Upon consent of the parties, Judge Pizzo provides a date certain for trial and will set the deadlines for the filing proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and motions in limine at the final pretrial conference. For a jury trial, he generally examines the panel and then gives counsel 15 minutes to conduct their own examinations. Thereafter, counsel will be invited to the bench to exercise any challenges for cause. After disposing of challenges for cause, peremptory challenges will then be exercised in an alternating manner (e.g., one by the plaintiff and then one by the defendant). Counsel are to direct challenges to the first prospective juror seated in the box and continue in the order in which the jurors were called; no strike-backs are allowed.

Parties may call chambers at (813) 301-5011 to check on the status of a pending matter or for procedural information. In appropriate cases, a party may file a motion to appear telephonically in non-evidentiary civil proceedings. If disputes arise during depositions Judge Pizzo does not conduct telephonic hearings; instead, the parties are directed to state the nature of their objection(s) on the record and file a written motion.

For hearings and trials, counsel are expected to stand as court is opened, recessed or adjourned, stand when the jury enters or retires from the courtroom, stand when addressing, or being addressed by, the court. Counsel should stand at the lectern while examining any witness; except that counsel may approach the clerk's desk or the witness for purposes of handling or tendering exhibits. Counsel for each party in any case should obtain from the clerk, in advance of trial, tabs or labels for the marking and identification of each exhibit proposed to be offered in evidence or otherwise tendered to any witness during trial. Counsel must also prepare a list of such exhibits, in sequence, with a descriptive notation sufficient to identify each separately numbered exhibit. Copies of the list are to be provided to opposing counsel with three copies to the court at the commencement of trial. See Local Rule 5.04.

In accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 54, a prevailing party must first file with the clerk of court a verified bill of costs. Only after the clerk has made an initial determination as to costs may a party move the court for judicial review.