Judge Benjamin F. Coats
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Power Point Slides
Courtesy copies
Court-wide- Email • Upon Filing
Joint Request for IDC
Court-wide
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers
Fax
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-widePage & Word Limits2 rules
All in limine motions shall be in writing and not exceed five pages per motion.
- In limine motion
- Up to 5 pages
The Court requests each side file no more than five (5) in limine motions, but no party may file more than ten (10) in limine motions without leave of the Court to do so.
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Service shall be either by personal service or by email service with pdf attachment.
- File type
Document Filing Requirements25 rules
The parties' agreement shall be reduced to a written stipulation for filing.
All in limine motions shall be in writing and not exceed five pages per motion.
Trial Briefs, Witness Lists and all In Limine Motions SHALL be served on all parties before trial and filed with the Judicial Assistant on the first day of trial (at the pre-trial conference).
Any waiver of jury after the timely posting of jury fees shall be confirmed on the record on the first day of trial.
In limine motions shall be limited to those necessary to resolve evidentiary or other legal issues before the selection of the jury.
The Court requests each side file no more than five (5) in limine motions, but no party may file more than ten (10) in limine motions without leave of the Court to do so.
In limine motions -the parties shall make a joint list of all motions filed by the parties, and shall indicate those motions which are unopposed and those on which they disagree;
The parties shall provide the Court with a jointly prepared, brief, neutral statement of the case to be read to prospective jurors. If the parties intend to present “mini-opening statements,” no statement of the case is required;
Any questionnaires (including at least 60 copies of same) shall be present in Court before jury selection starts.
All exhibits shall be exchanged and pre-marked before the start of jury selection.
If either party requests the use of a jury questionnaire, the requesting party(ies) shall serve and file a joint proposed jury questionnaire (including all written instructions to jurors) by the date of the pre-trial conference, or otherwise by leave of the Court.
Any request for “mini opening” statements during jury selection shall be made to the Court on the first day of trial.
The mini opening statements shall not exceed three (3) minutes per party.
The mini opening statements shall be neutral, non-argumentative descriptions of each party’s claims and/or defenses, and they may include a very general overview of the facts of the case.
The parties shall submit to the Court a list of all proposed CACI instructions and the content of any special instructions (including citations to supporting authority) by the conclusion of jury selection or as otherwise directed by the Court.
The parties shall submit a joint set of jury instructions prior to the initial jury instruction conference.
The parties SHALL prepare a joint list of proposed jury instructions and submit them to the Court.
The prevailing parties must serve and file a proposed judgment consistent with the jury verdict and applicable court rules.
Court's wording
Entry of Judgment: The Court will direct the prevailing party(ies) to serve and file a proposed judgment(s) consistent with the jury’s verdict(s) and in conformity with the Rules of Court and the Code of Civil Procedure.
Parties should also provide a summary of the facts in issue and a brief statement of what is expected to be proven in support of claims/defenses.
Trial Brief- a trial brief should identify the causes of action (or primary defenses) on which the parties are proceeding, the causes or defenses they are dismissing, and the relief they seek from the litigation.
The notice should identify by page and line the portions intended to be shown.
Witness List for the Court's use - Please include a very brief statement of identity (e.g., John Doe" - Registered Nurse present during the surgery; Jane Smith- President of Widget Co.).
The parties shall agree as to who will be responsible for preparing the final version of the jury instructions and the verdict form. If the parties cannot agree, the Court will decide.
To the extent possible, please only mark the exhibits reasonably expected to be used at trial.
The parties are encouraged to stipulate to jury instructions to the extent possible.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Trial briefs, witness lists, and all in limine motions are due for filing with the judicial assistant on the first day of trial at the pretrial conference.
Trial Briefs, Witness Lists and all In Limine Motions SHALL be served on all parties before trial and filed with the Judicial Assistant on the first day of trial (at the pre-trial conference).
Civil cases
Page 1 | 5. Pre-trial Documents
Documents that the court is to consider must be filed with the Judicial Assistant at the earliest opportunity.
Any documents you want the Court to consider must be filed with the Judicial Assistant at your earliest opportunity.
Civil cases
Page 8 | Jury or Court Trial
After a verdict is rendered and entered into the minutes, the time for entry of judgment is extended 30 days under CCP sections 628, 664, and until the Court signs the proposed judgment and it is entered into the minutes.
After a verdict is rendered and entered into the minutes, the time for entry of judgment will be extended 30 days per CCP sections 628, 664 and until a proposed judgment is signed by the Court and entered into the minutes.
Civil cases
Page 8 | Jury or Court Trial
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Trial briefs, witness lists, and in limine motions may be served on all parties before trial by personal service or by email with a PDF attachment.
Service shall be either by personal service or by email service with pdf attachment.
Civil cases
Page 1 | 5. Pre-trial Documents
Personal service on all parties before trial is an authorized method for serving trial briefs, witness lists, and in limine motions.
Trial Briefs, Witness Lists and all In Limine Motions SHALL be served on all parties before trial and filed with the Judicial Assistant on the first day of trial (at the pre-trial conference).
Civil cases
Page 1 | 5. Pre-trial Documents
A party offering recorded deposition testimony must serve the court with designation notice and any objections at least two court days before the recording will be played.
If any party intends to offer audio or video recording of deposition testimony pursuant to CCP § 2025.340(m), notice designating portions of the recording the party intends to use, and any objections thereto, must be served on the Court a minimum of two court days before the date of the playing of the recording.
Civil cases
Page 2 | 5. Pre-trial Documents – e. Deposition (transcript or video) edits
The party initially designating recorded deposition testimony must compile all designations, objections, and counter-designations into a final document and serve it on the court.
The party initially designating the recording shall compile the designations, objections, counter-designations and objections in a final document to be served on the Court.
Civil cases
Page 2 | 5. Pre-trial Documents – e. Deposition (transcript or video) edits
The joint proposed jury questionnaire must be served either personally or by email with a PDF attachment.
Service shall be by personal service or email service with pdf attachment.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Jury Questionnaires
A party submitting on a tentative decision must email notice to the court and opposing counsel.
If you would like to submit on a tentative decision, you must send an email notifying the court and opposing counsel of your decision to submit without making an appearance.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Law & Motion Matters and Hearing Calendar for Law & Motion
Every email sent to the Courtroom 43 address must simultaneously copy all other attorneys and self-represented parties appearing in the action.
All emails to the Courtroom 43 address must be simultaneously copied to all other attorneys or self-represented parties appearing in the action.
Civil cases
Page 1 | REMOTE APPEARANCES IN COURTROOM 43
Any other party should serve notice of objections and counter designations on all parties three days prior.
Any other party should serve notice of objections and counter designations on all parties three days prior.
Civil cases
Page 2 | 5. Pre-trial Documents – e. Deposition (transcript or video) edits
The party initially designating recorded deposition testimony should serve the initial notice on all parties four days before the intended playback date.
To comply with this deadline, the party initially designating the recording should serve the initial notice on all parties four days before the date of the playing of the recording.
Civil cases
Page 2 | 5. Pre-trial Documents – e. Deposition (transcript or video) edits
Filing Fees and Waivers
A party granted a fee waiver may obtain a court reporter without charge by written request in conformance with California Rule of Court 2.956.
Parties who have been granted a fee waiver are entitled to a court reporter without charge upon written request in conformance with California Rule of Court 2.956.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Jury Fees
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A copy of every PowerPoint slide shown to the jury during opening statements or closing arguments must be provided to the Court and opposing counsel.
For a complete record, a copy of any Power-Point slides shown to the jury in opening statement or closing argument shall be provided to the Court and opposing counsel.
Civil cases
Page 7 | Jury or Court Trial
Chambers Communication Rules
Upon being called out for trial, the parties must immediately confirm with the judicial secretary whether the case will proceed to a jury trial or all parties waive a jury.
When the case is called out to trial, the parties must confirm with the judicial secretary immediately whether the case will be a jury trial (if fees were timely posted) or whether all parties waive jury.
Civil cases
Page 1 | 1. Jury or Court Trial
Parties may not email the judge’s email address, and unsolicited emails will be treated as improper ex parte communications and not read; however, an email the court invites or approves must be sent to Courtroom43@ventura.courts.ca.gov.
DO NOT email the Court using the Judge’s email address under any circumstances. The Court will consider such an email to be an improper ex parte communication and will not read it. Any documents you want the Court to consider must be filed with the Judicial Assistant at your earliest opportunity. If the Court invites or approves receipt of an email from the parties, it shall be sent to this email address: Courtroom43@ventura.courts.ca.gov (attn.: H. McIntyre).
Civil cases
Page 8 | Jury or Court Trial
Unless the trial judge approves alternate arrangements, trial counsel must remain reachable by telephone, provide an immediate-contact number to the Judicial Assistant, and be able to return to the courtroom within 15 minutes during jury deliberations.
While the jury is deliberating, and unless alternate arrangements are approved by the trial judge, trial counsel must: • Be available at all times by telephone; and • Be able to return to the courtroom on fifteen (15) minutes' notice. Please leave a telephone number with the Judicial Assistant at which you can be immediately reached.
Civil cases
Page 8 | Jury or Court Trial
Email submissions should be sent to the Court at: Courtroom43@ventura.courts.ca.gov with all parties copied on the email.
Email submissions should be sent to the Court at: Courtroom43@ventura.courts.ca.gov with all parties copied on the email.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Law & Motion Matters and Hearing Calendar for Law & Motion
Upon receiving notice that the case is being called out for trial, counsel should confirm with the court a reasonable trial-time estimate that includes jury selection and deliberations.
Please confirm with the Court the reasonable time estimate for the trial, including jury selection and reasonable time for deliberations upon receiving notice the case is being called out for trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | 3. Time Estimate
Judge Coats will not respond to communications sent to the Courtroom 43 email address.
Judge Coats will not respond to communications sent to the Courtroom 43 email address.
Civil cases
Page 1 | REMOTE APPEARANCES IN COURTROOM 43
As an alternative to email, a party may fax its tentative-ruling submission to Judge Coats's secretary and copy all parties.
In the alternative, you may send a fax to Judge Coats's secretary, Tammy Brantner at 805-477-5894, with copies to all parties.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Law & Motion Matters and Hearing Calendar for Law & Motion