Parties may call chambers at (813) 301-5588 to check on the status of a pending matter or for other procedural information.

Hearings are regularly conducted on dispositive motions and most discovery disputes. Because the memoranda have been read prior to the hearing, the hearing focuses on answering questions raised by the memoranda. Hearings will normally be conducted in person. However, videoconference hearings will be conducted upon the showing of good cause.

Clerk’s Entry of Default
When filing motions requesting that the Clerk enter default, parties must provide a memorandum of law that sets forth how service was effectuated and, further, a legal basis that service was valid and proper. Thus, parties must provide more than merely stating that entry of default is warranted pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Discovery Motions
There are requirements for the filing of motions to compel discovery pursuant to Rules 36 and 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Former Local Rule 3.04(a) set forth a helpful format to facilitate resolution of these types of motions, especially when multiple discovery requests were disputed. In order to streamline the court's Local Rules, this rule has been omitted from the updated version. However, because the rule has been so efficacious, the parties are directed to continue adherence to Rule 3.04(a)'s format when filing in my cases motions to compel under Rule 36 or 37, Fed.R.Civ.P. Specifically: 

The import of this requirement is that the objections and reasons why a discovery request should be ordered should follow each request. However, compliance is not required if the motion makes only a general, overall challenge and does not address specific objections or deficiencies.

Page Limit/Exhibits
When filing motions, the parties are advised that they may not evade the 25-page limit by referencing exhibits without specifying in the motion the pertinent information in the attached exhibits. Thus, any information in an exhibit that the parties want the court to consider must be in the memorandum; the parties should not assume that the court will read the exhibits.