in as expeditious a manner as is possible.
All motion and conference appearances previously scheduled in cases that are being reassigned to the two new Parts will remain in effect unless otherwise directed by the new assigned Justice. For information on any individual case, see the Scroll application, which is accessible at no charge on the website of this court (www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh). Also, please follow E-Track for notification, as follows.
The court does not provide notification of appearances by mail. Instead, since 2012 counsel have been repeatedly advised to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service, which provides notification by e-mail of all court developments in cases listed with the application, that is, appearances and adjournments thereof in listed cases that are recorded in the court’s electronic case history program upon their recording therein, as well as other developments recorded therein, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. Counsel may list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
COMMERCIAL DIVISION ADR PROGRAM
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program of the Commercial Division, Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, is seeking mediators interested in joining its Roster of Neutrals. Mediators must have 10 years of experience in commercial law. Training in mediation is also required (see Part 146 of the Rules of the Chief Administrative Judge). Mediators must have experience in mediation during the two years prior to joining the Roster, which may consist of service as a mediator elsewhere in three matters or observation of three mediations. The Program may assist otherwise-qualified mediators who seek to observe mediations to obtain opportunities to do so.
Mediators on the Roster are expected to handle at least three matters per year. Cases eligible for mediation in the Program are Commercial Division cases and commercial cases filed in the court but pending outside the Division, which may involve sums in controversy below $ 500,000.
For information about the Program and its procedures, please consult the “Alternative Dispute Resolution” link on the New York County home page of the Commercial Division website (www.nycourts.gov/comdiv).
To apply to join the Roster, please submit a letter of interest and an Application Form, which is accessible at the link listed above, to the following:
Ms. Donna Corry
Supreme Court, Civil Branch
60 Centre Street, Room 148
JUDICIAL REASSIGNMENT
After many years of judicial service, the Honorable Shirley W. Kornreich, Commercial Division Part 54, will retire from the bench in May 2018. Justice Kornreich will be succeeded as the Justice assigned to Commercial Division Part 54 by the Honorable Jennifer G. Schecter. Justice Schecter has been assigned to IAS General Assignment Part 57.
Justice Andrew Borrok has joined the court. He will take over much of the inventory of Justice Schecter’s former Part 57.
The inventory of Part 54 is in the process of being transferred to Justice Schecter. Some of the pre-note cases that had been assigned to Justice Schecter in Part 57 are being transferred to Justice Margaret Chan in Part 33. The balance of the pre-note inventory of Part 57 (except for certain structured settlement cases, which will remain assigned to Justice Schecter) is being reassigned to Justice Borrok. Various post-note cases from Part 57 will remain in Justice Schecter’s name until they are scheduled for regular settlement conferences. If a motion is pending or is filed hereafter in a post-note case that had been assigned to Part 57, the matter will be reassigned to the appropriate Justice.
It is anticipated that the reassignments of these cases will be completed by early June 2018. E-mail notifications of various reassignments have been sent to counsel through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System. Further, see information about E-Track below.
Commercial Division Part 54 will remain in Courtroom 228 at 60 Centre Street after this reassignment. The telephone number of the Part will be unchanged (at 646-386-3362). Justice Schecter has moved to new Chambers (Room 626 at 60 Centre Street, phone: 646-386-4048).
The Courtroom for Part 57 will remain as it was (Room 623 at 111 Centre Street), and the phone number of the Part will remain unchanged (646-386-3657). Justice Borrok’s Chambers will be in Room 326 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-4203).
Dates previously scheduled for conferences or other appearances in cases that were assigned to Commercial Division Part 54 or Part 57 and that are due to take place after the reassignments described herein will remain in effect unless otherwise directed by Justices Schecter, Borrok, or Chan. Motions in cases that have been assigned to Parts 54 and 57 and that are currently pending in the General Clerk’s Office’s Motion Submission Courtroom (Room 130) will be submitted to Justice Schecter, Justice Borrok, or Justice Chan in accordance with the new inventory assignments. For additional information about the status of any individual case, see the Supreme Court Records Online Library (”Scroll“) (accessible on the website of this court at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh).
Counsel are also encouraged to sign up for the court system’s E-Track case-tracking service, which allows them to list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well. E-Track will send e-mail notifications regarding all court developments in listed cases, including reassignment of cases and rescheduling of appearances in those cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
REASSIGNMENT OF INVENTORY
Effective Monday, April 2, 2018, the Honorable Manuel J. Mendez, who has been assigned to Part 13, has been designated the New York City Asbestos Litigation Coordinating Judge. Cases assigned to him in this capacity will be reassigned to him in Part 13. Justice Mendez will also maintain the current inventory of matters assigned to him in Part 13, until further notice. The Part 13 Courtroom will continue to be Room 210 at 71 Thomas Street. The telephone number for Part 13 will remain the same - (646) 386-3736.
Dates scheduled for conferences or other appearances in asbestos cases now being assigned to Part 13 will remain in effect unless otherwise directed by Justice Mendez. Motions in asbestos cases that are being assigned to Part 13 and that are currently pending in the General Clerk’s Office’s Motion Submission Courtroom (Room 130) will be submitted to Justice Mendez in accordance with the new Part assignment. For additional information about the status of any individual case, see Scroll.
Counsel are also encouraged to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service program which allows them to list some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well. E-Track will send e-mail notifications regarding all court developments in listed cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
Part 13 is a PURE PAPERLESS PART for e-filed cases. All e-filed documents must be text-searchable. Bookmarks are strongly encouraged. Motions in e-filed cases do not require the submission of working copies (hard copies), unless they are specifically requested by the Court. A hard copy of the Order to Show Cause is required for Justice Mendez’s signature; working copies of the affirmation/supporting papers on Orders to Show Cause are not necessary. In e-filed cases, self-represented parties, as well as attorneys who have opted out of e-filing, shall submit their papers in hard-copy form.
In all hard-copy cases (those not in the NYSCEF system), all documents shall be submitted as hard-copy originals. No courtesy hard copies need be submitted.
(Notice revised 4/04/18 by addition of last two paragraphs)
With the end of 2017, Justice Deborah A. Kaplan was designated Administrative Judge of Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. Justice Anthony Cannataro was designated Administrative Judge of the New York City Civil Court. Justices Richard F. Braun (Part 23), Ellen M. Coin (Part 63), Richard B. Lowe III (Appellate Term, Presiding Justice), and Martin Schoenfeld (Part 28 and Appellate Term) retired from the bench after long years of service in this court. New assignments and reassignments have taken place, along with various changes in room and courtroom locations, as follows:
Justice Tanya R. Kennedy, previously assigned to Part 18, is taking over Part 63. The new courtroom for Part 63 will be Room 321 at 60 Centre Street. The Part phone number remains unchanged at 646-386-3296. Justice Kennedy will be moving to new Chambers, Room 660 at 60 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5739). In addition, various guardianship cases that were assigned to Part 18 will be reassigned to Part 63.
Justice W. Franc Perry, previously assigned to City Part 5, is taking over Part 23, an IAS General Assignment Part, and most of the inventory of cases previously assigned to it. Some cases previously assigned to Part 23 will be assigned as described below. The courtroom for Part 23 will be Room 307 at 80 Centre Street. The phone number of the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3754. Justice Perry will be keeping his previously-assigned Chambers, Room 311 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-3944).
City Part 5 is being reassigned to Justice Verna L. Saunders, who is joining the court. Justice Saunders’s courtroom will be Room 328 at 80 Centre Street, a new courtroom for Part 5. The phone number for Part 5 will remain unchanged at 646-386-3374. Justice Saunders’s Chambers will be Room 326 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-5075).
Approximately 100 of the cases previously assigned to Part 23 are being assigned to Justice Cannataro. In addition to his duties in the administration of Civil Court, Justice Cannataro will preside over Part 41, to which the 100 cases will be assigned. Part 41 will also function as a Trial Part. The courtroom for Part 41 will be Room 490 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-3264). Justice Cannataro’s Chambers will be Room 838 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5429).
Justice Erika M. Edwards, formerly assigned to Part 47, has been reassigned to Supreme Court, Criminal Branch, New York County. Justice Edwards will be succeeded in Part 47 by Justice Paul A. Goetz, previously assigned to Motor Vehicle Part 22. The courtroom for Part 47 will remain unchanged at Room 320, 80 Centre Street. The phone number for the Part will remain unchanged at 646-386-3743. Justice Goetz’s Chambers will be Room 314 at 80 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-4342).
Justice Goetz is being succeeded in Motor Vehicle Part 22 by Justice Adam Silvera, who previously had been assigned to Matrimonial Part 14. The courtroom for Part 22 will remain unchanged at Room 136, 80 Centre Street. The phone number for the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3271. Justice Silvera’s Chambers shall be in Room 136 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-5181).
Justice Carol Ruth Feinman, who previously had been a Hybrid Justice, is now being assigned to Trial Part 28. The courtroom of this Part will be located in Room 1164A at 111 Centre Street. The phone number of this Part will be 646-386-5032. Justice Feinman’s Chambers will be located in Room 641 at 111 Centre Street (phone: 646-386-5173).
Justice John J. Kelley has joined the court and is being assigned to Trial Part 56. The courtroom for Part 56 shall be located in Room 311 at 71 Thomas Street. The phone number of the Part will be 646-386-5281. Justice Kelley’s Chambers will be located in Room 310 at 71 Thomas Street (phone: 646-386-5318).
Cases affected by the foregoing changes are being reassigned in the court’s case history computer system in as expeditious a manner as is possible.
All motion and conference appearances previously scheduled in cases that were previously assigned to Justices Braun, Coin, Edwards, Lowe, and Schoenfeld may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Justice to whom these cases have been or are now being reassigned. For additional information, see Scroll, which is accessible at no charge on the website of this court (www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh). Also, please follow E-Track for notification, as follows.
In prior years, the court provided notification of certain appearances to counsel by mail, but ceased to do so in 2012. Instead, counsel have since then been repeatedly advised to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service, which provides notification by e-mail of all appearances and adjournments thereof recorded in the court’s electronic case history program upon their recording therein, as well as other developments recorded therein, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. E-Track allows counsel to list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well, which will permit counsel to receive e-mail notifications regarding all court developments in those cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to the following address:
http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
The reassignments described here will entail the movement of some other Justices to different Chambers or Courtrooms from those previously assigned to them. These changes are as follows:
The Chambers of Administrative Judge Deborah A. Kaplan will move to Room 609 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of Chambers will remain unchanged at 646-386-5567. Justice Kaplan’s Courtroom will remain unchanged at Room 540 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at 646-386-3300).
Justice Shlomo S. Hagler (IAS General Assignment Part 17) will move to new Chambers, Room 690 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of the Chambers remains unchanged at 646-386-5691. Justice Hagler’s Courtroom remains unchanged at Room 335 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at: 646-386-3283).
Justice Michael L. Katz (Matrimonial Part 24) has moved to a new courtroom, Room 543 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3285. Justice Katz’s Chambers is moving to Room 629 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at: 646-386-3103).
Justice Lori Sattler (Matrimonial Part 9) has moved to a new courtroom, Room 222 at 60 Centre Street. The phone for the Part will remain unchanged at 646-386-3848. Justice Sattler’s Chambers will remain unchanged at Room 649 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at 646-386-3686).
Justice Arthur F. Engoron (Trial Part 37) has moved to a new courtroom, Room 418 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3222. Justice Engoron’s Chambers has moved to Room 566 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at: 646-386-3181).
Justice David B. Cohen (IAS General Assignment Part 58) has moved to a new courtroom, Room 574 at 111 Centre Street. The phone number of the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3347. Justice Cohen’s Chambers remains unchanged at 457 at 111 Centre Street (phone unchanged at: 646-386-3320).
The room for Judge Ira Gammerman, JHO, has changed to Room 564 at 60 Centre Street (phone unchanged at 646-386-3245).
Attorneys are advised to follow this space or the “News and Announcements” page of the court’s website (under “Court Resources” at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh) for any additional information that may become available.
HONORABLE WILLIAM LEIBOVITZ
The Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County notes with sorrow the recent passing of the Honorable William Leibovitz, who at the time of his death was the court’s Administrative Coordinating Judge, presiding over Part 40 TR.
Judge Leibovitz was born in New Jersey. He graduated from Darthmouth College, where he studied philosophy, and from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958.
Judge Leibovitz was an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of New York, where he served as defense counsel to indigent persons in criminal cases. Later, from 1968 to 1988, he was a partner at Ellis, Stringfellow & Leibovitz. The firm engaged in the general practice of law, including litigation in state and Federal courts. Judge Leibovitz was a skilled and diligent trial lawyer.
Judge Leibovitz was appointed by Mayor Edward I. Koch the first Chair of the Mayor’s Committee on the Judiciary, which was established to ensure merit selection of Judges in New York City.
In 1988, Judge Leibovitz was appointed a Judge of the New York City Criminal Court. Later, in 1995, he was named a Supreme Court Justice by Designation, serving on the Criminal Branch of Supreme Court in New York County, where he handled many significant and difficult cases.
After his retirement from the bench, Judge Leibovitz did not relax. He promptly became a Judicial Hearing Officer and, in 2002, came to work in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, where his great familiarity with trial practice and civil litigation served him, and our court, very well.
Then-Administrative Judge Jacqueline W. Silbermann had in place in those years a number of important initiatives designed to promote the efficient and effective processing of post-note cases. She gave Judge Leibovitz a critical role in those efforts. He served as the Judge presiding in the Early Settlement Conference Part. There, Judge Leibovitz conferenced cases in which the note of issue had just been filed and sought to bring about settlements in these matters, which were otherwise destined, because of the size of the post-note inventory, to wait some time for a trial date. Judge Leibovitz also worked on ensuring that discovery, which of course was supposed to be complete according to the certificate of readiness, was in fact so. It had often been the case before that that the note of issue would be filed in cases, particularly City cases, in which discovery had not truly concluded. Unless these shortcomings could be addressed in an early and effective manner, they could persist until the eve of trial, thereby interfering with the efficient placement of cases for trial.
In carrying out these duties, Judge Leibovitz worked very diligently and productively, helping the court to settle many cases and preparing others for trial. He also worked smoothly with the other aspects of Judge Silbermann’s multi-faceted approach to post-note processing, including with Judge Ira Gammerman, who was assigned for a period to the Administrative Coordinating Part (Part 40), the task of which has long been to refer trial-ready cases to trial Parts in as efficient and expeditious a fashion as possible.
Recently, Judge Leibovitz himself served as Administrative Coordinating Judge and presided over Part 40 TR. There, he was, as always, efficient and effective in carrying out his duties. Although he could have rested on his laurels, he was devoted to this court and to advancing its work. He continued to serve as Administrative Coordinating Judge until only a few weeks before his death.
Throughout his tenure in this court, Judge Leibovtiz worked closely with a number of Administrative Judges, including his friend and colleague from the Criminal side, Hon. Joan B. Carey. He was very much a team player. He was far less interested in having his own way when it came to the processing of cases or seeking credit for himself than in working cooperatively with the Administrative Judge, the Judges, and staff to advance the work of the court as a whole. He was also a friendly and kind person to all, a true gentleman.
Judge Leibovitz had significant impact on this court in his “retirement” and he is and will continue to be deeply missed by those who had the privilege of working with him.
E-FILING PILOT PROJECT - - 325 (d) CASES
E-FILING PILOT PROJECT - - 325 (d) CASES Effective December 1, 2017, pursuant to Administrative Order of the Chief Administrative Judge dated November 8, 2017 (AO/292/17, posted on the “E-Filing” page of this site), an e-filing pilot project will commence in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County and the New York City Civil Court. If an e-filed case is transferred from Supreme Court pursuant to CPLR 325 (d), the case will remain an e-filed matter in Civil Court, provided, however, that any party to such a case may decline to participate in e-filing in Civil Court. For additional information, see the Order.
ADDITIONAL JUDICIAL REASSIGNMENTS
In addition to the reassignments of inventories and changes in Courtrooms and Chambers noted in a recent announcement, the following changes are taking place in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County.
Justice Lucy Billings (Part 46) has been designated the Coordinating Justice for the asbestos litigation. The asbestos cases previously assigned to Part 50 (Justice Peter H. Moulton) have been transferred to Justice Billings in Part 46. Justice Billings’s Courtroom and Part telephone number will remain unchanged (71 Thomas Street, Room 204, 646-386-3279).
The inventory previously assigned to Justice Billings in Part 46 has been reassigned to Justice Carmen St. George, who will preside in Part 34. This Part will be located in Room 308 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number for Part 34 is 646-386-4370. Justice St. George’s Chambers are located in Room 308 at 80 Centre Street and the Chambers telephone number is 646-386-4613.
Justice Douglas E. Hoffman, previously assigned to Part 14, is now assigned to Matrimonial Part 44. Part 44 is located in Room 583 at 111 Centre Street (telephone: 646-386-3370).
Justice Hoffman is being succeeded in Part 14 by Justice Adam Silvera. The Courtroom for Part 14 remains in Room 6 S10 at Family Court, 60 Lafayette Street. The telephone number of the Part remains unchanged (646-386-5290).
The Courtroom of Justice Tanya R. Kennedy (Part 18) is now located in Courtroom 321 at 60 Centre Street. The telephone number of the Part remains unchanged (646-386-5908). Justice Kennedy’s Chambers are in Room 326 at 111 Centre Street(646-386-5739).
The Courtroom of Justice Kelly O’Neill Levy (Part 19) is now located in Room 218 at 60 Centre Street. The telephone number of the Part remains unchanged (646-386-3979).
RULES FOR SPECIAL ELECTION PART
Proceedings brought by Orders to Show Cause to validate or to invalidate designating petitions for the Tuesday, September 12, 2017 State and Local Offices Primary Election, required to be commenced on or before Thursday, July 27, 2017, shall be returnable before the Honorable Carol R. Edmead, Justice of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., in IA Part 35, Room 438, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. The calendar call must be answered either by counsel or by the self-represented litigant(s) if not represented by an attorney, who must be ready for assignment on the return date. Non-lawyer "Representatives" of the parties are not permitted to answer the calendar. The parties must comply with the filing requirements of CPLR 304.
Specifications of objections not previously served and filed with the Board of Elections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, August 3, 2017. Failure to serve and file any such specifications of objections shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of such specifications shall be precluded.
In any proceeding by an aggrieved candidate to invalidate a designating or nominating petition, a bill of particulars as to the specifications of objections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, August 3, 2017. Failure to serve and file a bill of particulars shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of the specifications shall be precluded.
A complete written offer of proof, in all matters alleging a question of fraud, including a statement as to the number of witnesses expected to be called, the identification of each such witness (by name, address, volume, page and line) and the status of each such witness (e.g., candidate, signatory, subscribing witness, notary public, etc.), shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part no later than 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, August 3, 2017. Failure to serve and file such offer of proof shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of fraud shall be precluded.
Proceedings brought by Order to Show Cause to validate a designating or nominating petition, required to be commenced within three (3) business days of a determination of its invalidity by the Board of Elections, shall be returnable either on Tuesday August 8, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 438, located at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, or at such other time and place as required by the date on which the Board of Elections made its determination.
JUDICIAL REASSIGNMENTS
Revised July 13 and 19, 2017
Recently, the Governor of the State of New York appointed four Justices of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County to the Appellate Division, First Department. The Justices are: Administrative Judge Peter H. Moulton and Justices Cynthia S. Kern, Jeffrey K. Oing, and Anil C. Singh. The Honorable George J. Silver has been designated the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the New York City Courts. In addition, the Honorable Joan B. Lobis, a long-serving Justice of this court, has retired from the bench. These designations and Justice Lobis’s retirement will require the reassignment of affected cases and inventories.
The Plavix mass tort cases that had been assigned to Justice Kern in her role as a Justice of the Center for Complex Litigation have been reassigned to Justice Martin Shulman (Part 1), who is already, among other things, a Justice in the Center. Justice Kern’s inventory of e-filed commercial cases has been assigned to Justice Jennifer G. Schecter (Part 57). Asbestos cases that had been assigned to Justice Kern have been reassigned to Justice Gerald Lebovits (Part 7).
The balance of Justice Kern’s inventory has been assigned to Justice James E. d’Auguste. The Courtroom of Justice d’Auguste (Part 55) shall be Room 122 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number of Part 55 remains unchanged at 646-386-3289. Justice d’Auguste’s Chambers remains unchanged (Room 128 at 80 Centre), as is the Chambers phone (646-386-5698). Cases pending in City Part 62, over which Justice d’Auguste had presided, have been reassigned to City Parts 5 and 52.
Justice Andrea Masley, previously assigned to Part 25, has been reassigned to the Commercial Division. Justice Masley’s previous inventory of guardianship cases pending in Part 25 will be assigned to Justice Shawn T. Kelly, who had been serving as a Hybrid Judge and has been designated an Acting Supreme Court Justice. Part 25 will remain in Room 1254 at 111 Centre Street and the telephone number thereof will remain unchanged (646-386-5675). Justice Kelly’s Chambers will be at 111 Centre Street, telephone number 646-386-3696.
Justice Masley has taken over the Commercial Division inventory of Justice Jeffrey K. Oing, Part 48. Part 48 will be located where it had been, i.e., Courtroom 242 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3265. Justice Masley is also moving to new Chambers, Room 647 at 60 Centre Street. The phone number of the Chambers is 646-386-4333.
The inventory of Commercial Division Justice Anil Singh (Part 45) will be reassigned to Commercial Division Justices Barry R. Ostrager (Part 61), Charles E. Ramos (Part 53), and O. Peter Sherwood (Part 49).
The medical malpractice inventory of Justice Lobis has been reassigned to Justice Eileen A. Rakower, who has taken over Part 6. Justice Rakower will keep her current Courtroom (Room 205, 71 Thomas Street) and Chambers (Room 207, 71 Thomas Street). The telephone number for Part 6 will remain unchanged (646-386-3312). The Chambers telephone number for Justice Rakower remains unchanged at 646-386-5749. The commercial matters that had been assigned to Justice Rakower in Part 15 have been reassigned to Justice Melissa A. Crane, who has been designated an Acting Supreme Court Justice and will take over Part 15, a non-Division commercial Part. Justice Crane had previously served as a Hybrid Justice in this court. Part 15 will be located in Room 304 at 71 Thomas Street. The telephone number for Part 15 will be unchanged at 646-386-3316. Justice Crane’s Chambers will be located in Room 303 at 71 Thomas Street (646-386-4612).
Justice Arthur Engoron (Part 37) will succeed Justice Silver as the Justice presiding in Part J-Med. Justice Engoron will continue to preside over the cases that had been assigned to him in Part 37 and that Part will remain in operation. Justice Engoron will be moving to 60 Centre Street in the near future. Justice Engoron’s Courtroom for Part J-Med and Part 37 will be located in Room 422 at 60 Centre Street, the previous location for Part J-Med. The telephone number for Part J-Med shall remain unchanged at 646-386-3722, which shall be the new number for Part 37. Justice Engoron is moving to new Chambers, which shall be located in Room 566 at 60 Centre. The telephone number of Chambers will remain unchanged at 646-386-3181.
Justice Lynn R. Kotler, previously assigned to Transit Part 21, has taken over Part 8 and the inventory thereof. Part 8 is now located in Room 278 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number of Part 8 shall remain unchanged at 646-386-3572. Justice Kotler’s Chambers shall remain unchanged (Room 276 at 80 Centre Street), as shall the Chambers phone (646-386-3339).
Justice Lisa A. Sokoloff, who had been serving as a Hybrid Justice in this court and who has been designated an Acting Supreme Court Justice, has taken over Transit Part 21. In the near future, she will move her Courtroom and Chambers to Room 279 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number of Part 21 will remain unchanged at 646-386-3738. The telephone number of Justice Sokoloff’s Chambers will be 646-386-4647.
An Interim Coordinating Judge of the New York City Asbestos Litigation (“NYCAL”) will be announced this week. Please refer to the NYCAL website.
Cases that are to be reassigned as described above but that have not yet been reassigned will be reassigned at the earliest possible date. Counsel can obtain information about such reassignments of individual cases by consulting the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (Scroll), an application that is accessible at no charge on the website of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County at the “Case Information” link at the following address:
Motions that have been made in cases previously assigned to Judge Moulton and Justices Oing, Singh, and Rakower (commercial cases), but that have not yet been submitted are being adjourned for 30 days in the Motion Submission Part Courtroom (Room 130). All conferences in those cases that have previously been scheduled and in which appearances come due are being adjourned for four weeks. “Emergency applications” in cases previously assigned to these justices should be brought to the attention, as may be appropriate, of the General Clerk’s Office in Room 119A (646-386-3030), the Commercial Division Support Office, also in Room 119A (646-386-3020), or the Ex Parte Support Office (646-386-3125).
All conferences and other appearances previously scheduled in any other cases that have been or will be reassigned as described above shall proceed on the dates scheduled, unless otherwise directed by the court. For additional information, see Scroll.
In prior years, the court provided notification of certain appearances to counsel by mail, but ceased to do so in 2012. Instead, counsel have since then been advised to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service, which provides notification by e-mail of all appearances and adjournments thereof recorded in the court’s electronic case history program upon their recording therein, as well as other developments recorded therein, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. E-Track allows counsel to list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well, which will permit counsel to receive e-mail notifications regarding all court developments in those cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to the following address:
The reassignments described here will entail the movement of some other Justices to different Chambers or Courtrooms from those previously assigned to them.
Justice Barbara Jaffe (Part 12) has moved from 80 Centre Street to 60 Centre Street, Room 514 (Chambers) and Room 341 (Courtroom). The telephone number of Part 12 remains the same as it had been (646-386-3273), as does the number of Chambers (646-386-3727).
Justice Gerald Lebovits (Part 7) has moved from 111 Centre Street to 60 Centre Street, Room 556 (Chambers) and Room 345 (Courtroom). The telephone number of Part 7 remains the same as it had been (646-386-3746), as does the number of Chambers (646-386-3074).
Justice Barry R. Ostrager, Commercial Division Justice, Part 61, has moved his Chambers to Room 624 at 60 Centre Street. His Chambers phone number remains the same as it had been (646-386-4150). His Courtroom remains unchanged (Room 232 at 60 Centre Street), as is the Part telephone number (646-386-3169).
Justice Matthew F. Cooper (Matrimonial Part 51) has moved his Chambers to Room 525 at 60 Centre Street. His Chambers phone number remains the same as it had been (646-386-5696). His Courtroom is unchanged (Room 212 at 60 Centre), as is the phone number of the Part (646-386-3846).
Justice Arlene P. Bluth, IAS Part 32, has moved to 60 Centre Street. The Courtroom of Part 32 is located in Room 432 at 60 Centre. The telephone number of Part 32 remains unchanged at 646-386-5607. Justice Bluth’s Chambers are located in Room 519 at 60 Centre. The telephone number of the Chambers remains unchanged at 646-386-5725.
Justice Kelly O’Neill Levy, Part 19, will move to 60 Centre Street in the near future. The Courtroom for Part 19 will be located in Room 218 at 60 Centre Street (646-386-3979) and her chambers will be Room 665 at 60 Centre Street (646-386-3885).
Justice Tanya Kennedy, Part 18, will move to 60 Centre Street in the near future. The Courtroom for Part 18 will be located in Room 321 at 60 Centre Street (646-386-5908) and her chambers will be Room 629 at 60 Centre Street (646-386-5739).
Updated July 13, 19, and 26, 2017
(changes highlighted)
SPECIAL REFEREES PART MOVES
Effective Monday, April 24, 2017, the calendar of the Special Referees Part (Part SRP) is moving to, and will henceforth be called in, Room 300 at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY at 9:30 AM. The phone number of the Special Referee Clerk remains unchanged (646-386-3028).
MANDATORY MEDIATION OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL CASES--PILOT PROGRAM
Starting May 1, 2017, a pilot project in alternative dispute resolution (“the Pilot Project”) will begin operation in a category of commercial actions in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. Before deciding to institute the Pilot Project, the court reached out to interested Bar groups and solicited comments and suggestions. The responses received were favorable to the proposed plan for this project.
Beginning in May 2016, Hon. Peter H. Moulton, Administrative Judge of the court, issued two Administrative Orders in which he authorized Justices not assigned to the Commercial Division who carry commercial inventories to refer commercial cases to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program of the Commercial Division (“the ADR Program”). The Justices so designated may refer such cases to the ADR Program in their discretion.
In addition to such means of referral, Justice Moulton has issued a further Administrative Order, dated April 19, 2017, establishing the Pilot Project. This Order is accessible on the website of the court at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh (under “Court Resources”).
In the Pilot Project, certain commercial cases shall be automatically referred to mandatory mediation in the ADR Program in accordance with the Rules and Procedures thereof. The matters that shall proceed to mandatory mediation in the Pilot Project are any and all newly-filed commercial cases that are not assigned to the Commercial Division and in which, upon the filing of a Request for Judicial Intervention (“RJI”), the filer has designated the case on the RJI as a “Contract” matter and has requested a preliminary conference.
The staff of the court shall identify all such cases at the time of the filing of the RJI and assignment of the case to a Justice. In each such case, the staff of the court shall transmit to counsel through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (“NYSCEF”) a Notice of Referral to Mandatory Mediation together with a copy of the Administrative Order directing the parties to proceed to mandatory mediation in accordance therewith and with the procedures set forth in the applicable rule of the ADR Program. The Notice will also inform the parties of the date of the scheduled preliminary conference. The ADR Rules are available on the website of the Commercial Division at the following address:
http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/ny/ADR_overview.shtml
Counsel and parties in cases so designated shall proceed to mediation as provided in the Order and the ADR Rules and Procedures and shall adhere to those Rules and Procedures in all respects applicable, including the deadlines set out therein.
As an element of this Project, the court shall establish a centralized Preliminary Conference Part for all Contract cases covered by this Order and a single Justice of the court shall be assigned to that Part. Hon. Anil C. Singh, who has extensive familiarity with commercial litigation, has been designated to undertake this assignment at the outset of the Pilot Project. The Part in question shall be Part PC-CNCD (located in Room 218 at 60 Centre Street (Phone 646-386-3306)). The preliminary conference shall be scheduled in that Part for the earliest date available.
the mediation directed by the Administrative Order that will assist in making the mediation as efficient and productive as possible. Such tailored discovery might include a limited exchange of information on a schedule consistent with the mediation process. Counsel shall discuss all discovery matters with Justice Singh at the conference. Any such tailored or limited discovery as may be agreed upon or directed by the court in connection with the mediation would be without prejudice to a full discovery process for purposes of the litigation. Justice Singh will issue a Preliminary Conference Order addressing all discovery issues outstanding in the case and providing for comprehensive discovery for the litigation, as well as any tailored discovery that may be appropriate for the mediation, and suitable schedules therefor. Counsel shall, within four business days after the preliminary conference, consult one another and submit an Initiation Form to the ADR Coordinator as provided in the ADR Rules and Procedures, and shall thereafter proceed to mediation as provided in the Rules.
All court proceedings in these cases other than the preliminary conference shall be conducted by the Justice to whom the case was assigned upon the filing of the RJI.
A case otherwise subject to mandatory mediation in the Pilot Project may be exempted from such mediation upon a satisfactory showing that an applying party would be subjected to unreasonable hardship or burden by participation in the mediation. A party seeking an exemption shall apply therefor at the preliminary conference. Failure to seek an exemption in this manner shall constitute a waiver of any objection to the mediation.
Failure to comply with the Administrative Order or with the ADR Rules and Procedures may subject the party or counsel in question to sanctions.
As of December 31, 2016, two long-serving Justices of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, Honorable Alice Schlesinger (Part 16) and Honorable Michael Stallman (Part 21), have retired from the bench. In addition, Justice Geoffrey D. Wright (Part 47) has moved to Family Court, Queens County.
Justice Lynn R. Kotler, previously assigned to City Part 5, has taken over Part 21, the Transit Part. Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in Part 21 will remain in effect. Justice Kotler’s Chambers will be Room 276 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-3339). The Courtroom for Part 21 shall remain unchanged (i.e., 80 Centre Street, Room 278) and the telephone number for the Part will remain unaltered (646-386-3738). Part 21 will henceforth be a Paperless E-Filing Part; that is, attorneys should not submit working copies of motion papers in e-filed cases unless otherwise directed by the Part in specific instances.
Justice Kotler will be succeeded in City Part 5 by a Justice newly assigned full time to Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, Honorable W. Franc Perry. Justice Perry’s Chambers will be located in Room 311 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-3944). The Courtroom for Part 5 will remain unchanged (Room 307 at 80 Centre Street) and the phone number for the Part shall remain unaltered (646-386-3374). Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in Part 5 will remain in effect. Part 5 will continue to be a Paperless E-Filing Part; that is, attorneys should not submit working copies of motion papers in e-filed cases unless otherwise directed by the Part in specific instances.
Justice Margaret A. Chan, previously assigned to City Part 52, is now assigned to Trial Part 33, a new Part. This Part will also have an inventory of some General Assignment cases. Justice Chan’s Chambers and Chambers phone are Room 103 at 71 Thomas Street (646-386-5695). The Courtroom for Part 33 is Room 103 at 71 Thomas Street (phone 646-386-5676). Part 33 will be a Paperless E-Filing Part; that is, attorneys should not submit working copies of motion papers in e-filed cases unless otherwise directed by the Part in specific instances.
Justice Chan will be succeeded in City Part 52 by a Justice newly assigned full time to Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, Honorable Alexander Tisch. Justice Tisch’s Chambers will be located in Room 289 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-3968)). The Courtroom for Part 52 will continue to be located in Room 289 at 80 Centre Street and the phone number for the Part shall remain unaltered (646-386-3742). Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in Part 52 will remain in effect. Part 52 will continue to be a Paperless E-Filing Part; that is, attorneys should not submit working copies of motion papers in e-filed cases unless otherwise directed by the Part in specific instances.
Justice Leticia M. Ramirez, previously assigned to Motor Vehicle Part 22, is now assigned to Matrimonial Part 44, formerly assigned to Justice Frank P. Nervo. Justice Ramirez’s Chambers and Chambers phone are Room 563 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3173), The Courtroom for Part 44 is Room 583 at 111 Centre Street. The phone number for the Part remains unchanged at 646-386-3370.
Justice Ramirez will be succeeded in Motor Vehicle Part 22 by a Justice newly assigned full time to Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, Honorable Paul Goetz. Justice Goetz’s Chambers will be located in Room 138 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-4342). The Courtroom for Part 22 will continue to be located in Room 136 at 80 Centre Street and the phone number for the Part shall remain unaltered (646-386-3271). Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in Part 22 will remain in effect.
Justice Frank P. Nervo will be taking over a new Part 4, which will be a Trial Part, but will also have an inventory of some General Assignment cases. Justice Nervo’s Chambers will be located in Room 327 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-5707). The courtroom for Part 4 will be located in Room 327 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-3580).
Justice Arthur Engoron was previously assigned to IAS General Assignment Part 37. This Part has become a Trial Part, but will also have an inventory of some General Assignment cases. This Part will be located in Room 328 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number of this Part will be unchanged (646-386-3222). Justice Engoron’s Chambers will remain the same (Room 326 at 80 Centre Street), as will the Chambers phone (646-386-3181). Part 37 will continue to be a Paperless E-Filing Part; that is, attorneys should not submit working copies of motion papers in e-filed cases unless otherwise directed by the Part in specific instances.
A fourth Justice newly assigned full time to Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County is Justice Erika M. Edwards. Justice Edwards is assigned to IAS General Assignment Part 47, the Part formerly assigned to Justice Wright. Justice Edwards’s Chambers are located in Room 314 at 80 Centre Street (Phone: 646-386-4384). The courtroom for Part 47 is Room 320 at 80 Centre Street and the Part phone number remains unchanged at 646-386-3743. Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in Part 47 will remain in effect.
Justices Edwards, Goetz, Perry, and Tisch served as Hybrid Justices in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County in 2016.
The Honorable Joan A. Madden has been assigned to the medical malpractice inventory and her Part, Part 11, is now a Medical Malpractice Part. Justice Madden’s Chambers and Chambers phone shall remain unchanged (60 Centre Street, Room 611, 646-386-3190). The Courtroom for Part 11 shall remain Room 351 at 60 Centre Street. The new telephone number for this Part shall be 646-386-3318.
Justice Madden has had an asbestos trial docket in Part 11. Various such cases shall be reassigned to Honorable Manuel J. Mendez in IAS General Assignment Part 13. Justice Mendez will receive other such assignments in the future. Unless otherwise directed by the court, dates previously scheduled for appearances in asbestos trial cases previously assigned to Part 11 will remain in effect. Justice Mendez’s Chambers and Chambers phone remain unchanged (71 Thomas Street, Room 209, 646-386-5705) and the Courtroom and Part phone number for Part 13 also remain unchanged (71 Thomas Street, Room 210, 646-386-3736 ).
The foregoing changes will require the reassignment of some inventories and cases. To the extent that that has not already occurred, it will be taking place in the near future. Counsel should follow this space for additional information on that subject.
In addition, information on the reassignment of cases and scheduled appearances therein can be obtained as follows. Information on cases in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County is available in the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (Scroll), an application that is accessible at no charge on the website of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County at the “Case Information” link at the following address:
In prior years, the court provided notification of certain appearances to counsel by mail, but ceased to do so in 2012. Instead, counsel have since then been advised to sign up for the court system’s E-Track service, which provides notification by e-mail of all appearances and adjournments thereof recorded in the court’s electronic case history program upon their recording therein, as well as other developments recorded therein, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. E-Track allows counsel to list with the service some or all of the firm’s cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well, which will permit counsel to receive e-mail notification regarding all court developments in those cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to the following address:
There are three Justices who are not being reassigned to different inventories, but with respect to whom room changes will be occurring. The Chambers of Justice James D’Auguste (City Part 62) will move to Room 128 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-5698)). Justice D’Auguste’s courtroom will be Room 122 at 80 Centre Street. The telephone number of Part 62 will remain the same as it has been (646-386-3728).
The Chambers of Justice Robert D. Kalish (Part 29) will move to Room 104 at 71 Thomas Street (646-386-4015). Justice Kalish’s courtroom will be Room 104 at 71 Thomas Street. The telephone number of Part 29 will remain the same as it has been (646-386-4039).
The Chambers of Justice Gerald Lebovits (Part 7) will remain Room 929 at 111 Centre Street and the Chambers telephone will remain unchanged (646-386-3074). Justice Lebovits’s courtroom is moving to Room 1127A at 111 Centre Street. The telephone number of Part 7 will remain the same as it has been (646-386-3746).
Finally, there will be four Hybrid Justices in 2017. They will continue to do some Civil Court work while also undertaking Supreme Court work. They are Justices Melissa A. Crane, Carol Feinman, Shawn T. Kelly, and Lisa A. Sokoloff.
JUILLIARD SCHOOL CONCERTS
Students from the Juilliard School will perform two concerts of classical music this winter in the rotunda of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. The dates of these concerts are November 30th and December 14th, both Wednesdays. The concerts will take place from 1 PM to 2 PM. The performances are open to the public and are free of charge. All are welcome.
COURT RECESS AND WITHDRAWAL OF MOTIONS
The General Clerk’s Office of Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County brings the following two items regarding motion practice to the attention of the Bar.
1. Court Recess: In addition to the usual holidays, there will be a court recess between Christmas and New Year’s Day this year. Specifically, the Christmas holiday will be observed on Monday, December 26, 2016, and the recess will take place from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30, 2016. The court will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2017, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. The Motion Submission Part Courtroom (Room 130) will be closed for the entirety of the week beginning December 26 and on January 2. No motions should be made returnable in Room 130 on these days. No motions pending in Room 130 should be adjourned to any of these dates. In the event that a motion is made returnable during the period when Room 130 operations are on hiatus, or an attempt is made to adjourn a pending motion to a date during this period, the court will reschedule the motion for a subsequent date on which the court is in session. Room 130 will reopen for normal operations on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
2. Motions That Are Being Withdrawn: The Clerk will mark motions that are pending in the Motion Submission Part Courtroom withdrawn only upon the submission of a writing from counsel so requesting. In cases in the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System, counsel must e-file a stipulation, letter, or other writing requesting that a motion in Room 130 be marked withdrawn. In cases that are proceeding in hard copy format, counsel must submit to the Clerk in Room 130 on the morning of the return date a stipulation, letter, or other writing in hard-copy form requesting that a motion on the calendar that day be marked withdrawn. As an alternative, counsel may submit the writing by e-mail to nymotcal@nycourts.gov by 4:00 PM of the day before the return date. If no writing is e-filed or submitted as required, the Clerk will not mark a motion withdrawn based upon an oral request, but will mark the motion submitted and transmit it to the assigned Justice. Counsel will then be obliged immediately to address the status of the matter directly with the Justice assigned, before the Justice begins work on the motion.
Counsel are reminded that they can obtain information on the scheduling and adjournment of motions in Room 130 and the withdrawal of motions on the calendar thereof through the e-Track application. This application provides e-mail notification of the fixing of motion dates in Room 130 by the court, the adjournment of such dates, and the withdrawal of such motions. Counsel may register a single case with e-Track or as many cases as they may wish. There is no charge for this service. To register, go to the following address
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin
Revised November 9, 2016
REVISED RULES ON REFERENCES
The rules governing references, i.e. the Rules of the Special Referees’ Part (Part SRP) and the Uniform Rules of the Judicial Hearing Officers and the Special Referees, have been revised. The rules now provide that the referring Justice, in his or her discretion, may include in the Order of Reference a provision directing that a conference be held before the assigned JHO/Special Referee prior to the date of the commencement of the hearing. Cases are assigned to a JHO/Referee at the first appearance of the matter in the Special Referees Part and, except in cases in which the Order of Reference has directed that a prehearing conference be held, the hearing will commence on the date of the initial appearance. If a prehearing conference has been directed, the date of the hearing will be fixed at that conference.
A revised Information Sheet has been issued to conform to these changes.
The revised rules and Information Sheet are accessible on the website under "References."
Proceedings brought by Orders to Show Cause to validate or to invalidate designating petitions for the September 13, 2016 State and Local Offices Primary Election, required to be commenced on or before Thursday, July 28, 2016, shall be returnable before the Honorable Arthur F. Engoron, Justice of the Supreme Court on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., in IA Part 37, Room 328, located at 80 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013. The calendar call must be answered either by counsel or by the self-represented litigant(s) if not represented by an attorney, who must be ready for assignment on the return date. Non-lawyer "Representatives" of the parties are not permitted to answer the calendar. The parties must comply with the filing requirements of CPLR 304.
Specifications of objections not previously served and filed with the Board of Elections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Failure to serve and file any such specifications of objections shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of such specifications shall be precluded
In any proceeding by an aggrieved candidate to invalidate a designating or nominating petition, a bill of particulars as to the specifications of objections shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part, no later than 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Failure to serve and file a bill of particulars shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of the specifications shall be precluded.
A complete written offer of proof, in all matters alleging a question of fraud, including a statement as to the number of witnesses expected to be called, the identification of each such witness (by name, address, volume, page and line) and the status of each such witness (e.g., candidate, signatory, subscribing witness, notary public, etc.), shall be served upon all opposing parties and filed with the Clerk of the Part no later than 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Failure to serve and file such offer of proof shall be considered and deemed a waiver, and further proof or evidence of fraud shall be precluded.
Proceedings brought by Order to Show Cause to validate a designating or nominating petition, required to be commenced within three (3) business days of a determination of its invalidity by the Board of Elections, shall be returnable either on Monday August 8, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 328, located at 80 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013, or at such other time and place as required by the date on which the Board of Elections made its determination.
JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND REASSIGNMENTS
As of the new year 2016, a number of changes occurred in the judicial assignments in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, which are summarized as follows.
Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy, Hon. Arlene P. Bluth, and Hon. Arthur F. Engoron, previously Acting Supreme Court Justices in the court, were elected to the Supreme Court bench this past November. Justice Engoron's assignment is unchanged. Justice Kennedy has assumed a new assignment handling guardianship matters in Part 18, which is located in Courtroom 490 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-5908). Justice Kennedy's Chambers are located in Room 326 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-5739).
Justice Kennedy, previously the Supervising Judge of Civil Court, New York County, has been succeeded in that role by Justice Anthony Cannataro. Justice Cannataro has also taken over Part 40B and Part MFP, previously assigned to Justice Kennedy. The former is a Trial Part and the latter handles mortgage foreclosure matters. Part 40 B is located in Courtroom 419 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3264). Part MFP shall be located in Room 300 at 60 Centre Street (646-386-3752). Justice Cannataro's Chambers are located in Room 838 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-5429).
Justice Bluth, previously assigned to the Motor Vehicle Part (Part 22), has been assigned to Part 32 in the Center for Complex Litigation. In addition to complex litigation, this Part handles a General IAS Part inventory consisting of pre-note-of-issue matters that had previously been assigned to Hon. George J. Silver (Part 10) and to Hon. Carol Huff, now retired. The Courtroom for Part 32 is located in Room 308 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-5607). Justice Bluth's Chambers are located in the same suite (646-386-5725).
The Motor Vehicle Part (Part 22) is now assigned to Justice Leticia M. Ramirez, who had been assigned as the Judge presiding at the Harlem Courthouse. Part 22 is located in Room 136 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-3271). Justice Ramirez's Chambers are located in Room 138 at 80 Centre Street (646-386-3218).
In addition, three Acting Supreme Court Justices who previously had served as Hybrid Justices have been assigned full-time to Parts in the court. Justice David B. Cohen has been assigned to IAS General Assignment Part 4, which is located in Courtroom 1164A at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3338). The inventory of Part 4 is at present made up of trial-ready non-jury matters. Justice Cohen's Chambers are located in Room 457 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3320).
Justice Gerald Lebovits has taken over IAS General Assignment Part 7, which had previously been assigned to Justice Paul Wooten, who has returned to Brooklyn Supreme Court. This Part is located in Courtroom 731 at 111 Centre Street (phone number unchanged at 646-386-3746). Justice Lebovits' Chambers are located in Room 929 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3074).
Justice Michael L. Katz has taken over General Assignment Part 58, which had previously been assigned to Justice Donna Mills, who has returned to Bronx Supreme Court. This Part is located in Courtroom 574 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3347)(location and number unchanged). Justice Katz's Chambers are located in Room 536 at 111 Centre Street (646-386-3103).
In the inventories that have been reassigned, dates previously fixed for conferences or argument on motions shall remain in effect unless otherwise directed by the court.
The following Judges have been assigned to the court as Hybrid Justices, dividing their time between Civil Court matters and Supreme Court matters: Acting Supreme Court Justices Erika M. Edwards, Carol Ruth Feinman, Paul Allan Goetz, W. Franc Perry, and Alexander M. Tisch. The matters to which these Justices will be assigned in this court are at present hospital hearings and uncontested matrimonial cases.
The Bar is reminded that this fall certain changes were made to procedures governing the assignment of trial-ready cases for trial. Justice George J. Silver now presides over the Judicial Mediation Part (Part J-Med), located in Room 422 (646-386-3722), where he conducts settlement discussions in post-note cases otherwise ready for trial. Settlement conferences are conducted in post-note Transit Authority cases in the Transit Authority Settlement Part (Part TASP, Hon. Sherry Klein Heitler and Steven Helfont, Esq., Room 321, 60 Centre Street). Early Settlement Conferences are conducted after the filing of the note of issue in various cases in Part ESC-1 (Miles Vigilante, Esq., Room 106, 80 Centre Street) and Part ESC-2 (Samuel Wilkenfeld, Esq., Room 103, 80 Centre Street). Trial-ready cases that are not settled in Part J-Med and Part TASP will be sent to the Administrative Coordinating Part (Part 40TR) (Hon. William Leibovitz, JHO, Administrative Coordinating Judge, Room 300 (646-386-3095)) for an appearance for jury selection and trial assignment on a firm date selected by the Judge presiding in Part J-Med or Part TASP. Cases that are not settled in either ESC Part will be sent to Part J-Med for a final conference and, if settlement is not reached, selection of a firm trial date in Part 40TR.
Additional information on the reassignment of cases and scheduled appearances therein can be obtained as follows. Information on cases in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County is available in the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (Scroll), an application which is accessible at no charge on the website of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County at the ACase Information@ link at the following address:
In prior years, the court provided notification of certain appearances to counsel by mail, but ceased to do so in summer 2012. Instead, counsel have since then been advised to sign up for the court system's E-Track service, which provides notification by e-mail of all appearances recorded in the court's electronic case history program upon their recording therein, as well as other developments recorded therein, such as the reassignment of cases and the issuance of decisions and long-form orders. E-Track allows counsel to list with the service some or all of the firm's cases that are pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, and in other counties as well, which will permit counsel to receive e-mail notification regarding all court developments in those cases. E-Track can also provide appearance reminders should counsel wish to avail themselves of that capability. To sign up for E-Track, counsel should go to the following address:
CHANGES TO THE PROCESSING OF CERTAIN POST NOTE OF ISSUE CIVIL CASES
Revised (6th paragraph) November 13, 2015
The processing of certain post-Note-of-Issue civil cases in New York County Supreme Court is being changed to ensure the cases' just and efficient disposition. The cases will come from the following Parts: Individual Assignment, City, Motor Vehicle, and Transit.
Effective immediately, Honorable George J. Silver will preside over a newly created Judicial Mediation Part (J-Med). The purpose of the J-Med Part is to facilitate expeditious settlement and identify trial-ready cases. All counsel who attend J-Med conferences must have familiarity with all aspects of the case. A demand should be provided to the defendant(s) in advance of this conference. Counsel at J-Med conferences must either 1) have full authority to discuss settlement and to enter into settlement agreements, or 2) ensure that the client is present at the conferences or is immediately available by telephone. J-Med conferences will be held in Room 422.
Absent a settlement in the J-Med Part, the attorneys will be given an opportunity to select a mutually convenient, but firm, trial date in the near future. Counsel shall come to the conference knowing their future availability so that the court may take prior commitments into account when assisting counsel in fixing the firm trial date.
On the trial date, attorneys will appear in the Administrative Coordinating Part, Part 40TR (40 Trial Ready), before Honorable William Leibovitz, JHO, for immediate jury selection and trial assignment. There will be no settlement discussions before the JHO. The Administrative Coordinating Part will be relocated to Room 300 at 60 Centre Street. The calendars will be called at 9:30am to enable the attorneys to proceed to the jury assembly room as quickly as possible. Part 40 TR will commence on October 5, 2015.
Mediator Miles Vigilante, Esq. will continue to conduct Early Settlement Conferences (ESC- 1) in Room 106 of 80 Centre Street on newer post-Note-of-Issue cases, beginning with cases in which a note of issue was filed in 2015. The purpose of these conferences will be to effect early settlement. Only counsel fully familiar with and authorized to settle the action shall appear. Cases in which settlement is not achieved at the Early Settlement Conference will be scheduled for a subsequent date in J-Med.
Mediator Samuel Wilkenfeld, Esq. will continue to conduct settlement conferences (ESC 2) in Room 103 at 80 Centre Street in City and motor vehicles cases. City cases in which settlement is not achieved will be referred to Hon. George J. Silver in J-Med for a Last Clear Chance Conference. The Last Clear Chance Conference will be the last opportunity for settlement discussions in City cases under the aegis of the court. Motor vehicle cases in which settlement is not achieved will be referred to Hon. George J. Silver in the J-Med Part.
The Honorable Sherry Klein Heitler and Steven Helfont, Esq. will continue to conduct settlement conferences in the Transit Authority Settlement Part (40TASP) in Room 321 at 60 Centre Street. In order to assure meaningful settlement discussion at this conference, counsel attending the conference must have familiarity with all aspects of the case. If there is a desire to resolve the matter, a demand must be made by the plaintiff of the defendant(s) in advance of the conference. Please contact Ms. Khahaifa of the Transit Authority, in advance of the conference date, at (718) 694-3991 to convey your demand. Counsel must have full authority to discuss settlement, enter into settlement agreement and otherwise dispose of this action. In the absence of such authority, counsel must either bring the client to the conference or assure that the client is immediately available by telephone. If at the conclusion of this conference the case is not settled, the parties shall select a mutually convenient, firm trial date. Trial counsel must come to the conference knowing their future availability so that the court may take counsels' other commitments into account when assisting counsel in fixing the firm trial date.
POST-NOTE NON-JURY CASES
Beginning July 7, 2014, post-note-of-issue non-jury cases pending in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County that bear calendar numbers issued in 2013 (not including Commercial Division cases) shall appear for a conference in a special Non-Jury Mediation Part. This Part will be conducted in Room 300 at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan two days each week, beginning in the morning at 9:30 AM and in the afternoon at 2:15 PM. Appearances will be staggered. Counsel will be informed of the date and time of an appearance scheduled in the Non-Jury Mediation Part by mail notice and by e-mail notification from the court system’s e-Track case notification service. Calendars for the Part will also appear in the New York Law Journal. Attorneys who do not have an e-Track account or whose non-jury cases are not recorded in the e-Track system may create an account and enter case information therein and enable themselves to receive an e-Track e-mail message by going to the following address:
There is no charge to use the e-Track service.
Conferences in the Non-Jury Mediation Part will be conducted by Court Attorneys Dean Leslie, Esq. and Michelle Kern-Rappy, Esq. The Court Attorneys will review the status of each case and determine whether settlement discussions may be productive. If it is concluded that settlement discussions may prove fruitful, the case will be scheduled for a subsequent appearance in the Part for that purpose. After all proceedings in this Part have concluded, if a case has not been settled, its status will, without need for further appearance by counsel, be reviewed by the Administrative Judge, who will see to it that a date for trial in 2015 is assigned to the case.
COMMERCIAL DIVISION - MONETARY THRESHOLD
Chief Administrative Judge Prudenti has issued an Administrative Order that changes, effective February 17, 2014, the monetary threshold in the Commercial Division, New York County set by Uniform Rule 202.70 (a) from $ 150,000 to $ 500,000.
CHANGE OF NAME OF COURT OFFICE
Effective January 2, 2014, the name of the Motion Support Office (Room 119) will be changed to the “General Clerk’s Office.” This change is a matter of denomination only. The renamed Office will continue to operate in Room 119 and all of its functions and procedures will remain unaltered from what they have been since 2010. The Office will continue to operate the motion submission process, in what will continue to be called the Motion Submission Part Courtroom (Room 130). The Special Referee Clerk will remain in Room 119 M and the New York County E-Filing Department will continue to function in Room 119. There will be no change to the Commercial Division Support Office (Room 119 A) or to the statewide E-Filing Resource Center (Room 119 M). The Motion Support Office is being renamed because the new name more accurately reflects the functions it has carried out since 2010 and will continue to carry out in the future. In 2010, the counter functions of the Trial Support Office were moved to the Motion Support Office. As a result, many non-motion filings in hard-copy cases have since been made in Room 119, such as requests for a preliminary conference, notes of issue, jury demands, and notices of medical, dental, or podiatric malpractice action. The new name of the office will indicate to the Bar and the public that all filings in hard-copy cases, motion and non-motion alike, shall be made in the General Clerk’s Office (Room 119), except for those made in specialized cases or circumstances, such as various filings in guardianship matters (filed in Room 158), uncontested matrimonials (filed in Room 311), or hard-copy Commercial Division cases (filed in Room 119 A), or when the applications are proposed orders to show cause or ex parte applications in hard-copy general cases (non-Commercial Division cases)(filed in Room 315). Filings in e-filed cases shall be made through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (“NYSCEF”), as explained in the Protocol on Courthouse Procedures for Electronically Filed Cases (accessible on the website of the court at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh), and will be routed by NYSCEF to the proper office.
EXPANSION OF MANDATORY E-FILING - - EFFECTIVE FEB. 19, 2013 (UPDATED NOTICE)
Pursuant to Administrative Order dated February 19, 2013 and effective the same date, in accordance with legislation in 2012 (L. 2012, c. 184), electronic filing through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (“NYSCEF”) has been expanded in Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. E-filing is mandatory in all cases commenced in the court on and after February 19, 2013 (except for Art. 78, election law, matrimonial, and Mental Hygiene Law matters). All such cases must be commenced electronically and initiating documents will not be accepted in hard copy form. Personal jurisdiction shall be obtained by service of documents in hard copy form in the normal manner, except that the plaintiff/petitioner must also serve on the defendant/respondent a Notice of Commencement of Action Subject to Mandatory Electronic Filing (form available on the NYSCEF website (www.nycourts.gov/efile)). Subsequent documents must be e-filed as well.
Court fees are paid to the County Clerk by credit or bank card (Mastercard, Visa, or American Express) through NYSCEF. There are, however, no separate charges to use NYSCEF, file documents with it, serve documents through it, or print out hard copies from it.
Mandatory e-filing is governed by Uniform Rule 202.5-bb. The court has issued a Protocol on Courthouse Procedures for Electronically Filed Cases that explains how customary courthouse procedures, such as those regarding proposed orders to show cause, are applied in e-filed cases. The Protocol is posted on the court’s website (on the “E-Filing” page at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh). Counsel are urged to familiarize themselves with the Rule and the Protocol.
A User’s Manual and FAQs are posted on the NYSCEF website. The NYSCEF application includes a training utility, which allows attorneys to practice filing documents in fictitious cases for as often and as long as counsel may desire.
Live training is also available for attorneys and support staff who may feel the need for it. A two-hour training course is offered, with two CLE credits awarded to attorneys at no charge. The course is presented weekly at Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County at 60 Centre Street. Advance registration is required. For further information about training and to register for the course, go to the Training Resources tab on the NYSCEF website.
For additional information about e-filing in New York County, see the NYSCEF website or contact the New York County E-Filing Department, which can be reached at 646-386-3610 or newyorkefile@nycourts.gov.
Please note this important reminder: The following nine Justices do not require submission of working copies of motion papers except when specifically requested by the Justice in regard to a particular motion: Freed, J. (Pt. 5), Lobis, J. (Pt. 6), Jaffe, J. (Pt. 12), Rakower, J. (Pt. 15), Scarpulla, J. (Pt. 19), Edmead, J. (Pt. 35), Engoron, J. (Pt. 37), Chan, J. (Pt. 52), and Wright, J. (Pt. 62). Other Justices participating in the e-filing program, however, require that working copies of papers on all motions be submitted, as explained in the Protocol. It is imperative that such copies be submitted in these working copy Parts and with regard to all motions assigned to such Parts that are returnable in the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130). Failure to submit working copies will delay the processing of motions and interfere with orderly procedures in the court. If any required working copy is missing on a motion returnable in Room 130, the motion will be placed on the three-day calendar to await submission of the working copy. If the copy is still not submitted, the motion file will be transmitted to the Justice assigned for such action as the Justice deems appropriate.
Attorneys who wish to follow developments (e.g., scheduling of a conference or argument, adjournment of a motion) in cases pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County are reminded to register their cases with the court system's case tracking program, e-Track, which issues an e-mail notification whenever a court clerk records a development in a registered case in the court's case history database. There is no charge for the e-Track service. To sign up, please go to the following address:
Notifications of various developments and scheduling in pending cases are no longer sent by the court by regular mail.
Feb. 6, 2013 - Revised Feb. 20, 2013
HON. STANLEY S. OSTRAU
The Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County notes with great sorrow the passing this past weekend of the Honorable Stanley S. Ostrau, former Administrative Judge of the court and Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term, First Department.
Justice Ostrau served as a judge for almost 25 years. He was appointed to the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1973 and was elected to that court the following year. He was designated an acting Supreme Court Justice and served in that capacity for almost a decade. He was elected to Supreme Court in 1984. In 1987, together with his duties in New York County, he served as Surrogate of Bronx County.
Prior to his judicial service, Justice Ostrau had been a trial lawyer in private practice and with the office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York. He also served as Law Secretary to Justices Edward T. McCaffrey and Alvin Klein.
On the bench in New York County, Justice Ostrau handled a wide variety of assignments, from trial parts, to conference and assignment parts, to matrimonial parts. His trial experience, skill at settlement, upbeat demeanor, and passion for fairness made him exceptionally successful at every task given him. And these gifts led to his designation as Administrative Judge of the court, in which capacity he served from 1991 to 1996.
As Administrative Judge, Judge Ostrau was ever on the lookout for ways to improve the operations of the court. He made many important innovations, which continue to serve the court, litigants and the Bar to this day. For instance, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Commercial Parts in 1993 and then, working closely with the Central Administration, the Commercial Division in 1995, which effort has been judged by the commercial Bar an outstanding success. He established a variety of refinements that improved the operation of the Individual Assignment System, which had transformed a central calendar system in 1986. He created the Motion Submission Part (Courtroom 130), which reduced motion calendars in the Parts dramatically, conserved the time of Justices, and saved attorneys from having to make appearances in the very many Parts of the court to submit motion papers and obtain adjournments and freed them from having to keep track of many different motion days and locations. He promoted alternative dispute resolution as part of court operations. He led the court to incorporate orders into opinions on motions, changing long-standing practice in the court in a way that simplified and expedited proceedings for the Bar and litigants. He established a team of matrimonial Parts in place of a single matrimonial motion and trial Part, understanding the importance of providing effective and expeditious adjudication of these challenging cases, particularly those in which children were involved.
Throughout his tenure as Administrative Judge, Judge Ostrau maintained a full workload as the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term, where he served from 1986 to 1996. Under his leadership, this court was at the forefront of a very significant evolution in landlord and tenant law, a jurisprudence critical to life in New York City.
Justice Ostrau was an exceptional administrator, a fair-minded judge, a great colleague, and an always-friendly and cheerful leader of the staff. The court and the County of New York were fortunate to have had him here for so many years and will long remain in his debt.
Board of Justices,
NOTICE REGARDING CERTAIN COURT NOTIFICATIONS
In recent years, the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County has transmitted certain notices to counsel by mail. One notice advises counsel regarding the date and time that has been fixed for a preliminary conference in response to the filing of a request for a preliminary conference. Second, in City and Motor Vehicle cases, in which Case Scheduling Orders are issued by the court without need for an appearance for a preliminary conference, a copy of the order has been sent to counsel. The third form of notice advises counsel of the date of argument on certain motions that have been marked “submitted” in the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130). The motions in question are those in Parts in which the Justice directs that argument be had on a motion-by-motion basis. If a Justice requires an appearance in the Part on all motions marked submitted in Room 130, notations of the argument date are recorded in the calendar that is printed daily in the New York Law Journal reporting the actions taken in Room 130. Fourth, a notice has been mailed to counsel advising of the scheduling of an initial appearance in the Neutral Evaluation Program (informally known as “Mediation”).
Counsel are hereby informed that, beginning July 16, 2012, the court will no longer transmit these four kinds of notice. Counsel are advised to sign up for the Unified Court System’s case information notification service, called e-Track. By doing so and recording in e-Track all of counsel’s cases pending in the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, counsel will be able to receive expeditious automated notification of the events covered by these notices, as well as all other developments in those cases that are recorded in the court’s case history program, the Civil Case Information System (“CCIS”), such as the issuance of a decision on a motion, the scheduling of compliance or status conferences, or the issuance of a long form order. As soon as a preliminary conference date or a Mediation appearance date is scheduled in CCIS, a Case Scheduling Order is issued, or an argument is scheduled in CCIS for a Part, e-Track will transmit a notification of the event by e-mail. This form of notice is quicker and more reliable than notices sent by mail and the designated recipients can be tailored by counsel to each case and the needs and procedures of the office. There is no charge to use the e-Track service. For additional information about e-Track and to sign up for the service, please go to :http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain.
You may also visit E-Courts on the home page of the Unified Court System at www.nycourts.gov.
In addition, for information on the status of individual cases, attorneys may consult the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (Scroll), a joint project of the County Clerk of New York County, Hon. Norman Goodman, and the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County. Scroll provides information, on a case-by-case basis, as to all appearances scheduled for motions and conferences. Scroll also makes available other information and copies of important documents. Attorneys who are advised by e-mail from e-Track that a Case Scheduling Order has been issued in a City or Motor Vehicle action can obtain a copy of the order from Scroll. Scroll can be consulted at any time. Scroll is available at no charge on the website of Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County at “Case Information” at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh.
Scroll does not provide e-mail notification to attorneys about developments in cases. Therefore, e-Track may well prove more useful for those who wish to follow for, and receive alerts regarding, developments in cases of interest on an on-going basis.
The court system’s e-filing program, the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System, provides immediate e-mail notification whenever a document in an e-filed case is filed with that system, though it does not provide notice whenever an appearance is scheduled in CCIS.
Certain commercial attorney’s services also provide e-mail notification of scheduled appearances.
COMMERCIAL DIVISION ASSIGNMENT PROCESS
Attorneys who seek assignment of an action to the Commercial Division must submit a Request for Judicial Intervention (UCS 840, 2011 version) marked to reflect that the case involved is a commercial one, together with a completed Commercial Division RJI Addendum (UCS 840C) certifying that the case meets the requirements of the Division set forth in Uniform Rule 202.70 (a), (b), and (c). Uniform Rule 202.70 (d). In a hard-copy case a copy of the pleadings shall be submitted as well. If the Commercial Division Addendum is not submitted, the clerk will assign the case at random to a non-Division Part.
The monetary threshold in the New York County Commercial Division, which is generally applicable, is an amount in controversy of $ 500,000 or more (exclusive of punitive damages, interest, costs, disbursements, and counsel fees). If the case is designated a commercial one and the Addendum is submitted, the clerk will review the pleadings to determine whether the amount in controversy in the case meets the monetary threshold or whether an exception to the threshold applies. There are two categories of exception. First, the threshold is not applicable and the case may be assigned to the Division if it seeks equitable or declaratory relief. Uniform Rule 202.70 (b). Second, the threshold is not applicable and the case may be assigned to the Division if the action is a shareholder derivative action or a commercial class action, seeks dissolution of a corporation or other business entity, or seeks to stay or compel arbitration or affirm or disaffirm an arbitration award or seeks related injunctive relief. Uniform Rule 202.70 (b) (4), (5), (11), (12). In this review the clerk will not consider whether the case is otherwise the type of matter eligible for assignment to the Division, as provided in Rule 202.70 (b) and (c), which shall be a question for the Division Justice. If the clerk’s review determines that the threshold is not met and the matter does not fall within one of the exceptions, the clerk will assign the case at random to a General Assignment Part. If the threshold is met or if an exception applies, the clerk will assign the case at random to a Commercial Division Justice, who will review the case to ensure that it is one that properly belongs in the Division as provided by Rule 202.70 (b) and (c). See Subd. (f) (1).
The rules provide for application to the Administrative Judge to review certain assignment determinations. Any such application must be made in a timely manner. Uniform Rule 202.70 (e) and (f) (2). Rulings of the Administrative Judge have been posted on the Division website (under “Decisions Online” on the New York County home page).
The Bar is reminded that cases assigned to a Justice in one of the City Parts (Parts 5, 52, and 62) shall be placed on a Differentiated Case Management (“DCM”) Track upon the filing of the Request for Judicial Intervention (“RJI”). See Uniform Rule 202.19. All such cases shall be designated as proceeding on the “standard” pre-note track (note of issue to be filed within 12 months from filing of the RJI). Further, these cases shall be subject to an automated DCM process. That is, upon the filing of an RJI in a City case accompanied by a request for a preliminary conference or a disclosure motion, the court will automatically generate a case scheduling order without the need for an appearance by the parties. In order, however, that an EBT date can be arrived at for inclusion in the order, the City must have been previously supplied with a bill of particulars; the EBT date shall be consistent with the completion of all disclosure within the DCM track deadline, as shall be specified in the case scheduling order. Counsel in these cases are advised to provide the City with a bill of particulars forthwith, if one has not already been served. Once a case scheduling order has been signed by the Justice assigned to the case, a copy will be posted in the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (“SCROLL”), which is accessible on the court’s website (“Case Information” at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh). Counsel must consult SCROLL to obtain a copy of the order as a copy will no longer be mailed to counsel. All relevant deadlines, including the date for a compliance conference, will be set forth in the case scheduling order. Attorneys may obtain, at no charge, e-mail notification regarding issuance of the scheduling order and all other developments in their City cases and other cases by listing their cases with “E-Track,” the court system’s case tracking service, which is accessible at: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/etrackLogin or by means of the “E-Courts” link at www.nycourts.gov.
NOTICE TO THE BAR REGARDING NEW FORM OF RJI
New Form of RJI
The Unified Court System has issued a new form of Request for Judicial Intervention (“RJI”), addenda thereto, and revisions to related Uniform Rules. The new form of RJI and addenda are accessible on the website of the Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County, on the “Forms” link on the home page at www.nycourts.gov/supctmanh. Only the new form of RJI is accepted by this court The addenda that have been promulgated consist of a general addendum, which is used to identify additional parties or related cases; a matrimonial addendum, which is used when there are children under the age of 18 who are subject to the matrimonial action; a foreclosure addendum, which is used in mortgage foreclosure actions where the property is a one-to-four family owner-occupied residential property or an owner-occupied condominium; and a Commercial Division Addendum, which is used when the filer seeks an assignment of a case to the Commercial Division.
Commercial Division Assignments
In commercial cases in which the filer wishes an assignment to the Commercial Division, the filer must (i) submit the new form of RJI and, as appropriate, mark the case as a “Commercial” case, a dissolution matter (under “Other Matters”), or an Article 75 proceeding and (ii) attach a completed Commercial Division Addendum certifying that the case meets the requirements for assignment to the Commercial Division. See Uniform Rule 202.70 (d) (amended May 25, 2011). A local rule shall be promulgated requiring that a copy of the pleadings shall also be submitted. If the Commercial Division Addendum is not submitted, the clerk will assign the case at random to a General Assignment Part.
Pre-Note Time Frames
The previous RJI form contained a question regarding the pre-note-of-issue time frame that, in the filer’s view, should be assigned to the case. This time frame is also known as the Differentiated Case Management (“DCM”) “track” or the pre-note standard and goal. See Uniform Rule 202.19. A designation of each case to a particular track is made by the clerk when the RJI is filed. The main tracks are: eight months - expedited; 12 months - standard; and 15 months - complex. The previous time frame question has been omitted from the new form of RJI. The time frames, however, remain in effect. The Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County will implement the following protocol in assigning cases to DCM tracks upon filing of the RJI. The following cases will be assigned to the following tracks:
Commercial (Commercial Division and non-Division) - - Complex
Medical/Dental/Podiatric Malpractice - - Complex
Mass Torts - - Ultra-Complex (20 months)
Tax Certiorari - - Special time frame (48 months)
Matrimonial - - Special time frame (six months)
Motor Vehicle - - Expedited
All Other Cases - - Standard
Counsel may raise at the preliminary conference the question of whether a different track assignment should be made. If persuaded that the circumstances of the particular case are such that the case belongs on a shorter or longer track than the one to which the case was assigned in accordance with the foregoing protocol, the Justice may direct that the case be assigned by the clerk to another track, which will be done.
The DCM time frames or tracks constitute goals set by the Unified Court System for the expeditious processing of cases pre-note. (There is also a separate post-note standard and goal, generally of 15 months.) A note of issue should be filed within the pre-note DCM time frame recorded for the case in accordance with Uniform Rule 202.19 or else the case will be deemed out of compliance with standards and goals. The orders of the assigned Justice, however, will control when specific steps in the discovery process in any individual case must be completed. See Rule 202.19.
Filing Requirement for New RJI Form
The Unified Court System has changed the procedures regarding the obligation to file an RJI. These are reflected in the new form of RJI. See also Uniform Rule 202.6 (b) (modified effective May 25, 2011 and Jan. 10, 2012). In sum, an RJI is now required to be filed with regard to most applications; in some instances, an RJI fee ($ 95) is required and in others the filing is to be without fee. Generally, an RJI must be filed and a fee must be paid whenever the nature of the application is such as to require that there be supervision and case management of a pending case by a Justice that will extend beyond addressing the papers submitted by the applicant and therefore that there be an ongoing assignment of the case to an IAS Justice made via the court’s computer system. Examples of instances of documents that will initiate continuing judicial involvement are notices of motion or petition, proposed orders to show cause, notes of issue, notices of medical, dental and podiatric malpractice action, statements of net worth, and requests for a preliminary conference. Where, on the other hand, the application being submitted is a discrete and self-contained one that will not require continuing involvement by an IAS Justice, the RJI shall be filed without fee and the matter shall not be assigned to a Justice, but rather shall generally be referred to an Ex Parte Justice. Any application not filed in an action or proceeding, a name change application, and an application for discovery in an out-of-state case are examples of discrete applications that now are to be filed accompanied by an RJI but for which no fee need be paid. Included in this group are uncontested matrimonial matters
New RJI Required (No Fee Payable) (No Ongoing Assignment of Justice)
Uncontested matrimonial application
Application not filed in an action or proceeding
Application for an order authorizing emergency surgery
Petition for sale or finance of religious/not-for-profit property
Habeas corpus application
Application for discovery in out-of-state action (CPLR 3102 (e))
Other ex parte applications not requiring ongoing judicial assignment
New RJI Required with $ 95 Fee (Ongoing Assignment of IAS Justice)
Notice of motion or petition
Notice of medical, dental or podiatric malpractice action
Request for preliminary conference
Other applications in a case to be assigned to an IAS Justice
Infant’s,incompetent’s, and wrongful death compromise orders (no action commenced)
Revised January 19, 2012
CHANGES TO CERTAIN OFFICES AND PROCEDURES
CHANGES TO CERTAIN MOTION PROCEDURES
Effective March 15, 2011, the following changes in procedures in the Motion Support Office (Room 119) and the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130) will be implemented.
(1) An attorney seeking to submit to the Motion Support Office (Room 119) a motion or petition on notice in a hard copy case shall present only the original notice of motion or notice of petition, proof of service thereof, and any annexed Rule 202.7 affirmation/affidavit, together with one photocopy of those documents, which is used for scanning the documents into the Supreme Court Records On-Line Library (“Scroll” ) . Affirmations or affidavits in support of the motion and a memorandum of law will not be accepted at that time, but shall instead be submitted in the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130) on the final return date of the motion. Proof of service of the affirmations, affidavits and memoranda, if separate from the proof of service of the notice of motion/petition, may be submitted with the former documents. An attorney whose office is located outside the County of New York may submit by mail or express delivery service the notice of motion/petition, proof of service and Rule 202.7 affidavit/affirmation and the photocopy thereof, together with the motion fee ($ 45) in the form of a money order or attorney’s check made payable to the New York County Clerk (personal checks not accepted), provided that the package arrives within the time set forth in the next paragraph.
(2) The original notice of motion/petition, proof of service, 202.7 affirmation/affidavit and one photocopy shall be presented to Room 119 no later than five business days before the original return date, but no earlier than 30 days prior to that return date. Any such submission presented more than 30 days prior to the return date will not be accepted at that time.
(3) Heretofore, when papers on a motion/petition have been submitted in Room 119 with a request for judicial intervention, the motion/petition has been placed on the “Initial Motion Calendar” in Room 130 for the original return date. A Justice has been assigned prior to the return date and, on the return date, the matter has been adjourned one week for submission of papers. As of March 15, 2011, the Initial Motion Calendar shall be abolished. All initial motions/petitions (motions/petitions accompanied by RJI) shall appear on the “Submissions Calendar” on the original return date. The motions/petitions will not be automatically adjourned. Attorneys shall submit all papers on the motion/petition on the return date or arrange for an adjournment in accordance with the procedures of the Motion Support Office Courtroom and submit all papers on the final return date. See “Motions/Proceedings on Notice” under the “Courthouse Procedures” link on the home page of the court’s website.
(4) Cross-motions, papers in opposition, and replies on a motion/petition on notice in a hard copy case shall be submitted to the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130) on the final return date of the motion/petition and will not be accepted until that date.
(5) Documents in electronically filed cases in which a motion/petition on notice is made returnable in the Motion Support Office Courtroom (Room 130) may be e-filed at any time, as at present, except that the moving papers should be e-filed at least eight days prior to the return date to allow the staff time to process and calendar the motion. Unless the Justice assigned dispenses with such copies, attorneys must submit working copies of documents on the motion/petition in the Courtroom on the final return date, including copies of all opposition and reply documents, to each of which a copy of the Confirmation Notice shall be firmly affixed as stated above.
(6) Attorneys are reminded that motions/petitions on the calendar of the Motion Support Office Courtroom may be adjourned by e-mail where such adjournments are in conformity with the procedures of the Courtroom and provided that there are no more than three adjournments of the matter for a total of 60 days. See the link labeled “Motions/Proceedings on Notice” under “Courthouse Procedures” on the website of the court at the address listed above.
NOTICE TO THE BAR REGARDING APPLICATIONS FOR
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS SUBMITTED TO
THE EX PARTE OFFICE
Pursuant to Uniform Rule 202.7 (f), upon an application for an order to show cause that seeks a temporary restraining order, the application must contain an affirmation demonstrating that there will be significant prejudice to the party seeking the restraining order by the giving of notice. In the absence of such prejudice, the affirmation must demonstrate that a good faith effort has been made to notify the party against whom the restraining order is sought of the time, date and place that the application will be made sufficient to permit the party an opportunity to appear in response to the application. It is the practice of this court that the applicant must notify the party against whom the restraining order is sought of the time and date that the application will be submitted to the Ex Parte Office. Further, counsel shall advise the adversary that he or she will inform the adversary of the place, date and precise time when the Justice will entertain the application. Once the papers have been submitted to the Ex Parte Office, applying counsel shall contact the Part of the Justice in question to determine when and where it will be convenient for the Justice to entertain the application. Counsel shall then promptly notify the adversary. Counsel shall not appear in the courtroom of the assigned Justice without having first made such an inquiry.
Dated: August 21, 2007