Judge Patricia P. Fresard
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Brief
- Upon Filing
Adjournments
- The parties may adjourn the settlement conference only by stipulation, no later than two weeks after the currently scheduled conference, and must email confirmation of the new date.
- Parties seeking facilitation should schedule it and contact the Court as soon as possible; the Court will not adjourn a settlement conference by more than three weeks for facilitation.
Communication
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements17 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The stipulated order must include the discovery completion deadline, ADR completion date, and facilitator or mediator’s name.
Include the deadline to complete discovery, the date to complete the ADR process, and the name of the facilitator/mediator.
Document Type
Stipulated Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
A default judgment motion must include relevant documents and an affidavit from someone with knowledge of the facts and circumstances supporting the requested relief.
All motions for default judgment must include any relevant documents and an affidavit of a person with knowledge of the facts and circumstances surrounding the relief requested.
Document Type
Default Judgment
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Parties seeking additional voir dire must stipulate to its duration.
If the parties seek to conduct additional voir dire, the parties must stipulate to the length of time to conduct the voir dire.
Document Type
Voir Dire
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The notice of hearing must include Zoom information and be served and filed.
__Notice of hearing including Zoom information served and filed
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The moving party must file a notice of hearing and a praecipe.
The moving party shall file a notice of hearing and a praecipe.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
On trial day, the parties must submit a flash drive containing the jury instructions and verdict form and provide hard copies for the Court and jury.
On the date of trial, the parties must submit a flash drive with the jury instructions and the verdict form and also produce hard copies of each for the Court and the jury.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The parties must submit requested jury instructions and a verdict form, then provide them on trial day on a zip drive and in hard copies for the judge and all jurors.
9. Final Jury Instructions and Verdict Form. The parties must submit requested jury instructions and a verdict form. On the date of trial, the parties must submit a zip drive with all jury instructions and a verdict form ad must provide hard copies for the judge and all jurors.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The stipulated order must identify the ADR process to be used.
Stipulated orders must identify the ADR process to be used.
Document Type
Stipulated Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Proposed jury instructions and the verdict form must be provided to the Court at the final pretrial conference.
Proposed Jury Instructions and the Verdict Form must be provided to the Court at the final pre-trial conference.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The stipulated order must state that ADR will be completed no later than 60 days after discovery closes.
State that the ADR process shall be completed no later than 60 days after the close of discovery.
Document Type
Stipulated Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Only listed exhibits may be admitted at trial unless an unanticipated rebuttal exhibit or good cause justifies an exception.
Only listed exhibits will be considered for admission at trial, except for rebuttal exhibits which could not be reasonably anticipated before trial, or except for good cause shown.
Document Type
Exhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Every motion to adjourn a date must include the scheduling order and list all relevant dates, including the filing date, in the motion body.
Additional requirements: All motions to adjourn dates must include a copy of the scheduling order and list all relevant dates (including the filing date) in the body of the motion.
Document Type
Motion
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Attorneys must bring their calendars to the settlement conference because the Court sets the trial date and any later settlement conferences then.
The attorneys must have their calendars with them as the Court sets the trial date and any further settlement conferences at the time of the settlement conference.
Requirement
Document requirement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Visual aids must be set up by 8:30 a.m. on trial day, and attorneys must bring exhibit-marking stickers.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that visual aids, if any, must be set up by 8:30 a.m. on the date of trial. Attorneys must bring their own stickers for marking exhibits to trial.
Document Type
Trial Materials
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Note
The parties are encouraged and permitted to submit proposed voir dire questions.
The parties are encouraged to and may submit proposed voir dire questions.
Document Type
Voir Dire Questions
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
7. Exhibits. The parties must list with appropriate identification each exhibit (Plaintiff(s)’ using numbers and Defendant(s)’ using letters), including summaries.
Summary: The joint trial brief must identify and list each exhibit, with plaintiffs using numbers, defendants using letters, and summaries included.
Document Type
Joint Trial Brief
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
6. Witnesses. Each party shall list all witnesses, a synopsis of their testimony, the order of the witnesses, and the anticipated length of time for direct and cross examination. Except as permitted by the Court for good cause a party may not list a witness unless the witness was included on a witness list submitted under a prior order or has been deposed.
Summary: The joint trial brief must list each witness, testimony synopsis, order, and estimated direct and cross-examination time; other witnesses may be listed only with good cause, prior witness-list inclusion, or deposition.
Document Type
Joint Trial Brief
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing summaries within 24 hours of the hearing subjects the offending attorney or party to an additional $150 penalty.
Summaries filed within 24 hours of the hearing subjects the offending attorney or party to an additional $150.00 penalty.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
An attorney or party who fails to file summaries within 7 days is subject to a $150 penalty.
Failure to timely filed summaries within 7 days subjects offending attorney or party to a $150.00 penalty.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
Summary disposition motions must be filed under the Court Rules and heard no later than 60 days before trial.
Motions for Summary Disposition must be filed in accordance with the Court Rules and must be HEARD no later than 60 days prior to the dates set for trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion for Summary Disposition Procedure
Stipulated orders for an alternative ADR process must be filed within 120 days of the first responsive pleading.
Stipulated orders must be filed within 120 days of the first responsive pleading.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
Summaries and supporting documents are due within 7 days of the hearing.
Submission of summary and supporting documents shall be due within 7 days of the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Responses, briefs, and replies must be filed and served as required by MCR 2.116(G)(1)(a).
Responses (including briefs) and replies must be filed and served in accordance with MCR 2.116(G)(1)(a).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion for Summary Disposition Procedure
Proof of service of the notice of hearing must be filed.
__Proof of service of notice of hearing filed
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Checklist for Motions for Default Judgment
The motion for default judgment must be served seven days before the hearing.
__Motion for default judgment served 7 days prior to hearing
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Checklist for Motions for Default Judgment
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The parties must file a joint trial brief by the stated date and provide a judge’s copy to the Court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by __________________, Plaintiff and Defendant shall file a joint trial brief that includes the following, and shall provide a judge’s copy to the Court:
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | FINAL PRE-TRIAL ORDER
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
By party agreement, oral arguments may be moved within one week of the original date but may not be heard later than six months after filing.
Upon agreement of the parties, oral arguments may be moved within a week of the originally scheduled arguments. However, oral arguments will NOT be heard later than six months after the filing date.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Appeals
The parties may adjourn the settlement conference only by stipulation, no later than two weeks after the currently scheduled conference, and must email confirmation of the new date.
Adjournment of settlement conference: Only upon stipulation of the parties and NO LATER than two weeks after the currently scheduled settlement conference. The parties must email confirmation of the new date.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure
The ADR process must be completed by the scheduled case evaluation date unless an extension has been requested.
The ADR process shall be completed on or before the date scheduled for case evaluation unless an extension has been requested.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
The moving party may request an adjournment through the law clerk, who will determine the next available date.
The moving party may request an adjournment by contacting the law clerk who will determine the next available date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion for Summary Disposition Procedure
Parties seeking facilitation should schedule it and contact the Court as soon as possible; the Court will not adjourn a settlement conference by more than three weeks for facilitation.
Parties who wish to facilitate should schedule facilitation and contact the Court as soon as possible. The Court will not adjourn settlement conference more than 3 weeks to accommodate facilitation.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure
The final pretrial conference is generally in person on the Monday one week before trial, but its date may change if it remains during the week before trial.
The Court generally sets the Final Pre-Trial Conference to take place in-person the Monday one week prior to the trial date. This date may be changed as long as the Final Pre-Trial Conference is held during the week prior to trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Final Pre-Trial Conference
Case evaluation adjournment requires a motion; parties may stipulate to adjourn discovery through case evaluation if case evaluation has never been adjourned.
Adjournment of Case Evaluation: ___ Stipulation _X_ Motion; parties may stipulate to adjourn discovery through case evaluation if case evaluation has never been adjourned.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Adjournment of Case Evaluation
Chambers Communication Rules
After e-filing a summary disposition motion, email a copy to the Judicial Law Clerk to obtain a hearing date and allow up to seven days for a response.
After you have e-filed a Motion for Summary Disposition, email a copy of the motion to the Judicial Law Clerk for a hearing date. Please allow up to (7) days for a response.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motion for Summary Disposition Procedure
No appearance is required for status conferences scheduled at 8:00 or 8:30 a.m.; otherwise, appearance by Zoom is required unless in-person attendance is specifically required.
If your status conference is scheduled for 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m., no appearance is required. If your status conference is scheduled for any other time, appearance by Zoom is required (unless you have been specifically notified to appear in person).
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Status Conference Procedure
The first settlement conference is set 42 days after case evaluation; later conferences are scheduled at the preceding conference, generally by Zoom, with attorneys attending by Zoom and clients available by phone and ready to join.
Scheduled: First settlement conference set for 42 days after case evaluation. All subsequent settlement conferences are set by the Court and the parties at the previous settlement conference. Settlement conferences are via Zoom unless the parties are specifically notified to appear in person. Attorneys must Zoom in; clients must be available by phone and ready to Zoom in.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlement Conference Procedure
Do not email or mail general motions to the Courtroom; responses and replies need not be provided to the Courtroom.
Please do not email or mail a copy of a general motion to the Courtroom. Responses/replies also do not need to be provided to the Courtroom.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | General Motion Practice