Judge Merrill M. Spahn

Applies to

Petition

Petitions, except those covered by paragraph F, must be filed with the Prothonotary, who forwards them to the assigned judge.

Applies to

Brief

Briefs longer than fifteen pages must include a table of contents and a table of citations.

Applies to

Summary judgment or judgment on the pleadings motion

Any plaintiff who files a motion for summary judgment or a motion for judgment on the pleadings in any consumer credit card collection case that was commenced on or after January 1, 2022, must attach an Affidavit of Service indicating the manner and date of service of the “Notice of the Consumer Credit Card Collection Diversion Program,” in the form attached hereto as Form “1,” upon the defendant.

A party may request oral argument by filing a praecipe when filing a brief under the specified briefing provisions.

The defendant may apply to enter the Diversion Program by filing the attached Application for Entry with the Court within 20 days.

Defense counsel must file an entry of appearance promptly after retention.

Applies to

Court order

A copy of the post-hearing court order must be promptly forwarded to Lancaster County Prison.

In other cases pending before the Court or an appellate court, the Clerk of Courts need not serve the order on the prison until the full monetary bail condition is satisfied, unless the Court orders otherwise.

A party filing a praecipe to transmit the record must notify the opposing party and file proof of service within five days of filing.

Contact

Email

For help or questions, email cddp@lancastercountypa.gov.

Contact

Email to chambers

If final disposition is agreed and counsel cannot attend because of an emergency or scheduling conflict, counsel must email the judicial administrative assistant and copy the assigned assistant district attorney.

Motions and petitions, not otherwise covered by these Rules for presentation to the Court, shall be forwarded to the Business Judge by the Clerk of Courts or may be presented by counsel directly to the Business Judge by appointment.