Judge Adel A. Harb
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Email • Upon Filing
Opposition
- Email • Upon Filing
Reconsideration Motions
- Email • Upon Filing
Adjournments
- Track One cases may be adjourned to Track Two by mutual stipulation; all other adjournment requests require a motion.
- Parties may stipulate to one adjournment of a motion; if they cannot proceed after that, the motion is dismissed and may be refiled later.
- Trial dates will not be adjourned without a motion and a showing of good cause.
- +1 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026Mandatory
Exhibits are limited to 100 pages; court permission is required for exhibits exceeding 100 pages.
Exhibits are limited to 100 pages. Court permission must be obtained for exhibits exceeding 100 pages.
Exhibits
100 pages
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Parties must adhere to the page limits outlined in MCR 2.116(G) and MCR 2.119(A)(2)(a): Attorneys must obtain Court approval to file any motion and brief or response and brief over 20 pages. Reply briefs are limited to 5 pages.
Summary: Attorneys must obtain court approval for summary disposition motions/briefs or responses over 20 pages; reply briefs are limited to 5 pages.
Brief
20 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Reply Brief
5 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Document Filing Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026Mandatory
Appeals must attach a Motion and Brief directing the Court to specific errors supported by the transcript, the lower court transcript or orders appealed, and proof the transcript was ordered upon filing if required.
Parties must attach - Motion and Brief- directing this Court to specific errors supported by the Transcript. - Lower Court transcript or Motions and Orders Appealed. - Proof that the transcript was ordered upon filing, if required.
Document Type
Appeal
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Motions must include any relevant documents and an Affidavit of a person with knowledge of the facts and circumstances surrounding the relief requested. For example: a Breach of Contract case should include the Contract and an Affidavit stating the balanced owed; a Personal Injury case should include medical records, bills and an Affidavit of the injured party outlining the injuries.
Summary: Default judgment motions must include relevant documents and an affidavit of a person with knowledge of the facts and circumstances surrounding the relief requested.
Document Type
Default Judgment
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Motions to Adjourn: Must include a copy of the scheduling order and list all relevant dates (including the filing date) in the body of the Motion.
Summary: Motions to adjourn must include a copy of the scheduling order and list all relevant dates in the body of the motion.
Document Type
Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Note?
At the time of filing the Answer, Defendant should submit a Request to Produce directed to the Plaintiff requesting signed Medical Authorizations for all medical providers known to the Plaintiff relating to the claims identified in the Complaint. (See MCR 2.314)
Summary: In no-fault cases, the Defendant should submit a Request to Produce for signed medical authorizations at the time of filing the Answer.
Document Type
Answer
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The courtroom is completely electronic: email copies of all motions, responses, and pre-trial orders to chambers and do not mail hard copies.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY ELECTRONIC COURTROOM. Email a copy of all Motions, Responses, Pre-Trial Orders, etc. to JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org . Include case number and date of hearing in the subject line of all communication. DO NOT MAIL HARD COPIES TO COURTROOM
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | REMOTE PROTOCOL
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
All summary disposition motions must be filed before case evaluation; if case evaluation is waived, the deadline is the last day of the month in which case evaluation would have occurred on Track 2.
NOTE THAT ALL SUMMARY DISPOSITION MOTIONS MUST BE FILED PRIOR TO THE CASE EVALUATION. If Case Evaluation is waived, the deadline for filing MSD is the last day of the month in which Case Evaluation would have occurred on Track 2.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Summary Disposition
Motions in limine must be e-filed no less than 3 weeks before the pre-trial and are heard on the pre-trial date.
All Motions in Limine shall be e-filed to this Court no less than 3 weeks before the date of the Pre-Trial, and will be heard on the date of the Pre-Trial.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions in Limine
The lower court transcript must be electronically filed within 56 days; failure to timely file results in dismissal of the appeal.
Within 56 days the lower court transcript must be submitted to counsel by the Court Reporter and electronically filed with the Clerk's Office and JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org . - Failure to timely file a transcript will result in dismissal of the appeal
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Appeals
Responses to motions are due 3 days before the scheduled hearing.
Responses are due 3 days ahead of schedule (Ex: Monday before Thursday hearing)
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion Practice: General
E-file the motion, file the Praecipe with a requested date once it appears in the Register of Actions, and only notice the hearing after receiving the processed Praecipe; do not file proposed orders until after the hearing.
Please e-file your Motion. When the Motion appears in the Register of Actions, file the Praecipe with your requested date. If the requested date is available we will honor it, if your requested date is not available, we assign the next available date and time. You may Notice the Hearing after you receive the processed Praecipe with the actual date and time for the requested hearing. Please do not file the Notice of Hearing until you receive the processed Praecipe. Please do not file the proposed Orders until after your Hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion Practice: General
For summary disposition motions, file the Praecipe with a requested date 30+ days out on Monday-Thursday at 10:00 a.m.; call the Court if you do not receive a scheduling order.
Please file your motion. When it appears in the Register of Actions, file the Praecipe with your requested date 30+ days out Mon-Thu @ 10:00 a.m. After receiving your processed praecipe, call the Court if you have not also received a scheduling order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Summary Disposition
Reply briefs for motions in limine are due 3 business days before the pre-trial.
Reply Briefs will be due 3 business days before the Pre-Trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions in Limine
Response briefs for motions in limine are due 1 week before the pre-trial.
Response Briefs will be due 1 week before the Pre-Trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions in Limine
A Praecipe must be submitted for reconsideration motions to set a control date, choosing any Friday date 30 days in the future.
You must submit a Praecipe however so that the Clerk can set a control date. Give your Praecipe any Friday date, 30 days in future.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration
All motions in limine are heard two weeks before trial at the Final Settlement Conference.
All Motions in Limine are to be heard two weeks before Trial at the Final Settlement Conference
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Submit a Judge Copy to chambers upon filing with only the exhibits necessary to the claims, not full deposition transcripts or insurance contracts.
Submit a "Judge Copy" to JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org , upon filing with the Clerk's Office, with only those Exhibits attached that are necessary to your claims. Do not submit full deposition transcripts, insurance contracts etc.)
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion Practice: General
When filing a Motion for Summary Disposition in lieu of an answer, send a copy to the Judge's Judicial Attorney; the Court will issue a briefing order.
If a party is filing a Motion for Summary Disposition in Lieu of an Answer, send a copy of the Motion for Summary Disposition to the Judge's Judicial Attorney (JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org). The Court will issue a briefing order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Summary Disposition
For reconsideration motions, notify the Court Clerk and provide a Judge's Copy for review, since the Court otherwise does not receive notice of the filing.
Pursuant to MCR 2.119(F)-Notify Court Clerk if being filed and provide a Judge's Copy to JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org for review. The Court does not receive notice that this type of motion is filed unless the attorney notifies the clerk and provides a Judge's Copy.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration
Email a Judge Copy of all responses to motions to chambers with only the exhibits necessary to the claim or defense.
Email a Judge Copy of All Responses to JudgeHarb-Court@3rdcc.org . Ensure that any attached Exhibits are necessary to your claim/defense. (Do not submit full deposition transcripts, insurance contracts, etc.)
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion Practice: General
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Trial dates will not be adjourned without a motion and a showing of good cause.
Trial dates, once set, will not be adjourned without a motion and a showing of good cause.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure
Track One cases may be adjourned to Track Two by mutual stipulation; all other adjournment requests require a motion.
Motions to adjourn should be, for the most part, unnecessary at this time as Judge Harb is permitting stipulations for the following. All current Track One cases may be adjourned to Track Two by mutual stipulation. All other requests for adjournments may only be adjourned by way of motion.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | REMOTE PROTOCOL
Parties may stipulate to one adjournment of a motion; if they cannot proceed after that, the motion is dismissed and may be refiled later.
Parties are able to stipulate to one adjournment. If the parties are unable to proceed with the Motion after the adjourned date, then the Motion will be dismissed and may be refiled at a later date
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion Practice: General
Settlement conference adjournment requests must be made by email at least 1 week in advance, and all parties must concur with the proposed adjourned date.
*Requests should be made at least 1 week in advance* Parties should contact the Court by email at least 1 week in advance. All of the parties must concur with the proposed adjourned date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure
Chambers Communication Rules
Email is the preferred method of communication; do not call the courtroom and leave voicemails.
Please email the court as the preferred method of communication. The Judicial Attorney may be reached via email at jennifer.swanson@3rdcc.org . The Court Clerk, Deborah Royal may be reached at deborah.royal@3rdcc.org . Please do not call the courtroom and leave voicemails.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | MEDIATIONS AND TRIALS
To withdraw a motion, the moving party must email the Court Clerk and the court's general email as soon as possible before the hearing date.
If the motion is going to be withdrawn, the moving party must email the Court Clerk (deborah.royal@3rdcc.org) and the Court's general email (judgeharb-court@3rdcc.org) to cancel the motion as soon as possible prior to the hearing date.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | REMOTE PROTOCOL
Check the public odyssey at 3rdcc.org before contacting the Courtroom with questions; if a document is not on the ROA it has not been processed, so contact the Clerk's office.
*Check public odyssey at 3rdcc.org before contacting the Courtroom with questions. If a document is not on the ROA, that means the Clerk's office has not processed it. Contact the Clerk's office with any questions.*
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | ZOOM ACCESS
All parties must be included in emails with the Court to avoid ex parte communications, and case number and case name must always be in the subject line.
All parties must be included in emails with the Court/Judge in order to avoid ex parte communications. Please provide cell numbers for the attorney handling the matter whenever possible if the court staff need to reach out to the parties. Always include case number and case name in the subject line.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | MEDIATIONS AND TRIALS