Local Rule AP 2.4: Civil and Miscellaneous Case Opening Documents

2.4 Civil and Miscellaneous Case Opening Documents

(a) Filing. Civil and miscellaneous case opening documents and related attachments may be (i) electronically filed through the court's ECF system if the attorney Filing User pays the filing fee using a credit card or ACH debit card through ECF's payment system, simultaneously submits a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, or if no filing fee is required, or (ii) conventionally filed with the appropriate filing fee. If conventionally filed by an attorney, the case opening documents and attachments must also be downloaded onto a data storage device as separate documents in PDF format and received within 48 hours.

"Civil case opening documents" shall include, but are not limited to, complaints, petitions, or notices of removal. Related attachments that should be electronically filed shall include, but are not limited to, the civil cover sheet and summons/notice of lawsuit and waiver of summons. A Filing User requesting summonses must complete the top section of each summons form before filing electronically or conventionally.

(b) Service. If summonses are submitted with the case opening documents, the clerk's office will return signed and sealed summonses either electronically through ECF or on paper by regular mail to counsel for the plaintiff(s) for service of process. Case opening complaints or petitions may not be served electronically and must be served in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4.

(c) Return of Service. All returns of service or other returns in civil and miscellaneous cases shall be electronically filed in a scanned PDF format.

(§ (a) amended 5/1/05, 10/1/06, 6/1/11; § (b) amended 8/1/05; §§ (a) and (c) amended 12/1/13)