Few motions qualify as true emergencies. The unwarranted designation of a motion as an emergency may result in the imposition of sanctions. See Local Rule 3.01(e).

A party requesting emergency action must include the words "Emergency Motion" in the title of the motion. Local Rule 1.09. The motion must detail the nature of the emergency and state the date by which a ruling is necessary and why. Local Rule 3.01(e). The party filing an emergency motion must certify in the body of the motion that the matter is a true emergency.

If a motion is not a true emergency but is time-sensitive, counsel must indicate the matter is time-sensitive in the caption of the motion, Local Rule 1.09, and in the body of the motion explain why the matter requires expedited consideration, Local Rule 3.01(e).

Parties may request hearings and/or oral argument on motions referred to Judge Hoffman Price by filing the appropriate motion on CM/ECF Whether a hearing will be scheduled on a motion is within the court's discretion. Witnesses and other evidence are not permitted at oral argument unless the parties obtain permission to present evidence before the hearing. Counsel and unrepresented parties who wish to present argument are generally required to appear in court in person. Although in-person appearances are presumed, the court may permit appearance by telephone—for good cause—upon request via the appropriate motion filed on CM/ECF. Regardless of whether the hearing occurs in person, telephonically, or via video conference, counsel and anyone else appearing before the court are expected to adhere to the courtroom decorum requirements set forth in Local Rule 5.03.

All proceedings before Judge Hoffman Price are recorded by the courtroom audio recording system. The parties are not permitted to use a court reporter or other recording system to make a record of the proceedings conducted by Judge Hoffman Price. See Local Rule 5.01. If the parties wish to request the presence of a court reporter or otherwise obtain transcripts of the proceedings, they shall do so by proper motion filed via CM/ECF.

Parties should not submit proposed orders with any motions, nor should they email any proposed orders to chambers. Local Rule 3.01(f). The court will request a proposed order from the moving party should it require one.

With few exceptions, prior to filing a motion in a civil action, the moving party must confer with counsel for the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion and shall include in the motion a statement that: 1) certifies that the moving counsel has conferred with opposing counsel; 2) states whether opposing counsel agrees in part or in whole on the resolution of the motion; and 3) if the motion is opposed, explains the means by which the conference occurred. Local Rule 3.01(g)(2). A motion that does not comply with Local Rule 3.01(g) may be summarily denied. Middle District Discovery Handbook (2021) at I.A.2.

The conferral requirement applies to counsel and litigants without lawyers alike.

The term "confer" in Local Rule 3.01(g) means a substantive discussion, which must occur in person, over the telephone, via video teleconference, or similar electronic means. Thus, the duty to confer will not be satisfied solely though written correspondences, such as letters, facsimiles, or emails.

"If the opposing party is unavailable before the motion's filing, the movant after filing must try diligently for three days to contact the opposing party. Promptly after either contact or expiration of the three days, the movant must supplement the motion with a statement certifying whether the parties have resolved all or part of the motion. Failure to timely supplement can result in denial of the motion without prejudice. The purposeful evasion of a communication under this rule can result in a sanction." Local Rule 3.01(g)(3).

In the event the parties resolve any portion of a pending motion after it is filed, the moving party must promptly file a notice with the court identifying the issues they have resolved and the issues that remain for the court to resolve. See Local Rule 3.01(g); Middle District Discovery Handbook (2021) at I.A.2.

A motion for a confidentiality order should be limited to seeking protection of a specific document or category of documents that are subject to confidential treatment under the prevailing law. Such a motion must identify the law that permits the documents at issue to be protected under a confidentiality order. Judge Hoffman Price will not issue blanket confidentiality orders that provide that any information designated by the parties as confidential will be protected. However, the parties are free to enter into private confidentiality agreements. See Local Rule 3.05.

In rare circumstances, the court may order the filing of information under seal. See Middle District Discovery Handbook (2021) at I.C.2. A motion to file a document under seal must address the relevant requirements set forth in Local Rule 1.11 and the Eleventh Circuit standard concerning the public's common law interest to inspect and copy judicial records. See e.g., Chicago Tribune Co. v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 263 F.3d 1304, 1311-12 (11th Cir. 2001); U.S. v. Rosenthal, 763 F.2d 1291 (11th Cir. 1985). The failure to address Local Rule 1.11 and the Eleventh Circuit standard will result in the motion being summarily denied.

The parties should review and comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules, the standards set forth in the Middle District of Florida Handbook on Civil Discovery Practice, and, where applicable, any standing order regarding discovery, when conducting discovery and when filing and responding to discovery motions.

In the event a party moves to compel or moves for a protective order, the party must attach a copy of the written discovery with the opposing party's responses/objections.

If a dispute arises during a deposition in a case in which Judge Hoffman Price is the assigned magistrate judge, counsel and any unrepresented parties may contact chambers to determine whether the judge is available to consider the disputed issue by telephone. However, prior to contacting chambers, counsel should conduct a good-faith conference pursuant to Local Rule 3.01(g) on the record.

Subject to the court's availability and other considerations, the court may convene an informal telephone conference to hear argument from the parties and, to the extent possible, issue an oral order on the issues presented, all of which must be recorded by the parties' private court reporter. Depending upon the issues presented, the court may order the parties to submit expedited or truncated briefing on the issues before ruling. If the court declines to convene an informal telephone conference for any reason, the parties must promptly submit the matter to the court for consideration in the manner prescribed by Local Rule 3.01.