Judge Edmond W. Alonzo
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Notice of Hearing, Motion, Relevant Pleadings, Proposed Order
- Mail • At Least 5 Days Before Hearing
Adjournments
- Continuances are allowed only for good cause shown.
- Changes to the case-management deadlines require party agreement and court approval, and the court will consider approval only upon a showing of good cause, subject to the stated limitation after plan approval.
- The parties must follow the schedule unless they agree to a change or the change is set for hearing and approved by the Court.
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Request must include
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Deadlines to complete fact and expert discovery;
For each streamlined or general civil case, the Circuit and County Courts shall utilize a case management plan and order which shall include, at a minimum:
Deadlines for service of complaints, service under extensions, and adding new parties;
Deadlines for all objections to pleadings and pretrial motions to be resolved;
For cases filed before April 30, 2021, the case management order must include the projected trial date and the deadlines listed above if the event has not already occurred or has not already been specified by a separate court order.
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF SERVICE ON THE LAST NAMED DEFENDANT
Filing a stipulation does not cancel a trial or case management conference. An order approving the stipulation is required to cancel a previously ORDERED hearing or trial (including pretrial in SMALL CLAIMS CASES).
Additionally, proposed orders to invoke the FRCP in small claims cases must retain Small Claims Rule 7.135 AND MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PROPOSED CASE MANANGEMENT PLAN AND ORDER in compliance with AOSC20-23 and AO 2021-05 (see Forms).
All notices of hearing should certify what attempts were made to resolve and coordinate.
Signatures of Counsel or Pro Se Party if not in separate stipulation:
- Document
- Stipulated case management plan
- Placement
- Signature block
A proposed order granting telephone appearance at a Special Set hearing should permit either party to appear by Court Call.
Court's wording
If telephonic appearance at a Special Set hearing is granted, it will always require the use of Court Call, and applies to both sides equally (in other words, the proposed order should state that if it’s granted, either party may appear telephonically via Court Call).
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Original pleadings, stipulations, motions, and notices must be filed with the Clerk or through the eportal.
All original pleadings, stipulations, motions, and notices must be filed with the Clerk or eportal.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Filing and Proposed Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The plaintiff must submit the case management plan and order to the judge for final approval no later than 30 days after the last defendant is served.
The case management plan and order must be submitted to the judge by the plaintiff for final approval no later than thirty days after the last defendant is served with the complaint.
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
For cases subject to dismissal for lack of prosecution or failure to appear at a case management conference, a case management order must issue within 30 days after the court determines the case should remain pending.
If the case is subject to dismissal for 1) lack of prosecution pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.420(e) or 2) failure to appear at a case management conference pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.200(a)&(c), then a case management order must be issued within 30 days after the Court determining that the case should remain pending.
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
For cases filed on or after April 30, 2021 that are subject to a statutory stay or moratorium, a case management order must issue by the later of 45 days after the stay or moratorium ends or 30 days after the last named defendant is served.
Cases filed on or after April 30, 2021: Within 45 days after the stay or the moratorium ends or within 30 days after service of the complaint on the last of all named defendants (whichever date is later); or
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
Unless the court orders otherwise for good cause, all objections to pleadings and pretrial motions in streamlined cases must be resolved within 45 days after filing and before the pretrial conference.
Deadlines for all objections to pleadings and pretrial motions to be resolved: Within 45 days after filing and prior to the pretrial conference;
Civil cases
Page 4 | IV.C. Maximum Deadline Periods for Streamlined Cases
For pre-April 30, 2021 cases subject to a statutory stay or moratorium, a case management order must issue by December 3, 2021, and within the later of the specified 45-day or 30-day periods.
Cases filed before April 30, 2021: By December 3, 2021, within 45 days after the stay or the moratorium ends or within 30 days after service of the complaint on the last of all named defendants (whichever date is later).
Civil cases
Page 4 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
For cases filed on or after April 30, 2021 that are not subject to a statutory stay or moratorium, a case management order must issue within 30 days after the last named defendant is served.
Cases filed on or after April 30, 2021: Within 30 days after service of complaint on the last of all named defendants; or
Civil cases
Page 4 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
For cases filed before April 30, 2021 that are not subject to a statutory stay or moratorium, a case management order must issue by December 3, 2021.
Cases filed before April 30, 2021: By December 3, 2021.
Civil cases
Page 4 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
In county civil cases, the plaintiff must file a case management plan within 90 days unless the defendant is represented by an attorney.
ALL COUNTY CIVIL CASES WILL ALSO REQUIRE A CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO BE FILED BY PLAINITFF within 90 days, unless defendant is represented by an attorney.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Small Claims and Case Management Plans
When the defendant is represented by an attorney, the defendant is responsible for coordinating and submitting a proposed case management plan within 30 days of appearing.
In those cases, defendant is responsible for coordinating and submitting a proposed case management plan within 30 days of their appearance.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Small Claims and Case Management Plans
Mediation may be scheduled before or after dispositive motions, and either party may move for mediation at any time, but mediation must conclude before the notice for trial is filed.
Mediation may be set prior, or subsequent to dispositive motion(s). Additionally, either party may file a motion for mediation at any time, but must conclude mediation prior to filing notice for trial.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
A notice for trial must not be filed until discovery and motions are complete.
Do not file a notice for trial prior to completing your discovery and motions.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Final hearings must occur no later than 10 days before the pretrial conference.
Additionally, this Court requires final hearing(s) not later than 10 days prior to the pretrial conference.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Service of initial pleadings, including extensions or added parties, should occur less than 120 days after the complaint unless previously extended.
Service of initial pleadings, including extensions or adding parties. (should be less than 120 days since complaint unless previously extended)
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
The streamlined track is for cases expected to be resolved within 12 months.
Streamlined Track (Case resolved within 12 months);
Page 1 | Case Track Assignment
Dispositive motions should be heard less than 300 days after the complaint.
Deadline for hearing Dispositive Motions (should be less than 300 days since complaint)
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Objections to pleadings and pretrial motions should be resolved within 45 days of filing the motion, or the moving party may waive them.
Resolution of all objections to pleadings, pretrial motions 45 days from motion being filed or moving party may waive
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Fact and expert discovery, along with motions to compel or amend pleadings, should be completed less than 270 days after the complaint.
Fact and expert discovery complete, and all motions to compel or amend any pleadings. (should be less than 270 days since complaint)
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Motions may be filed at any time but must be set and heard 45 days later.
Motions may be filed at any time but must be set/heard 45 days later.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
The general track is for cases expected to be resolved within 18 months.
General Track (Case is resolved within 18 months)
Page 1 | Case Track Assignment
The estimated date the case will be ready for trial should be less than 330 days after the complaint, regardless of extensions.
Estimated Date the Case Will Be Prepared To Go To Trial (should be less than 330 days since complaint, regardless of extensions)
Page 1 | Trial Information
Alternative dispute resolution should be completed less than 270 days after the complaint.
Completion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) (should be less than 270 days since complaint)
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The initiating party must serve the case management plan and order with the summons and complaint.
The party initiating the civil action shall serve a case management plan and order 1 with the summons and complaint.
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. The Case Management Order in Streamlined and General Cases
Unless the court orders otherwise for good cause, service of complaints and new parties in streamlined cases is due within 120 days after filing, and any extension may not exceed 240 days from filing.
Unless otherwise ordered upon good cause having been shown, the following deadline periods apply to streamlined cases: 1. Deadlines for service of complaints, service under extensions, and adding new parties: Service within 120 days of filing of the complaint unless an extension is granted, which extension shall not exceed 240 days from the date of filing of the complaint;
Civil cases
Page 4 | IV.C. Maximum Deadline Periods for Streamlined Cases
In both streamlined and general cases, complaints must be served within 120 days after filing, and any extension may not exceed 240 days from filing.
Service within 120 days of filing of the complaint unless an extension is granted, which extension shall not exceed 240 days from the date of filing of the complaint
Civil cases
Page 7 | II. Case Events and Deadlines
Copies are furnished to counsel of record or pro se parties through the portal email address, or by U.S. Mail if a pro se party has no portal email address.
Copies Furnished To: Counsel of Record or pro se parties via the portal email address or by US Mail if pro se has none
Page 1 | Order Approving Case Management Plan
The document was served through the portal on attorneys of record.
Eserved this day through the portal to all attorneys of record, if any,
Civil cases
Page 1 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The document was served by U.S. mail on all other parties.
and by US mail to all other parties.
Civil cases
Page 1 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Parties must mail hearing notices, motions, relevant pleadings, proposed orders, and stamped envelopes to the judge at least five days before the hearing; email delivery is prohibited, and proposed orders and envelopes must account for parties without an email address designated on the eportal.
Additionally, all parties are required to also mail (US Mail or overnight carrier – do not email) copies of the notice of hearing, motion, relevant pleadings, sufficient proposed orders (one original plus a copy for each party that does not already have an email address designated on the eportal), and stamped envelopes (again one for each party that does not already have an email address designated on the eportal) to my attention at least 5 days prior to hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Filing and Proposed Orders
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are allowed only for good cause shown.
to apply a firm continuance policy allowing continuances only for good cause shown.
Civil cases
Page 1 | I. Direction to Maximize the Resolution of Cases
The parties must follow the schedule unless they agree to a change or the change is set for hearing and approved by the Court.
The above-referenced schedule of deadlines will be strictly adhered to by the parties unless a change is otherwise agreed to by the parties, or set for hearing, and approved by the Court.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Requests to change deadlines require good cause based on an emergency or unavailability; procrastination in discovery and counsel or witness unavailability do not constitute good cause.
The Court will consider a request to approve changes to these deadlines upon a showing of good cause by either party based on matters arising from an emergency nature or unavailability, and will be routinely granted for thirty days or less before any deadline above has already expired. However, procrastination in completing discovery or the unavailability of counsel or witnesses will not constitute good cause for a change to these deadlines.
Page 1 | Case Deadlines and Events
Changes to the case-management deadlines require party agreement and court approval, and the court will consider approval only upon a showing of good cause, subject to the stated limitation after plan approval.
The schedule of deadlines herein will be strictly adhered to by the parties unless change is otherwise agreed to by the parties and approved by the court. The court will consider a request to approve changes to these deadlines upon a showing of good cause by either party based on matters arising from an emergency nature or unavailability. However, once the Civil Case Management Plan has been approved by the court, procrastination in completing discovery or the unavailability of counsel will not constitute good cause for a change to these deadlines.
Civil cases
Page 7 | II. Case Events and Deadlines
Chambers Communication Rules
A separate proposed order approving a stipulation may be emailed if opposing counsel is copied.
Stipulations of any kind must be filed, but a SEPARATE, proposed order approving, may be sent via email, copied to opposing counsel.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Appearances and Stipulations
Hearings lasting less than one hour may be scheduled online, and the judicial assistant need not be called unless no sufficiently timely date is available within the next 60 days.
Scheduling can be done online for any hearing that will last less than one hour of time. There is no need to call my JA to schedule a hearing unless there is no date available, with sufficient time for your motion(s), within the next 60 days.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Hearing Scheduling