Microsoft Word - Pro_Se_Guide__August

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REPRESENTINGYOURSELFINA 

CIVILCASE:

AGUIDEFORTHEPROSE

LITIGANT

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DISCLAIMER:THISGUIDEISNOTLEGALADVICEANDISNOTASUBSTITUTEFORHIRINGANATTORNEYTOREPRESENTYOU.

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August2024

TABLEOFCONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................3

WEBSITE........................................................................................................................................................4

DEFINITIONSOFCOMMONLEGALWORDS..................................................................................................4

THEDISTRICT,CLERK'SOFFICE,ANDGENERALCOURTINFO RMATION.......................................................6

FILINGACIVILCASE.....................................................................................................................................10

DEFENDINGACIVILCASE............................................................................................................................14

THEDISTRICT'SFEESCHEDULE...................................................................................................................15

FORMS/RULESAVAILABLEATTHECLERK’SOFFICESORON

THEDISTRICT’SWEBSITE:............................16

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WARNING:Rule11oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedureprohibitsyoufromfilingalawsuitthat

isclearlyfrivolousorfiledmerelytoharasssomeone.Ifafterreviewingyourcomplaint,thecourt

determinesthatyouhavefiledalawsuitforanimproperorclearlyunnecessarypurpose,itmay

imposesanctionsagainstyou.Otherrulesofcivilprocedureallowthatifyouloseyourcase,you

mayberequiredtopaysomeofthecoststhatthewinningpartyincurredinthe lawsuit.

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August2024

INTRODUCTION

ThisguideisintendedtohelpapersonwhowantstofileordefendacivilcaseintheUnitedStates

DistrictCourtfortheEasternDistrictofNorthCarolina(“theDistrict”)withoutanattorney.This

guideisnotintendedforprisonerlitigation.



Someonewhorepresentsherselforhimselfinalawsuitisoftenreferredtoasaprosepartyor

pro se litigant (pronounced "pro say").If you are a pro se litigant, this guide may aid you in

understanding some of the legal words you are likely to hear as your case proceeds. It also

explainsbasicstepsinthecourtprocessandrefersyoutoafewlegalresourcesyoumaywishto

consult.Thisguide  willnotanswerallyourquestionsaboutwhatyouneedtodotorepresent

yourself.Thisguideisnotlegaladviceandisnotasubstituteforanattorney.Also,youshould

keepin mindthatthis guide isnot binding and thatthe  judge mayhavedifferent practicesor

preferencesthatyoumustfollow.Itisstronglyrecommendedthatyouseektheassistanceofa

lawyertomakesureyourcaseisproperlypreparedandfiled.Unlikeinacriminalcase,thecourt

willnotprovideanattorneyforyousimplybecauseyoucannotaffordrepresentation.

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ThestaffoftheClerk'sOffice,ordeputyclerks,cananswergeneralquestionsaboutprocedures.

Theyarenotallowedtofilloutanyformsforyouortogiveyoufreecopiesofdocuments.The

deputyclerkscannotgiveyoulegaladvice.Thismeans,forexample,thattheClerk'sstaff cannot

doanyofthefollowing:

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 recommendalegalcourseofactionorsuggestwaystohelpyouwinyourcase;

 predicthoworwhenadistrictormagistratejudgemaydecideanyissue;

 interpretthemeaningofanyjudicialorder;

 interpretthelaworfederalorlocalrules;

 calculateresponsetimesordeadlines;or

 conductlegalresearch.

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Therulesandproceduresthatapartymustfollowinacivilcasemaybedifficultto understand.

You should seriously consider the risks of representing yourself and the benefits of obtaining 

professionallegalassistance.Ifyoudecide torepresentyourself,youareresponsibleforlearning

about and following the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of Practice and

Procedure,andthelaw.Thecourtgenerally expectsyou to followits rulesand thelaw,even

thoughyouarenotalawyer.

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Youareencouragedtoreadthisguidecompletelybecauseitcontainsimportantinformation

thatyoushouldknow.

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August2024

WEBSITE

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The District’s website address is: http://www.nced.uscourts.gov/.The website contains the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of Practice and Procedure, and other useful

information.Youwillalsofindsamplesofalloftheformsmentionedinthisguideonthewebsite.

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DEFINITIONSOFCOMMONLEGALWORDS

*ASDEFINEDBYTHEADMINISTRATIVEOFFICEOFTHEUNITEDSTATESCOURTS

HTTP

://WWW.USCOURTS.GOV/COMMON/GLOSSARY.ASPX

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Answer

Theformalwrittenstatementbyadefendantinacivilcasethat

respondstoacomplaint,articulatingthegroundsfordefense.

Brief

Awrittenstatementsubmittedinatrial orappellateproceedingthat

explainsoneside'slegalandfactualarguments.

ClerkofCourt

Thecourtofficerwhooverseesadministrativefunctions,especially

managingtheflowofcasesthroughthecourt.Theclerk'sofficeisoften

calledacourt'scentralnervoussystem.

Complaint

Awrittenstatementthatbeginsacivillawsuit,inwhichtheplaintiff

detailstheclaimsagainstthedefen dant.

Counsel

Legaladvice;atermalsousedtorefertothelawyersinacase.

Damages

Moneythatadefendantpaysaplaintiffinacivilcaseiftheplaintiffhas

won.Damagesmaybecompensatory(forlossorinjury)orpunitive(to

punishanddeterfuturemisconduct).

Defaultjudgment

Ajudgmentawardingaplaintiffthereliefsought inthecomplaint

becausethedefendanthasfailedtoappearincourtorotherwise

respondtothecomplaint.

Defendant

Anindividual(orbusiness)againstwhomalawsuitisfiled.

Discovery

Proceduresusedtoobtaindisclosureofevidencebeforetrial.

Districtjudge

AfederaljudgewhoisappointedunderArticleIIIoftheConstitution.

ArticleIIIjudgesarenominatedbythePresidentandconfirmedbythe

Senate.

Docket

Alogcontainingthecompletehistoryofeachcaseintheformofbrief

chronologicalentriessummarizingthecourtprocee dings.

File

Toplaceapaperintheofficialcustodyoftheclerkofcourttoenterinto

thefilesorrecordsofthecase.

Informapauperis



"Inthemannerofapauper.”Permissiongivenbythecourttoaperson

tofileacasewithoutpaymentoftherequiredcourtfeesbecausethe

personcannotpaythem.

Interrogatories

Aformofdiscoveryconsistingofwrittenquestionstobeansweredin

writingandunderoath.

Judgment

Theofficialdecisionofacourtfinallyresolvingthedisputebetweenthe

partiestothelawsuit.

August2024

Jurisdiction

Thelegalauthorityofacourttohearanddecideacertaintypeofcase.

Italsoisusedasasynonymforvenue,meaningthegeographicarea

overwhichthecourthasterritorialjurisdictiontodecidecases.

Lawsuit

Alegalactionstartedbyaplaintiffagainstadefendantbasedona

complaintthatthedefendantfailedtoperformalegaldutywhich

resultedinharmtotheplaintiff.

Litigation

Acase,controversy,orlawsuit.Participants(plaintiffsanddefendants)

inlawsuitsarecalledlitigants.

Magistratejudge

Ajudicialofficerofadistrictcourtwhoconductsinitialproceedingsin

criminalcases,decidescriminalmisdemeanorcases,conductsmany

pretrialcivilandcriminalmattersonbehalfofdistrictjudges,and

decidescivilcaseswiththeconsentoftheparties.

Moot

Notsubjecttoacourtrulingbecausethecontroversyhasnotactually

arisen,orhasended.

Motion

Arequestbyalitiganttoajudgeforadecisiononanissuerelatingto

thecase.

Plaintiff

Apersonorbusinessthatfilesaformalcomplaintwiththecourt.

Pleadings

Writtenstatementsfiledwiththecourtthatdescribeaparty'slegalor

factualassertionsaboutthecase.

Sanction

Apenaltyorothertypeofenforcementusedtobringaboutcompliance

withthelaworwithrulesandregulations.

ServiceofProcess

Thedeliveryofwritsorsummonsestotheappropriateparty.

Settlement

Partiestoalawsuitresolvetheirdisputewithouthavingatrial.

Settlementsofteninvolvethepaymentofcompensationbyonepartyin

atleastpartialsatisfactionoftheotherparty'sclaims,butusuallydonot

includetheadmissionoffault.

SummaryJudgment

Adecisionmadeonthebasisofstatementsandevidencepresentedfor

therecordwithoutatrial.Itisusedwhenitisnotnecessarytoresolve

anyfactualdisputesinthecase.Summaryjudgmentisgrantedwhen–

ontheundisputedfactsintherecord–onepartyisentitled

tojudgment

asamatteroflaw.





 



August2024



THEDISTRICT,CLERK'SOFFICE,ANDGENERALCOURTINFORMATION



TheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfor theEasternDistrictofNorthCarolina("theDistrict")covers

theforty‐fourcountiesshownonthismap.TheDistrictisdividedintofourdivisions–Eastern,

Western, Northern, and Southern. Court is held in six cities in the District:Elizabeth City,

Fayetteville,Greenville,NewBern,Raleigh,andWilmington.



Northern Division

Bertie

Camden

Chowan

Currituck

Dare

Gates

Hertford

Northampton

Pasquotank

Perquimans

Tyrrell

Washington

Eastern Division

Beaufort

Carteret

Craven

Edgecombe

Greene

Halifax

Hyde

Jones

Lenoir

Martin

Pamlico

Pitt

Western Division

Cumberland

Franklin

Granville

Harnett

Johnston

Nash

Vance

Wake

Wayne

Warren

Wilson

Southern Division

Bladen

Brunswick

Columbus

Duplin

New Hanover

Onslow

Pender

Robeson

Sampson

August2024

WHATARETHELOCATIONSANDBUSINESSHOURSOFTHEOFFICESOFTHECLERKOFCOURT?



TheheadquartersoftheClerkofCourt(“Clerk”)isinRaleigh.TheClerkalsohasstaffedoffices

inGreenville,NewBern,andWilmington.TheClerk’sOfficesareopenMondaythroughFriday,

with the exception of federal holidays or by order of the court.You may obtain complaint

packets,forms,andinformationaboutprocedures,fees,andrulesatanystaffedofficeandon

theDistrict’swebsite.



GREENVILLE

U.S.Courthouse

201SouthEvansSt.,

Room209

Greenville,NC27858

NEWBERN

U.S.PostOffice&

Courthouse

413MiddleStreet

NewBern,NC28560

RALEIGH

Physicaladdress:

TerrySanfordFederal

Building&Courthouse

310NewBernAvenue

Raleigh,NC27601



MailingAddress:

POBox25670

Raleigh,NC27611



WILMINGTON

2PrincessStreet.

Wilmington,NC

28401

(252)830‐6009

8:30a.m.–4:30p.m.



(252)638‐8534

8:00a.m.–5:00p.m.

(919)645‐1700

8:30a.m.–4:30p.m.



(910)815‐4663

8:30a.m.–4:30p.m.



HOWDOYOUFINDINFORMATIONABOUTTHESTATUSOFYOURCASE?



Mostdocumentsfiledwiththecourtarefiledelectronically.Theclerk’sofficeisresponsiblefor

uploading documents filed by pro se parties into the Case Management/Electronic Case Files

(“CM/ECF”)system.TheClerk’sOfficemaintainsarecord,ordocket,foreverycase.TheCM/ECF

systemallowspublicaccesstothecourt’sdocket.Youmayreviewthedocketonapublicaccess

terminal at the Clerk’s offices in Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington.The deputy

clerksmaylimitthetimethatyouareallowedtousethepublicaccessterminal.Dependingon

theiravailability,Clerk’sOfficestaffmayhelpyoufindinformationaboutyourcaseonthepublic

access terminal. You may also obtain case information through the federal judiciary’s Public

AccesstoCourtElectronicRecords(“PACER”).PACERisavailabletoanyonewhoregistersforan

accountathttp://www.pacer.gov/.TheClerk’sOfficewillalsoprovidebasicdocketinformation

overthephone.



HOWMUCHDOESITCOSTTOFILEALAWSUIT?



Thefilingandadministrative feeforopeningacivilactioninanyU.S.DistrictCourtis$405.00.

Paymentmaybemadeincash,bypersonalcheck,ormoneyordermadepayabletoClerk,U.S.

District Court.You may also pay by credit card.American Express, Mastercard, and Visa are

accepted.

August2024



WHATIFYOUCANNOTAFFORDTOPAYTHEFILINGFEE?



Ifyoucannotaffordtopaythefilingfee,youmayfileanapplicationtoproceedinformapauperis

(“IFPapplication”)(FormAO239).



TheIFPApplicationasksyouquestionsaboutyourincomeandassets.Youmustfollow

theinstructionscompletely,answertruthfully,andsigntheapplication.Thedeputyclerk

willsendtheIFPapplication,thecomplaint,andanyotherdocumentsyousubmittedwith

thecomplainttotheassigneddistrictjudgeoramagistratejudge.



AfterreviewingyourIFPapplication,the judgemaydenyyourrequest.Ifthishappens,

youhavethirtydaystopaythefilingfee.LocalCivilRule3.2statesthatyourcasewillbe

closed if you do not pay the filing fee on time.The judge may also find that your IFP

applicationisincomplete.Youmustfollow thejudge’sinstructionsandrespondwithin

thetimeallowed.



If the judge allows you to proceed in forma pauperis,  the judge then will review your

complaint to determine if it is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which

reliefmaybegranted,orseeksreliefagainstadefendantwhoisimmunefromsuchrelief.

Thisprocessiscalleda“frivolityreview.”Thejudgemay allowyourcasetoproceedor

dismisssomeorallofyourclaims.



WHATSHOULDTHECOURTPAPERSLOOKLIKE?



Local Civil Rule 10.1 provides the format requirements for all documents filed with the court.

Belowisasummaryonly ofsomeoftherequirements.



Eachdocumentfiledwiththecourt:



 mustbeonstandardsized(8½x11)paperwithaone‐inchmarginonallsides

 musthaveafontsizeof11pointsorgreater

 mustcontainthecasenumberandthecaptionofthecase

 mustidentifythetitleofthedocument(e.g.,Complaint,Answer,MotiontoDismiss)

 mustcontainyouroriginalsignatureanddateonthefinalpage,followedbyyourtyped

orprintedname(intheexactformasyoursignature),address,andtelephonenumber

 mustincludeacompletedcertificateofservice



YOURDOCUMENTSSHOULDBETYPEDORWRITTENNEATLYANDLEGIBLY.



YOUSHOULDALWAYSMAKEACOPYOFEVERYDOCUMENTFORYOUROWNRECORDS.

Complaints,motions,briefs,orotherdocumentssenttothejudgeorClerkofCourtintheform

ofaletterdonotcomplywiththeFederalRulesorLocalRules.

August2024



Alldocumentsfiledwiththecourtareidentifiedbyacaption.Whenyoufilloutyourcomplaint,

you must list the full names of all parties to the lawsuit in the caption, the case number, the

division,andthetitleofthedocument.ThecasenumberisassignedbytheClerk’sOfficeupon

receiptofthecase‐openingdocuments. Youmustincludethecasenumberonalldocumentsyou

fileafterthecomplaint.LocalCivilRule40.1(c)explainshowtoselecttherightdivision.

SAMPLECAPTION:



IntheUnitedStatesDistrictCourt

FortheEasternDistrictofNorthCarolina

________Division

No._______



A.Smith,

Plaintiff,

)

TITLE(e.g.,Complaint,Answer

orMotiontoDismiss)

v.



)

B.Jones,T.Johnson

R.Thomas,andXYZ,Inc.,



Defendants.

)



SAMPLECERTIFICATEOFSERVICE:



 IcertifythatIhaveservedacopyof(insertnameofdocument–e.g.motionforan

extensionoftime)oninsertdateby(insertmethodofservice–e.g.U.S.Mailorcertifiedmail,

returnreceiptrequested)onthefollowing:(insertnamesofattorneysandanypartywho

appearsprose).



Yoursignature

 Yourtypedorprintedname

Yourcompleteaddress

Yourtelephonenumber

 





 

August2024

FILINGACIVILCASE

WHATDOYOUNEEDTOGETSTARTED?



To begin your lawsuit, you must file a complaint, civil cover sheet, disclosure of corporate affiliations

(financialdisclosurestatement),noticeofself‐representation,ands ummons.Youmustalsosubmiteither 

thefilingfeeoranIFPapplication.Youshouldcompleteeachofthesedocumentsbeforeyouarriveat

theClerk'sOffice.



(1) Complaint–Thecomplaintexplainsthereasonforyourlawsuit.Youareencouragedto

typeyourcomplaint.Handwrittencomplaintsmustbelegible.

The District provides forms for employment discrimination (EEOC)  and general

complaints,aswellasotherdocumentsyouneedtogetstarted.Youmayobtainthese

formsatanystaffedClerk’sOfficeandontheDistrict’swebsite.



Please note that the complaint forms contain numbered paragraphs.If possible, each

paragraph should coveraseparatepointofyourcase.You are required to identify all

defendants by name and address, state the reasons why you believe the court has

jurisdiction,thefactsyoubelievearesufficienttosupportaclaimagainsteachdefendant,

the claim or causes of action you are bringing against each defendant, and the relief

sought.Ifyouarerequestingajurytrial,youmustincludeyourrequestinyourcomplaint.

Each plaintiff must sign and date all documents, print her or his name, and provide a

currentaddressandtelephonenumber.



DONOTlistaperson’sSocialSecuritynumber,taxpayer‐identificationnumber,birthdate,

orfinancial‐accountnumberorthenameofaminorchildinyourcomplaintoranyother

documentfiledwiththecourt.Ifyoubelieve thatthispersonalidentifyinginformationis

importanttoyourcase,youshouldlistonlythelastfour digitsofanynumber,theyearof

theindividual’sbirth,ortheinitialsoftheminorchild.Youshould“blackout”(redact)

anypersonalidentifyinginformationbeforefilingadocument.



You may file your papers by delivering or mailing them to any staffed Clerk’s Office

regardlessofthedivisionor judge to which thecaseisassigned.Youmay not file any

documentsbyfacsimileore‐mailwithoutapprovalfromthecourt.



(2) Civilcoversheet(FormJS44)–Youmustsubmitacompletedcivilcoversheetandacopy

foreachdefendant.



(3) Filing fee – You must submit the $405 civil filing and administrative fee or a fully

completed original Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or

Costswithacopyforeachdefendant(FormAO239).



August2024

(4) DisclosureofCorporateAffiliationsStatement–Youmustsubmittheoriginaldisclosure

tothecourtwithacopyforeachdefendant.SeeFederalRuleofCivilProcedure7.1and

LocalCivilRule7.3.



(5) NoticeofSelf‐Representation–Youmustsubmitacompletedandsignednoticeofself‐

representationifyouareproceedingprose.



(6) Summons(FormAO440)–Youmustsubmitanoriginalandtwocopiesofthesummons

foreachdefendant.



Uponsubmission,thedeputyclerkwillreviewyourfilingsforcompletion.Acomputerprogram

assignsacasenumberandrandomlyselectsthedistrictjudge.Amagistratejudgemayalsobe

designatedforyourcase.

HOWDOESTHEDEFENDANTLEARNABOUTTHELAWSUIT?



Eachdefendantmustbenotifiedaboutthelawsuit(servedwithprocess).Thecasewillnotgo

forward against a defendant who has not been served.Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedureexplainsthestepsandthetimelimitforsecuringproperservice.



(1) IFYOUPAIDTHEFILINGFEE,theclerkwillsign(issue)anoriginalsummonsandonecopy

foreachdefendant.Theclerkretainstheoriginalsummonsforthecourt'sfileandreturns

asignedcopytoyou.



Itisyourresponsibilitytoserveeachdefendantproperly.Improperservicemayresultin

the dismissal of your case. You may  not serve the summons yourself.Rather, the

summons, complaint, and financial disclosure statement may be served on each

defendantasfollows:

 Personalservicebyanypersonovertheageof18whoisnotapartytothecase.

 Certifiedmail,returnreceiptrequested,byanypersonovertheageof18whois

notapartytothecase.

 ServicebyaUnitedStatesMarshalorappointedpersonifthecourtgrantsyour

request.



Youcanalsoaskeachdefendanttowaiveservicebysendingacopyofthecomplaint,a

Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service (Form AO 398), and a Waiver of

Summons(FormAO399).Fortheplaintiff,thebenefitofwaivingserviceisnothavingto

paythecostofservingthesummons.Adefendantwhowaivesserviceisallowedextra

time–60days‐torespondtothecomplaint.TheUnitedStatesandsomeotherparties

cannotwaiveservice.



(2) IFTHECOURT GRANTS YOUR IFPAPPLICATIONAND ALLOWS YOUR CASE TOPROCEED,

thedeputyclerkwillissuethesummonsthatyouprepared.Typically,thejudgewilldirect

August2024

theclerktoforwardthesummonsandcomplainttotheUnitedStatesMarshalsService

toserveeachdefendant.However,the courtmayrequireyoutoservethesummonsand

complaint.Youshouldfollowthejudge’sinstructions.

HOWISSERVICEPERFECTEDONTHEUNITEDSTATES,ITSAGENCIES,CORPORATIONS,OFFICERS

OREMPLOYEES?



 YoushouldreadRule4(i)oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedurewhichexplainsthis

process.



(1) WhentheUnitedStatesofAmericaisadefendant(e.g.,JohnDoev.UnitedStates),

servicemaybeperfected:



 Byeither(a)deliveringthesummonsandcomplainttotheUnitedStatesAttorney

for the district where the complaint is filed; or, (b) sending the summons and

complaintbyregisteredorcertifiedmailtotheattentionofthecivilprocessclerk

intheUnitedStatesAttorney’sOfficeinthedistrictwherethecomplaintisfiled,

asfollows:



UnitedStatesAttorneyfortheEasternDistrictofNorthCarolina

CivilProcessClerk

150FayettevilleStreet,Suite2100

Raleigh,NC27601



AND



 By sending the  summons and complaint by registered or certified mail to the

UnitedStatesAttorneyGeneralinWashington,D.C.asfollows:



AttorneyGeneraloftheUnitedStates

U.S.DepartmentofJustice

950PennsylvaniaAvenueNW

Washington,D.C.20530



 Ifyourcomplaintchallenges the validity ofanorderof an officeroragency not

listedasapartytoyourcase,thesummonsandcomplaintmustalsobeservedon

theofficeroragencythatissuedtheorderbyregisteredorcertifiedmail.



(2) Whenafederalofficer,agency,orcorporationisadefendant(e.g.,JohnDoev.

CommissionerofSocialSecurity;JaneDoev.InternalRevenueService),servicemaybe

perfected



 By following the steps listed above to serve the United States Attorney and

AttorneyGeneral;and

August2024



 By sending the  summons and complaint by registered or certified mail to the

federalofficer,agency,orcorporationnamedasadefendant.



IFYOUDONOTPERFECTSERVICEWITHIN90DAYSFROMTHEDATETHECOMPLAINTISFILED,

YOURCASEMAYBEDISMISSED.ALSO,YOUMUSTFILEWITHTHECLERKPROOFOFSERVICE

ONEACHDEFENDANT.SEERULE4(l)AND(m)OFTHEFEDERALRULESOFCIVILPROCEDURE.



HOWDOYOUFILEAMOTION?



Youmayneedtoaskthejudgetoinstructtheopposingpartytodosomethingconnectedtoyour

case,oryoumayneedtoaskthe judgetoallowyoutodosomething.Whenyourequestthe

courttotakespecificaction,youdosobyfilingamotionwiththeClerk.Forexample,youmay

askthejudgetodirectthedefendanttogiveyouaccesstocertainrecordsduringthediscovery

phaseofyourcase,oraskthejudgetograntyouanextensionoftimetofileadocument.Another

exampleisadispositivemotion,suchasamotiontodismiss,motionforsummaryjudgment,or

motionforjudgmentonthepleadings.Adispositivemotionmayresolveanissueorendthecase

beforetrial.



Someofthecourt’sbasicproceduralrulesformotionsarecontainedinLocalCivilRules6.1,7.1,

7.2and10.1.LocalCivilRule7.2limitsthelengthofabriefinsupportofamotionorinresponse

toamotionto30pages.Youmustfileaseparatemotionrequestingleave,orpermission,tofile

alongerbrief.TheLocalCivilRulesalsosetdeadlinesforthetimetorespondtomotions.



As with all otherdocuments filed with the court, youmustprovide a copy of the motion and

memorandumtoeachparty.Thesedocumentsmustincludeacertificateofservice.Rule5of

theFederalRulesofCivilProceduretellsyouhowtoservedocumentsfiledwiththecourtafter

theoriginalcomplaint.



Motionsareusuallydecidedbythecourtwithoutahearingrequiringthepartiestoappearbefore

thejudge.Ifajudgedecidestoholda hearing,theClerk’sOfficewillsendyouanoticeofthe

date,time,andlocationofthehearing.



HOWDOYOURECEIVEDOCUMENTSFILEDINTHECASE?



Motionsfiledby otherpartiesshouldbesenttoyoubythemovingpartyviamail.Courtorders

ornoticeswillbesentto you by mail.If you are not represented by an attorney and are not

currentlyincarcerated, youmaychoose to receive documents in your civilcaseselectronically

(viaalinksentbyemail)insteadofbymail.



Ifyouwouldliketoreceivedocumentselectronically,andnotbymail,youmust(1)signupfora

PACERloginandpasswordand(2)completeandsigntheProSeConsent&RegistrationFormto

Receive Documents Electronically.Registering to receive documents electronically does not

allow you to electronically file your documents.Information on how to register for a PACER

August2024

accountisavailableathttps://www.pacer.gov/reg_pacer.html.TheProSeConsent&Registration

Formisavailableathttp://www.nced.uscourts.gov/oratanystaffedClerk’sOffice.



WHAT

IFYOUMOVEWHILEYOURCASEISPENDING?



Local Civil  Rule 83.3 requires you to provide written notice to the court of your new address

within14days.Thecourtmaydismissyourcaseifyoufailtofileatimelychangeofaddress.



HOWCANYOUDISMISSYOURLAWSUIT?



Once you have filed your case, you must  follow the court’s orders and diligently pursue your

action.If you change your mind and no longer would like to proceed, you may dismiss your

action.Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure explains  voluntary and involuntary

dismissals.

DEFENDINGACIVILCASE

Ifyouareservedwithasummonsandacivil  complaint,youmaydefendonlyyourselfagainst

theplaintiff’sclaims.Unlessyouareanattorney,youarenotallowedtorepresentacorporation

evenifyouaretheowneroranofficer.Acorporationmayonlybe representedbyanattorney.

Keepinmindthatyoushouldseriouslyconsiderobtainingprofessionallegalassistance.

TheFederalRulesofCivilProceduresetadeadlineforyoutoanswerorrespondtoacomplaint.

Typically,youmustfileananswerorresponsivemotionwithin21daysafterbeingservedwith

thesummonsandcomplaint.Ifyoureceivearequesttowaiveservice,youmustreturntheform

to the plaintiff within 30 days of the date the Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver was

mailedtoyou.Ifyousignthe“WaiverofService,”youareallowed60daysfromthedatethe

plaintiffmailedthewaivertorespondtothecomplaint.Youmayfileyouranswerorresponsive

motionbymailingorbringingittooneofthestaffedClerk’soffices.

Yourresponseshouldincludethecasecaptionthatappearsonthecomplaint.Theanswershould

state any defenses you have to the plaintiff’s claims and admit or deny the allegations in the

complaint.Youshouldrequestajuryinyouranswer,ifyouwouldlikeajurytrial.

When you file your answer or responsive motion, you must also file a financial disclosure

statementandanoticeofself‐representation.SeeFederalRuleofCivilProcedure7.1andLocal

CivilRules5.2and7.3.

Youmustmailacopyofeverythingyoufilewiththecourttotheplaintiff’sattorneyortheplaintiff

(ifheorsheisprose)andtoanyadditionalparty.Youmustattachacertificateofservicetothese

documents.

Ifyouhavebeenservedwithasummonsandcomplaintoryouwereservedwithacomplaint

andagreedtowaiveserviceandyoudonotfileananswerorotherresponse,theplaintiffmay

asktheClerkofCourttoenterdefaultandtheCourttoorderadefaultjudgmentagainstyou.

SeeFederalRuleofCivilProcedure55.

August2024

THEDISTRICT'SFEESCHEDULE

(EFFECTIVEDECEMBER1,2023)



FilingFees



CivilComplaintorStateCourtRemoval



$405.00—includesa $55.00administrative

fee(Theadministrativefeedoesnotapply

to persons granted IFP status under 28

U.S.C.§1915orforapplicationsforawrit

ofhabeascorpus)



NoticeofAppealtotheCourtofAppeals



$605.00–includes$5docketingfee



Miscellaneous Case, Out of District Subpoena,

Registration of Foreign Judgment, Power of

Attorney



$52.00

MiscellaneousFees



PhotocopiesmadebyCourtpersonnel(perpage) $0.50



Photocopiesofdocumentsprintedfrom

CM/ECF(perpage)



TapeReproductions



$0.10



$34.00



RecordSearches(pernameoritemsearchedof

thedistrictcourtrecords)



$34.00



Retrieval of one box of records from a Federal

Records Center, National  Archives, or other

storage location removed from the place of

businessofthecourt



Certifications(each)



$ 70.00($43 for each additional box)

**For electronic retrievals, $11 plus any

chargesassessedbytheFederalRecords

Center,NationalArchivesCenter,orother

storagelocationremovedfromtheplace

ofbusinessofthecourt



$12.00



Exemplificationofanydocumentorpage



$24.00



ReturnedCheckFee



$53.00



August2024





FORMS/RULESAVAILABLEATTHECLERK’SOFFICESORONTHE

DISTRICT’SWEBSITE:



 CivilCoverSheet(JS44)

 Summons(AO440)

 WaiverofService

 InFormaPauperisApplication(AO239)

 Complaint[General]

 Complaint[EmploymentDiscrimination]

 FinancialDisclosureStatement

 NoticeofSelf‐Representation

 Rule4oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedure



ProSeConsent&RegistrationFormtoReceiveDocumentsElectronically