Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Daubert motions limited to 20 pages; one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
- Motion
- Up to 20 pages
- Daubert motions
Court's wording
XXXX. The parties shall file all pre-trial motions, including motions for summary judgment, and Daubert motions. Each party is limited to filing one Daubert motion. If a party cannot address all evidentiary issues in a 20-page memorandum, it must petition the Court for leave to include additional pages. The parties are reminded that Daubert motions must contain the Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with P/D prefixes and listed with descriptions by calendar call.
Court's wording
Trial Exhibits. All trial exhibits must be pre-marked. The Plaintiff’s exhibits must be marked numerically with the letter “P” as a prefix; the Defendant’s exhibits must be marked numerically with the letter “D” as a prefix. The parties must submit a list setting out all exhibits by the date of the calendar call. This list must indicate the pre-marked identification label (e.g., P-1 or D-1) and include a brief description of the exhibit. The exhibit list shall refer to specific items and shall not include blanket statements such as all exhibits produced during depositions or Plaintiff reserves the use of any other relevant evidence. Exhibits omitted from the list will not be allowed at trial.
Document Filing Requirements4 rules
Proposed jury instructions and verdict form must be submitted in Word format via email before Calendar Call with specific subject line format.
Court's wording
parties shall use as a guide the Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions for Civil Cases, including the directions to counsel contained therein. The parties shall submit, in Word format via e-mail to ruiz@flsd.uscourts.gov, proposed jury instructions and verdict form, including substantive charges and defenses, prior to the Calendar Call. The email subject line must include the case number as follows: XX-CV-XXXX-RAR. For instructions on filing proposed documents, please see http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Counsel must prepare and file a concise, non-argumentative case statement for jury voir dire by calendar call.
Court's wording
Counsel shall meet and prepare a concise, non-argumentative statement of the case to be read to the jury in connection with voir dire. The statement shall be filed with the Court also at or before calendar call.
Motions in limine limited to one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
- Document
- Motion in limine
Must include
- •Local Rule 7.1 a 3 certification
Court's wording
XXXX. The parties shall submit a joint pre-trial stipulation, proposed jury instructions and verdict form, or proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, as applicable, and shall file any motions in limine (other than Daubert motions). Each party is limited to filing one motion in limine, which may not, without leave of Court, exceed the page limits allowed by the Rules. The parties are reminded that motions in limine must contain the Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
Parties may submit up to 5 voir dire questions by calendar call via email with specific format.
- Document
- Voir dire questions
Must include
- •Case number
Court's wording
Voir Dire Questions. The Court will require each prospective juror to complete a brief written questionnaire prior to the commencement of questioning in the courtroom. Any party may submit up to five proposed, case-specific questions to be included in the questionnaire. The proposed questions must be filed with the Court on or before Calendar Call and must also be submitted to the Court, in Word format, via e-mail to ruiz@flsd.uscourts.gov. The email subject line must include the case number as follows: XX-CV-XXXX-RAR.
Filing & Service rules
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Discovery disputes must be resolved through conference before filing motions; sanctions may be imposed for bad faith.
including motions to compel, for protective order, or for sanctions, without the consent of Magistrate Judge XXXX. Counsel must actually confer and engage in reasonable compromise in a genuine effort to resolve their discovery disputes before seeking the Court’s intervention. The Court may impose sanctions, monetary or otherwise, if it determines that a party has improperly sought or withheld discoverable material in bad faith. If, after conferring, the parties are unable to resolve their discovery dispute without Court intervention, they shall not file written motions. Rather, the parties shall follow Judge XXXX’s discovery practices and procedures to schedule the matter for a hearing.
Civil cases
Chambers Communication Rules
Single email exchange does not satisfy good faith conferral requirement; parties must confer telephonically or in person.
Good Faith Conferral. For the purposes of compliance with the good faith conferral requirement of Local Rule 7.1(a)(3), the parties are instructed that a single e-mail exchange with opposing counsel shall not constitute a good faith effort under the Local Rules. The parties are instructed to confer either telephonically or in person.
Civil cases
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Counsel must promptly notify court of settlement via phone or email and file stipulation.
Settlement Notification. If this matter is settled, counsel shall inform the Court promptly via telephone (305-523-5730) and/or e-mail (ruiz@flsd.uscourts.gov). In addition, counsel must promptly file a stipulation of settlement.
Civil cases
Page 8
All discovery matters referred to Magistrate Judge; parties may consent to trial by Magistrate Judge with specified deadline.
Referral to Magistrate Judge. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and this District’s Magistrate Judge Rules, all discovery matters are hereby referred to United States Magistrate Judge XXXX. Furthermore, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), the parties may consent to trial and final disposition by the Magistrate Judge. The deadline for submitting a consent is XXXX.
Civil cases
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