Judge Samantha P. Jessner
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Not required
Adjournments
- The parties may continue a status conference by filing, at least five court days in advance, a stipulation and proposed order explaining why the conference should be continued and proposing a new status conference date.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Document Format Requirements1 rule
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Counsel should work out a marking scheme such that all parties are utilizing numbers (not letters) and there are no duplicative numbers.
Summary: Counsel must agree on a common exhibit marking scheme in which all parties use numbers (not letters) with no duplicative exhibit numbers.
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
The Parties must submit a joint ISC statement as directed in that Order.
Summary: The parties must submit a joint Initial Status Conference (ISC) statement as directed in the ISC Order.
Document Type
Joint ISC Statement
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Parties seeking do dismiss class claims must carefully follow Rule 3.770 which, among other things, requires a filed declaration describing the consideration “in detail.”
Summary: Motions to dismiss class claims must comply with Rule 3.770, including filing a declaration describing the consideration in detail.
Document Type
Motion To Dismiss Class Claims
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Court approval is required for “any proposed settlement of any civil action filed pursuant to” PAGA. (Labor Code § 2699(l)(2)). To obtain court approval, the parties must demonstrate that the terms of the settlement are “fair to those affected.” (Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 549.) A motion or application for approval must therefore establish the settlement is fair to the aggrieved employees, the LWDA, the employer, the plaintiff and plaintiff’s counsel. A PAGA plaintiff can only release claims for civil penalties that the LWDA could have recovered for the violations alleged in the plaintiff’s original notice to the LWDA.
Summary: A PAGA settlement approval motion must establish the settlement is fair to the aggrieved employees, the LWDA, the employer, the plaintiff, and plaintiff's counsel, and a PAGA plaintiff may only release civil penalties within the scope of the original LWDA notice.
Document Type
Paga Settlement Approval Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Parties filing more than one motion in limine shall number them consecutively.
Summary: Parties filing more than one motion in limine must number the motions consecutively.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
The caption (or notice) of each motion in limine must concisely identify the subject of the motion and designate the specific evidence or argument sought to be precluded.
Summary: The caption (or notice) of each motion in limine must concisely identify the motion's subject and designate the specific evidence or argument sought to be precluded.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Parties filing opposition papers shall identify, in the caption, the number of each motion to which it responds.
Summary: Opposition papers to motions in limine must identify in the caption the number of each motion to which they respond.
Document Type
Opposition
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Parties seeking preliminary or final approval for class action settlements should carefully adhere to the guidelines posted, and utilize the settlement forms, on the court’s website.
Summary: Parties seeking preliminary or final approval of class action settlements must follow the guidelines posted on the court's website and use the court's settlement forms.
Document Type
Class Action Settlement Approval Motion
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Please abstain from motions in limine that seek to require the court to follow the law (e.g., exclude irrelevant information; exclude hearsay) or ask for unspecific orders (e.g., "preclude 'reptile' voir dire".) Such matters, if there is a specific concern, are better set out in a trial brief.
Summary: Parties should not file motions in limine that merely ask the court to follow the law or seek unspecific orders; specific concerns of that kind should instead be raised in a trial brief.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Section 1005 and the requirements of Local Rule 3.57(a).
Summary: Motions in limine must comply with Code of Civil Procedure Section 1005 and Local Rule 3.57(a) (sentence truncated in source).
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Documents must be filed with the court in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure and Rules of Court; e-service providers are not a substitute for filing and the court will not download documents from them for filing.
To properly file a document with the court, a party should file it with the court in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Court. The court will not download documents from the e-service providers for filing.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | C. E-Service Providers
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Upon assignment to Department 7, the ISC Order stays all proceedings — including the defendant's filing of a responsive pleading — pending the parties' participation at the Initial Status Conference.
As soon as a new case is assigned to Department 7, the court issues an Initial Status Conference ("ISC") Order that stays all proceedings pending the parties' participation at the ISC. This includes the defendant's filing a responsive pleading.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | B. Status Conferences
The parties must file a joint statement outlining recent progress in the case at least five court days before every status conference.
The court requires the parties to file a joint statement outlining recent progress in the case five court days prior to every status conference.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | B. Status Conferences
The deadline to file a response to the operative complaint is stayed by the ISC Order.
The filing of a response to an operative complaint is stayed by the ISC Order.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | F. Informal Resolution of Demurrers and Other Motions to Challenge or Amend the Pleadings
Despite the ISC stay, defense counsel should promptly file a notice of appearance.
Defense counsel should promptly file a notice of appearance however.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | B. Status Conferences
Motions in limine should be noticed for hearing at the final status/trial readiness conference (FSC) rather than a separate date.
Motions in limine should be noticed to be heard at the FSC.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 6 | L. MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Parties must exchange a complete set of pre-marked and paginated exhibits, physically or electronically, at least five court days before the FSC.
Additionally, the parties should exchange (physically or electronically) a complete set of their pre-marked and paginated exhibits at least five court days before the FSC.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 6 | K. FINAL STATUS/TRIAL READINESS CONFERENCES (“FSCs”)
At the ISC, the court will issue an order appointing an electronic service provider (CaseAnywhere or File & ServeXpress) for the case.
At the ISC, the court will issue an order appointing an electronic service provider (CaseAnywhere or File & ServeXpress). These services enhance efficiency for the parties and the Court by permitting immediate communication.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | C. E-Service Providers
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies are not permitted in Department 7, except as provided in Section G (filing and lodging documents under seal).
NO COURTESY COPIES PLEASE (BUT SEE SECTION G BELOW)
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | NO COURTESY COPIES PLEASE (BUT SEE SECTION G BELOW)
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
All parties must comply with CRC 2.550 and 2.551 to file documents under seal; the court cannot seal documents merely because the parties agree and must make specific findings supporting sealing.
All parties must comply with California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551. The court cannot seal documents filed in Court merely because the parties agree they should be sealed.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | G. Filing and Lodging Documents Under Seal
To file confidential material with a discovery motion, parties must narrowly redact the confidential information, submit the unredacted version in a sealed envelope stapled behind a caption page that states the submission is for a discovery motion, and file a redacted public version.
To file confidential material in connection with a discovery motion, the parties should (a) narrowly identify and redact the confidential information from the confidential document; (b) submit an unredacted version in a sealed envelope stapled behind the caption page of the document (making sure that the caption page states that the submission is for a discovery motion); and (c) file a redacted version of the document (making it available to the public in the court file).
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | G. Filing and Lodging Documents Under Seal
The court must be persuaded there is a legal justification for sealing, and any sealing order must be narrowly tailored to only information protected by privacy rights, trade secrets law, or other applicable protections.
must be persuaded that there is a legal justification for sealing. The sealing order must be narrowly tailored to seal only the specific information that is protected by the right to privacy, trade secrets law, or other applicable protections.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | G. Filing and Lodging Documents Under Seal
Confidential documents submitted with discovery motions are exempt from California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551 and instead follow this court's own procedure.
Confidential documents submitted in connection with discovery motions are not governed by Rules 2.550 and 2.551.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | G. Filing and Lodging Documents Under Seal
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
The court strongly recommends (but does not require) that parties engage in the Informal Discovery Conference process before filing any discovery motion.
The court requests and recommends that parties engage in the IDC process before filing any discovery motion. This is a strong recommendation. However, the court does not require an IDC as a predicate to the filing of a discovery motion.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | E. Informal Discovery Conferences (IDCs)
The court strongly recommends that parties discuss pleadings challenges informally and stipulate to amended pleadings before filing demurrers or motions challenging the pleadings.
Many pleadings challenges can be resolved informally before the expenditure of time and money to file demurrer or motion papers. The court recommends strongly that the parties take the time and make the effort to discuss these matters, and to stipulate to the filing of amended pleadings where feasible.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | F. Informal Resolution of Demurrers and Other Motions to Challenge or Amend the Pleadings
Before preparing an ex parte application for emergency relief, counsel should (but are not required to) request an informal conference by joint posting on the e-service bulletin and contacting courtroom staff for a time and date.
The court's willingness to conduct informal conferences on short notice often will obviate the time and expense necessary to litigate ex parte applications for emergency relief. Before investing any time in the preparation of an ex parte application, please consider posting a joint request for an informal conference on the e-service bulletin and contact the courtroom staff to obtain a time and date.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | A. General
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
The moving party must inform the court at the earliest possible moment when a motion will not be heard and will go off calendar (CRC 3.1306(b)), post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board, and telephone the courtroom.
To help the court avoid unnecessary preparation for motions that will not be heard, the moving party must inform the court, at the earliest possible moment, that a matter will go off calendar. This is required under California Rules of Court 3.1306(b). Please also post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board and telephone the courtroom.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | I. Promptly Take Hearings Off Calendar
The parties may continue a status conference by filing, at least five court days in advance, a stipulation and proposed order explaining why the conference should be continued and proposing a new status conference date.
If the parties agree that they are making progress and there is no good reason to appear for a status conference, they may file (at least five court days prior) a stipulation and proposed order to continue the status conference that explains why the conference should be continued and a proposed new status conference date.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | B. Status Conferences
Parties are strongly encouraged to stipulate to extend deadlines for motions to compel further responses to permit the IDC process, and the court may extend such deadlines for good cause on a case-by-case basis.
The parties are (strongly) encouraged to agree to reasonable stipulations on deadlines to file motions to compel further responses to permit the IDC process to operate. The court may, for good cause, extend such deadlines on a case-by-case basis.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | E. Informal Discovery Conferences (IDCs)
Chambers Communication Rules
Postings to the e-service provider bulletin boards, which communicate directly with the court, must be made jointly by the parties and not unilaterally to avoid unauthorized ex parte communications.
The e-service providers' bulletin boards provide a mechanism for immediate communication directly with the court. The court requires the parties to make joint, not unilateral, postings to avoid unauthorized ex parte communications.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | C. E-Service Providers
When a matter goes off calendar, the party must telephone the courtroom (and post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board) in addition to notifying the court.
Please also post the announcement on the e-service bulletin board and telephone the courtroom.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 5 | I. Promptly Take Hearings Off Calendar
Counsel may telephone the courtroom at (213) 310-7007 on short notice, including upon a deposition impasse, to arrange an immediate conference call with the court, though the court may not be available at all times.
The court is available, on short notice, to confer with all counsel to seek to resolve issues and disputes. Parties who reach an impasse during a deposition may telephone the courtroom to arrange an immediate conference call with the court. The court may not be available at all times of course.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | A. General
A party seeking to file a motion or demurrer may schedule a discussion with the court via a joint posting on the bulletin board.
A party seeking to file a motion or demurrer may also schedule a discussion with the court by a joint posting on the bulletin board.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | F. Informal Resolution of Demurrers and Other Motions to Challenge or Amend the Pleadings
IDCs should be scheduled by joint posting on the e-service bulletin boards, with the posting succinctly describing the nature of the impasse.
The e-service bulletin boards are the best way to schedule an IDC. The parties' joint posting should very succinctly describe the nature of the impasse.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 4 | E. Informal Discovery Conferences (IDCs)