New: a trial court in 1 of every 10 U.S. counties. Read the post
Court Rules
Judge

Judge Matthew V. Rudzki

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

BriefCourt-wide
10 pgs
Pretrial StatementCourt-wide
200 wds

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

  • Email

Motion in Limine

  • 2 copies

Exhibits

Court-wide

Motion

Court-wide
Filters:

Document Format Requirements4 rules

FormattingMandatory

Please send all documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

File type
PDF
FormattingMandatory

Proposed orders must be attached separately in Microsoft Word format to allow editing by the Court.

File type
Word
Applies to
  • Proposed order
FormattingImportant

The Court may request submission of proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and/or a proposed Order. These shall be submitted in Word format to rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us with copy to opposing counsel.

File type
Word
Applies to
  • Proposed findings conclusions
  • Proposed order

Formatting

  • Submit to rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us.
  • Send a copy to opposing counsel
FormattingImportant

Plaintiff shall identify exhibits with Arabic numerals, and Defendant shall use letters.

Applies to
  • Exhibits

Formatting

  • Plaintiffs identify exhibits with Arabic numerals
  • Defendants identify exhibits with letters

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Shared files, Dropbox transfers, and outside links are prohibited as submission methods to the Court.

Share files, Dropbox transfers, and outside links may not be submitted to the Court.

Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

A Housing Court motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records after the Help Desk provides its hearing date and time; obtaining Help Desk scheduling does not itself constitute filing.

Once the Housing Court Help Desk gives you a date and time for your motion, file the Motion with the Department of Court Records. Getting a time from the Help Desk is not the same as filing with the Department of Court Records.

Page 4 | HOUSING COURT

Service and Proof of Service Rules

These shall be submitted in Word format to rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us with copy to opposing counsel.

These shall be submitted in Word format to rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us with copy to opposing counsel.

Page 3 | NON-JURY TRIALS

A copy of the exhibits must be provided to the witness, opposing counsel, and the Court.

At a minimum, the witness, opposing counsel and the Court must be provided with a copy.

Page 3 | NON-JURY TRIALS

Every filed post-trial motion must also be served on the trial judge in chambers or by email.

A copy of any filed post-trial motion must also be served upon the trial judge in chambers or electronically at rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us.

Page 3 | POST-TRIAL MOTIONS

Courtesy Copy Requirements

A courtesy copy of every filing must be emailed to Chambers because the Court does not automatically receive filed-document copies.

With respect to filings, note that the Court does not automatically receive copies of documents filed with the Department of Court Records and a courtesy copy must be provided to Chambers at rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us.

Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION

The parties must email and deliver two (2) paper copies of any Motions in Limine and written responses to Judge Rudzki’s Chambers.

The parties shall email and deliver two (2) paper copies of any Motions in Limine and written responses thereto to Judge Rudzki’s Chambers.

Page 2 | CIVIL JURY TRIALS

Filing Bundling Requirements

Using binders for trial exhibits is preferred.

Exhibit binders are preferred.

Page 3 | NON-JURY TRIALS

Chambers Communication Rules

Court email addresses may be used to transmit filed court documents and address administrative scheduling matters.

Please note that communications through the Court’s email addresses shall be limited to transmission of petitions/motions/other filed chambers and inquiry regarding administrative (scheduling) matters.

Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION

Self-represented litigants must read the court website before directing inquiries to Chambers.

All self-represented litigants must visit and become familiar with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas website: www.alleghenycourts.us. Please read it before you direct inquiries to Chambers.

Page 4 | HOUSING COURT

Parties may contact Chambers by phone or email for scheduling concerns or clarification.

Following review of these Standard Operating Procedures and applicable rules, if any party appearing before the Court has concerns or needs clarification about scheduling in a case, they should contact Chambers at 412-350-6883 or rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us.

Page 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by phone at 412-350-6883 for Melissa Girlardo.

Melissa Girlardo Judicial Administrative Assistant 412-350-6883

Page 4 | CONTACT INFORMATION

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by phone at 412-350-6885 for Dana Dougherty.

Dana Dougherty Tip Staff 412-350-6885

Page 4 | CONTACT INFORMATION

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Melissa Girlardo's listed address.

Melissa Girlardo Judicial Administrative Assistant 412-350-6883 mgirlardo@alleghenycourts.us

Page 4 | CONTACT INFORMATION

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Dana Dougherty's listed address.

Dana Dougherty Tip Staff 412-350-6885 ddougherty@alleghenycourts.us

Page 4 | CONTACT INFORMATION

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Jacqulyn Obara's listed address.

Jacqulyn Obara, Esq. Law Clerk jobara@alleghenycourts.us

Page 4 | CONTACT INFORMATION

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 499 rules apply across Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 193
  • Applies to
    Index of exhibits

    Custodians filing exhibits must include an index identifying each exhibit by the proponent’s number or letter, whether admitted or rejected, and by description or identification.

  • Applies to
    Cover sheet

    The cover sheet must list the complete names of all parties in capital letters, although an appropriate shortened caption may be used when the filing party previously appeared.

  • Applies to
    Pleading
    Must include
    case number

    Every pleading must include both the assigned judge’s suffix and the case docket number.

Service

All 118
  • Applies to
    Writ of certiorari
    Service
    Mail

    The Department of Court Records must mail the writ of certiorari by first-class mail to every party other than the filing party and to the Magisterial District Judge.

  • Service
    Publication

    When notice must be published in a newspaper, an affidavit by the owner, publisher, or designated agent proving publication must be filed before entry of a final order, decree, or judgment.

  • Service
    Publication

    All newspaper-advertised legal notices must also be published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.

Filing Timing

All 71
  • Deadline
    5 business days

    After court proceedings conclude, the custodian must file documentary exhibits and specified photographs with the Department of Court Records within five business days unless the court directs otherwise.

  • The custody confirmation complaint is deemed filed when notice of its presentation is given.

  • Deadline
    7 calendar days

    A respondent’s brief must be filed with the Hearing Officer’s Secretary at least seven calendar days before argument.

E-Filing

All 36
  • Applies to
    Motion for judgment on the pleadings

    Local Rule 1034(a)'s judgment-on-the-pleadings procedures do not govern asbestos or special-management cases, class actions, complex cases, or other cases specially assigned to one judge.

  • All legal papers and exhibits must be filed through the DCR electronic filing system available on the DCR website.

  • Applies to
    Petition to strike or open default judgment

    All petitions to strike or open a default judgment or judgment of non-pros must be filed electronically under Local Rule 205.4.

About Judge Matthew V. Rudzki

Matthew V. Rudzki is listed as a current judicial officer of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Civil Division. The court's chambers directory records this officer as Civil Division.

Current assignment

Division or department: Civil Division Chambers: 820 City-County Building Phone: 412.350.6883

Official sources

Common questions about Judge Matthew V. Rudzki's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Matthew V. Rudzki?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motion in limines. Details: 2 copies. The parties must email and deliver two (2) paper copies of any Motions in Limine and written responses to Judge Rudzki’s Chambers.

View ruleSource: page 2, section CIVIL JURY TRIALS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Matthew V. Rudzki?

Judge Matthew V. Rudzki's formatting rule includes file format PDF. Send all documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section GENERAL INFORMATION

How may parties contact Judge Matthew V. Rudzki's chambers?

Court email addresses may be used to transmit filed court documents and address administrative scheduling matters.

View ruleSource: page 1, section GENERAL INFORMATION

Does Judge Matthew V. Rudzki require motion papers to be bundled?

Using binders for trial exhibits is preferred.

View ruleSource: page 3, section NON-JURY TRIALS

Is electronic filing required before Judge Matthew V. Rudzki?

Shared files, Dropbox transfers, and outside links are prohibited as submission methods to the Court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section GENERAL INFORMATION

What filing deadlines does Judge Matthew V. Rudzki set?

A Housing Court motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records after the Help Desk provides its hearing date and time; obtaining Help Desk scheduling does not itself constitute filing.

View ruleSource: page 4, section HOUSING COURT

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Matthew V. Rudzki?

A copy of the exhibits must be provided to the witness, opposing counsel, and the Court.

View ruleSource: page 3, section NON-JURY TRIALS
Complete rules summary for Judge Matthew V. Rudzki

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Jacqulyn Obara's listed address.

The parties must email and deliver two (2) paper copies of any Motions in Limine and written responses to Judge Rudzki’s Chambers.

Parties may contact Chambers by phone or email for scheduling concerns or clarification.

Court email addresses may be used to transmit filed court documents and address administrative scheduling matters.

A courtesy copy of every filing must be emailed to Chambers because the Court does not automatically receive filed-document copies.

Send all documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

A proposed order must be attached separately in editable Microsoft Word format.

Plaintiffs must identify trial exhibits with Arabic numerals, while defendants must use letters.

If requested, proposed findings or a proposed order must be submitted in Word format to chambers by email with a copy to opposing counsel.

A copy of the exhibits must be provided to the witness, opposing counsel, and the Court.

Every filed post-trial motion must also be served on the trial judge in chambers or by email.

Using binders for trial exhibits is preferred.

A Housing Court motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records after the Help Desk provides its hearing date and time; obtaining Help Desk scheduling does not itself constitute filing.

Self-represented litigants must read the court website before directing inquiries to Chambers.

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by phone at 412-350-6883 for Melissa Girlardo.

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Melissa Girlardo's listed address.

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by phone at 412-350-6885 for Dana Dougherty.

Chambers judicial staff may be contacted by email at Dana Dougherty's listed address.

Shared files, Dropbox transfers, and outside links are prohibited as submission methods to the Court.

These shall be submitted in Word format to rudzkichambers@alleghenycourts.us with copy to opposing counsel.

More Judges in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Alan D. Hertzberg
Judge
Arnold I. Klein
Judge
Chelsa L. Wagner
Judge
Daniel D. Regan
Judge
John T. McVay Jr.
Judge
Mary C. McGinley
Judge
Michael E. McCarthy
Judge