Judge John T. McVay Jr.
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Exhibits
- Before Trial Commences
Motion
Court-wideOpposition Brief
Court-wide- At Least 7 Days Prior to Argument
Communication
Chambers5 contacts
Clerk2 contacts
Other Contacts1 contacts
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Please send all documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format. PROPOSED ORDERS ARE REQUIRED and should be attached separately in PDF format.
- File type
Formatting
- •Documents may be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format
Document Filing Requirements3 rules
Please send all documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format. PROPOSED ORDERS ARE REQUIRED and should be attached separately in PDF format.
- Document
- Document
Must include
- •Proposed order
ALL MOTIONS AND PETITIONS SHALL CONTAIN A PROPOSED COURT ORDER. The proposed order shall set forth the precise relief sought.
- Document
- Motion or petition
Must include
- •Proposed order
Counsel must obtain the Court’s pretrial conference worksheet and have it completed at the pretrial conference.
Court's wording
As soon as counsel learns that the case has been assigned to this Court for trial, counsel must obtain a copy of the Court’s pretrial conference worksheet and have it completed at the time of the pretrial conference.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Requests submitted only by email or telephone are not of record in the DCR and will likely be denied unless followed by a motion or petition.
Requests via email or telephone are not of record in the DCR and therefore are likely to be denied without a follow-up motion or petition.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 2 | Requests for Relief or Other Action
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The moving party must file its post-trial brief with the motion when no transcripts are needed and will receive additional time after receiving required transcripts.
If the trial and/or related transcripts are not necessary in order to prepare a brief, the moving party must file a brief at the time the party files its post-trial motion. If one or more transcripts are needed to prepare a brief, the Court will allow the moving party time to file a brief after the party receives the required transcript(s).
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 7
The non-moving party may file a response no more than fourteen days after the moving party files both its motion and brief.
The non-moving party may file a response no more than fourteen days after the moving party has filed its motion and brief.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 7
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Filings must be docketed with the Department of Court Records, served on the opposing party, and emailed to the judicial staff.
All filings should be docketed with the DCR, and then served on the opposing party, AND emailed to the judicial staff at amcvay@alleghenycourts.us.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
Before a scheduled conciliation, every party must timely file and serve its pretrial statement under the applicable Pennsylvania and Allegheny County rules.
Before any scheduled conciliation, all parties must timely file and serve their respective pretrial statements in compliance with the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to comply fully with filing and service requirements may result in appropriate sanctions.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 2 | Pretrial Conciliation Procedures
Requests for relief must be presented by motion or petition, filed with the DCR, and served on all parties and the Court.
Except as otherwise provided herein, or otherwise directed by the Court, parties requesting any type of relief or other action by the Court MUST present their requests via motion or petition. Motions and petitions are to be filed with the DCR and served on all parties and the Court consistent with applicable Pennsylvania and Allegheny County rules.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 2 | Requests for Relief or Other Action
A post-trial motion must be served on both the opposing party and the Court under applicable Pennsylvania and Allegheny County rules.
The filing party must serve a copy of its post-trial motion on the opposing party and on the Court consistent with the applicable Pennsylvania and Allegheny County rules.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 7
The Department of Civil Records mails copies of the SYH order to every involved party.
Copies of this order are mailed to all parties involved by the DCR.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 8 | Procedures for the Allegheny County “Save Your Home” Program
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The parties must exchange exhibit books before trial and provide the Court a copy before trial commences.
Before the trial starts, the parties must exchange exhibit books. Each party must also provide a copy of its exhibit book to the Court before the trial commences.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 4 | Jury Trial Procedures — Exhibit Books
Chambers Communication Rules
Filings must also be emailed to the judicial staff at amcvay@alleghenycourts.us.
All filings should be docketed with the DCR, and then served on the opposing party, AND emailed to the judicial staff at amcvay@alleghenycourts.us.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
If the case settles before conciliation, the parties must send the Court a joint or separate settlement-confirmation letter by approved delivery methods.
If the case settles before the conciliation date, the parties MUST forward a joint letter or separate letters confirming settlement to this Court either by in-person delivery, by email to acheetham@alleghenycourts.us and amcvay@alleghenycourts.us, or by facsimile to (412) 350-3783.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 2 | Pretrial Conciliation Procedures
Counsel must email copies of all pretrial motions and briefs to the two identified court email addresses, regardless of whether they were previously filed with the DCR.
As soon as counsel learns that the case has been assigned to this Court for trial, counsel must email copies of all pretrial motions and briefs to acheetham@alleghenycourts.us and amcvay@alleghenycourts.us, regardless of whether those motions and/or briefs were previously filed with the DCR or not.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 3 | Jury Trial Procedures — Pretrial Motions and Briefs
The parties must email both Word and PDF versions of all proposed final jury instructions to the Court and its law clerks.
The parties shall email Word and PDF versions of all proposed final instructions to the Court and the Court’s law clerks at kmccann@alleghenycourts.us.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 4 | Jury Trial Procedures — Preliminary and Final Instructions to the Jury
Do not email Judge McVay directly unless the judge or staff authorizes it.
Do not send emails directly to Judge McVay unless authorized to do so by Judge McVay or his staff.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
Electronic communications must be sent to the two listed judicial staff email addresses.
Please send electronic communications to acheetham@alleghenycourts.us and amcvay@alleghenycourts.us
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
All parties must be included visibly in Court email communications, and opposing parties or counsel may not be copied using BCC.
When communicating with the Court via email, ALL parties must be included in the email unless directed otherwise. The email addresses of other parties/opposing counsel must be included in either the “To” or the “CC” boxes so that they are visible to the Court. Please do not “BCC” the other parties/opposing counsel on your communications.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
Conservatorship proceedings should be sent to the designated conservatorship email, after which judicial chambers will respond.
All conservatorship proceedings should be filed with the DCR and sent to the conservatorship email at conservatorshipcalendar@alleghenycourts.us. Once the email has been received, judicial chambers will respond.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 8 | Procedures for City of Pittsburgh Conservatorship Cases
Counsel should consult Judge McVay’s staff in advance about how to proceed with election cases assigned to the judge.
Please check in advance with Judge McVay’s staff on how to specifically proceed with election cases assigned to Judge McVay, although the above-referenced SOP should be reviewed and generally followed.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 9 | Procedures for Election Cases
Parties may call chambers at 412-350-3779 to speak with staff or leave a voicemail.
You may call chambers at 412-350-3779 to speak with a staff person or leave a voicemail if no one is available.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 1 | Communication
Questions about general motion procedures may be directed by email to the General Motions Supervisor or chambers staff.
Judge McVay frequently presids as the General Motions Judge throughout the Fifth Judicial District’s calendar year. Please consult Eric Efinger, General Motions Supervisor, at civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us, as well as our staff’s emails with any specific questions.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 7 | Procedures for General Motions
Attorneys may email Judge Amy McVay with motions to discontinue and end or requests for conciliations.
Attorneys may continue to contact Amy McVay via email at amcvay@alleghenycourts.us with any Motions to Discontinue and End or requests for conciliations.
Proposed or draft document; may not be in force
Page 9 | Requests for Relief or Other Action