Court Rules
Judge Nancy A. Fuerst
Judge

Judge Nancy A. Fuerst

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Filings > 20 pages

  • Upon Filing

Trial Brief, Witness List, Proposed Jury Instructions, Motion In Limine, Deposition Objection Ruling, Stipulations

  • Upon Filing

Communication

Phone
Court-wide

Clerk

Technical Issues
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each business day
Filters:AllMandatory

Document Filing Requirements1 rule

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory

A motion for default judgment must be accompanied by a proposed default judgment entry and an original affidavit of damages.

May be filed after service has been perfected and defendant has failed to answer or otherwise appear; plaintiff is to serve the motion on defendant, and provide the court with an original affidavit of damages and proposed default judgment entry.

Document Type

Default Judgment

Content & Formatting
Proposed Order
Cuyahoga Oh:85458a3a5ad25e3679d7a1bd|SecMotion for default judgment

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Civil and criminal motions must be filed electronically and appear on the court’s filing queue.

Motions are e-filed and appear on the court’s filing queue; court should be provided a courtesy copy of any civil or criminal motion, or any response thereto, more than 20 pages in length; parties are reminded to timely file and respond to all motions in accordance with the criminal and civil rules.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Motion Practice — Civil and criminal

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Trial briefs, witness lists, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, deposition-objection rulings, and stipulations should be filed seven days before trial with a courtesy copy delivered to the court.

Trial briefs, witness lists, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, requests for rulings on deposition objections and stipulations should be filed 7 days before trial with a courtesy copy delivered to the court

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Trials — Jury trials

Trial briefs, witness lists, and motions in limine should be filed seven days before a court trial, while proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted as ordered at the conclusion of the bench trial or hearing.

Trial briefs, witness lists and motions in limine should be filed 7 days before trial; proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are to be submitted in conformance with court order at the conclusion of a bench trial or hearing.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Trials — Court trials

Service and Proof of Service Rules

A motion for default judgment may be filed after service is perfected and the defendant has failed to answer or appear; the plaintiff must serve the motion on the defendant and provide an original affidavit of damages and a proposed default judgment entry.

May be filed after service has been perfected and defendant has failed to answer or otherwise appear; plaintiff is to serve the motion on defendant, and provide the court with an original affidavit of damages and proposed default judgment entry.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Motion for default judgment

Courtesy Copy Requirements

A courtesy copy of the listed jury-trial submissions should be delivered to the court with the filings.

Trial briefs, witness lists, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, requests for rulings on deposition objections and stipulations should be filed 7 days before trial with a courtesy copy delivered to the court

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Trials — Jury trials

Civil and criminal motions and responses exceeding 20 pages should be accompanied by a courtesy copy for the court.

Motions are e-filed and appear on the court’s filing queue; court should be provided a courtesy copy of any civil or criminal motion, or any response thereto, more than 20 pages in length; parties are reminded to timely file and respond to all motions in accordance with the criminal and civil rules.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Motion Practice — Civil and criminal

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Civil and criminal continuance motions should be timely submitted in writing with the requested relief after notice to the opposing party and will be promptly considered.

To ensure predictability and timely resolution, the court aims to set realistic and workable schedules based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case; criminal and civil motions for continuance should be timely made, in writing, with requested relief, after notification to the opposing party; motions for continuance will be promptly considered by the court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances

A criminal motion for trial continuance should be made in writing before the trial date and after notifying the opposing party.

First pretrial or early case management (ecm) hearing is automatically set in the arraignment room; at first pretrial or ecm, case schedule will be set with counsel present; motion for trial continuance should be requested in writing in advance of the trial date and with notification to the opposing party; defendant is required to appear at every court hearing unless otherwise ordered.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | General — Criminal

Chambers Communication Rules

A party may contact the court through the staff attorney or bailiff to obtain an available hearing time and date.

parties may advance a hearing by contacting the court through the staff attorney or bailiff for an available time and date

Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026

Page 1 | General — Civil/commercial docket

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 421 rules apply across Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Fees

All 126
  • Applies to
    Mediation

    No mediation fees are charged for civil cases referred to the court's dispute resolution department.

  • Applies to
    Mediation

    When a case is referred to a mediator outside the court's dispute resolution department, the parties share the mediation cost in proportions they agree upon.

  • Fee
    $66
    Applies to
    Special process server application

    Filing a Special Process Server application costs $66.00 plus any applicable Special Project Fees.

Filing Timing

All 85

  • A motion for extraordinary assigned-counsel compensation must be filed with the usual affidavit and entry requesting assigned-counsel fees.

  • A Guardian Ad Litem may request fees above the schedule by using the extraordinary-compensation procedure.

  • Assigned counsel must apply in writing for an investigator at least 30 days before trial.

Filing Requirements

All 56
  • Applies to
    Notice of appearance

    A notice of limited appearance must use the prescribed title, describe the representation’s scope and justification, and state that the limited representation was communicated to the client in writing.

  • Applies to
    Special process server application
    Must include
    local rule certificate

    An application for a standing order designating a Special Process Server must be supported by an affidavit containing the stated applicant information and agreements.

  • Applies to
    Proposed standing order

    The applicant must submit a proposed standing order with the specified caption and language designating the applicant to serve process and subpoenas for the stated one-year term or until further court order.

Adjournments

All 39

  • Mediation continuances require good cause, generally cannot be based solely on pending motions, and will not be granted unless mediation can be scheduled before the next court event.

  • If the Court cannot rule by the scheduled ruling date for any reason, the trial date must be continued for at least 60 days.

  • An automatic trial-date continuance does not apply when a party obtains an extension of the briefing schedule that requires extending the ruling date, although the Court may continue the trial date in its discretion.

More categories

View all Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division rules
About Judge Nancy A. Fuerst

- On the Common Pleas bench since: 1997 - Admitted to the bar: 1988 - Legal experience: General practice of law (1989-96); Law Clerk (Federal Magistrate) U. S. District Court (1988-89), Clerk Extern, 8th District Court of Appeals, (1988).

- Courtroom: 15-B - Courthouse: 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 - Fax: 216-858-2260 - Bailiff: Vermell Y. Harden (216) 443-8687 - Staff attorney: Clare B. Gravens (216) 443-5963

Common questions about Judge Nancy A. Fuerst's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Nancy A. Fuerst?

Courtesy-copy rule applies when a filing is > 20 pages. Details: delivery upon filing. Civil and criminal motions and responses exceeding 20 pages should be accompanied by a courtesy copy for the court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion Practice — Civil and criminal

What must be included with default judgment filings before Judge Nancy A. Fuerst?

The rule requires proposed order. A motion for default judgment must be accompanied by a proposed default judgment entry and an original affidavit of damages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion for default judgment

How may parties contact Judge Nancy A. Fuerst's chambers?

A party may contact the court through the staff attorney or bailiff to obtain an available hearing time and date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section General — Civil/commercial docket

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Nancy A. Fuerst?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. A criminal motion for trial continuance should be made in writing before the trial date and after notifying the opposing party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section General — Criminal

Is electronic filing required before Judge Nancy A. Fuerst?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Civil and criminal motions must be filed electronically and appear on the court’s filing queue.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion Practice — Civil and criminal

What filing deadlines does Judge Nancy A. Fuerst set?

Trial briefs, witness lists, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, deposition-objection rulings, and stipulations should be filed seven days before trial with a courtesy copy delivered to the court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trials — Jury trials

What rule applies to service for default judgment before Judge Nancy A. Fuerst?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. A motion for default judgment may be filed after service is perfected and the defendant has failed to answer or appear; the plaintiff must serve the motion on the defendant and provide an original affidavit of damages and a proposed default judgment entry.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion for default judgment
Complete rules summary for Judge Nancy A. Fuerst

Civil and criminal motions and responses exceeding 20 pages should be accompanied by a courtesy copy for the court.

Civil and criminal motions must be filed electronically and appear on the court’s filing queue.

A criminal motion for trial continuance should be made in writing before the trial date and after notifying the opposing party.

Civil and criminal continuance motions should be timely submitted in writing with the requested relief after notice to the opposing party and will be promptly considered.

A motion for default judgment may be filed after service is perfected and the defendant has failed to answer or appear; the plaintiff must serve the motion on the defendant and provide an original affidavit of damages and a proposed default judgment entry.

A motion for default judgment must be accompanied by a proposed default judgment entry and an original affidavit of damages.

A party may contact the court through the staff attorney or bailiff to obtain an available hearing time and date.

Trial briefs, witness lists, proposed jury instructions, motions in limine, deposition-objection rulings, and stipulations should be filed seven days before trial with a courtesy copy delivered to the court.

A courtesy copy of the listed jury-trial submissions should be delivered to the court with the filings.

Trial briefs, witness lists, and motions in limine should be filed seven days before a court trial, while proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted as ordered at the conclusion of the bench trial or hearing.

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