Judge Lee W. Tsao
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
All Motions
- Upon request
Courtesy copies
- Upon request
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Chambers
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Each party's informal discovery conference brief is limited to three pages.
- Page limit
- Up to 3 pages
- Brief
Court's wording
At least five days before the IDC, the parties shall separately file briefs not to exceed three pages setting forth a neutral statement of the case, the issues in dispute, and their respective positions.
IDC briefs are limited to 3 pages, filed at least 5 days before the IDC.
- Brief
- Up to 3 pages
Court's wording
At least five days before the IDC, the parties shall separately file briefs not to exceed three pages setting forth a neutral statement of the case, the issues in dispute, and their respective positions.
Document Filing Requirements3 rules
At least five days before the IDC, the parties shall separately file briefs not to exceed three pages setting forth a neutral statement of the case, the issues in dispute, and their respective positions. The relevant discovery requests and responses may be attached.
The parties shall work together to prepare and file, no later than five days before the FSC, a joint statement to be read to the jury, a joint witness list, a joint exhibit list, a set of agreed jury instructions, and an agreed special verdict form with interrogatories.
Must include
- •Exhibit list
The joint witness list shall estimate the total time for each witness's testimony (including direct, cross, and redirect) and the total time for all testimony in the trial.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Parties must reserve a law and motion hearing date via the Court Reservation System and file the motion within three business days of the reservation or the reservation is automatically cancelled.
Parties must reserve a hearing date for all law and motion via the Court Reservation System. Once a hearing date is reserved, parties must file the motion within three business days of making the reservation or the reservation will be automatically cancelled.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Case management statements must be filed and served no later than 15 days before the case management conference.
Case management statements must be filed and served no later than 15 days before the date set for the conference.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
IDC briefs must be separately filed by each party at least five days before the informal discovery conference.
At least five days before the IDC, the parties shall separately file briefs not to exceed three pages setting forth a neutral statement of the case, the issues in dispute, and their respective positions.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Case management statements must be filed and served no later than 15 calendar days before the case management conference.
Case management statements must be filed and served no later than 15 days before the date set for the conference.
Page 2
Parties must meet and confer in person or by telephone no later than 30 calendar days before the initial case management conference.
Pursuant to Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 3.722 et seq., the parties must meet and confer in person or by telephone no later than 30 calendar days before the date set for the initial case management conference.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Motions must be filed within 3 business days of reserving a hearing date via the Court Reservation System, or the reservation is automatically cancelled.
Once a hearing date is reserved, parties must file the motion within three business days of making the reservation or the reservation will be automatically cancelled.
Page 2
Parties must file joint FSC documents (jury statement, witness list, exhibit list, jury instructions, special verdict form) no later than 5 days before the Final Status Conference.
The parties shall work together to prepare and file, no later than five days before the FSC, a joint statement to be read to the jury, a joint witness list, a joint exhibit list, a set of agreed jury instructions, and an agreed special verdict form with interrogatories.
Page 4
If no court reporter is retained for trial, the parties must jointly prepare a summary of the day's proceedings and lodge it with the Court by 8:30 a.m. the next business day.
The Court strongly encourages the parties to retain a court reporter for trial. If no court reporter is used, the parties must jointly prepare a summary of the day's proceedings and lodge it with the Court no later than 8:30 a.m. on the next business day.
Page 4 | Final Status Conferences and Trial Procedures
If no court reporter is used at trial, parties must lodge a joint summary of the day’s proceedings by 8:30 a.m. on the next business day.
If no court reporter is used, the parties must jointly prepare a summary of the day’s proceedings and lodge it with the Court no later than 8:30 a.m. on the next business day.
Page 4
Joint FSC trial documents must be filed no later than five days before the final status conference.
The parties shall work together to prepare and file, no later than five days before the FSC, a joint statement to be read to the jury, a joint witness list, a joint exhibit list, a set of agreed jury instructions, and an agreed special verdict form with interrogatories.
Page 4 | Final Status Conferences and Trial Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies of motions are prohibited unless specifically requested by the court.
Please do not deliver a courtesy copy of the motion to the court unless specifically requested to do so.
Page 2
Courtesy copies of motions should not be delivered to the court unless specifically requested.
Please do not deliver a courtesy copy of the motion to the court unless specifically requested to do so.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Counsel must meet and confer in person, by telephone, or by videoconference to resolve or narrow discovery disputes; exchanging letters or emails alone is insufficient.
Counsel must meet and confer in person, by telephone, or by videoconference to resolve or narrow discovery disputes. Merely exchanging letters or emails is insufficient.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Ex parte applications must comply with CRC 3.1200 et seq., require an 8:30 a.m. check-in on the hearing day, are reviewed in chambers, and oral argument is discretionary.
Ex parte applications must comply with Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.1200 et seq. Please check-in at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing. Ex parte applications are reviewed in chambers. Oral argument will be heard at the Court's discretion.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Counsel must meet and confer in person, by telephone, or by videoconference to resolve or narrow discovery disputes. Merely exchanging letters or emails is insufficient.
Counsel must meet and confer in person, by telephone, or by videoconference to resolve or narrow discovery disputes. Merely exchanging letters or emails is insufficient.
Page 2
If a discovery dispute remains unresolved, the moving party should request an Informal Discovery Conference via Form LACIV094 with three agreed dates; IDCs are held at 11 a.m., the Court may continue discovery motions filed before an IDC, and no IDC is needed before a motion to compel initial discovery.
If the dispute remains unresolved after good faith attempts at resolution, the moving party should request an IDC by using Form LACIV094 available at https://www.lacourt.org/forms/pdf/LACIV094.pdf. The Court conducts IDCs at 11 a.m. The request should include three possible dates agreed upon by the parties. If the request is granted, the clerk will schedule an IDC. The Court may continue any discovery motion filed before an IDC has been conducted. An IDC is not necessary before filing a motion to compel initial discovery.
Page 2 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Chambers Communication Rules
Department C can be reached by phone at (562) 345-3702 during courtroom hours (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.).
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (562) 345-3702
Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Courtroom C's email address is Nordeptse-c@lacourt.org, with hours 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EMAIL: Nordeptse-c@lacourt.org
Page 1
Courtroom C's telephone number is (562) 345-3702, with hours 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (562) 345-3702
Page 1
Department C's contact email is Nordeptse-c@lacourt.org.
EMAIL: Nordeptse-c@lacourt.org
Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION
Self-represented litigants can get assistance from the Clerk's Office at (562) 345-3700 and from Self-Help services at (213) 830-0845 or selfhelp.lacourt.org.
Self-represented litigants may obtain assistance from the Clerk's Office by calling Court Support Services at (562) 345-3700. Self-Help services are available by calling (213) 830-0845 or visiting the Los Angeles Superior Court website at https://selfhelp.lacourt.org.
Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION (Self-Represented Litigant Services)