THE COURTS

Title 255—LOCAL
COURT RULES

FRANKLIN AND FULTON COUNTIES

In the Matter of the Adoption and Amendment of Local Rules of Civil Procedure; Misc. Doc. 2011-1624

[41 Pa.B. 2221]
[Saturday, April 30, 2011]

Order Pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 239.8

 April 14th, 2011, It Is Hereby Ordered that the following Rules of the Court of Common Pleas of the 39th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Franklin and Fulton County Branches, Civil Division, are amended, rescinded or adopted as indicated this date, to be effective upon publication on the Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web Application Portal:

 Local Rules of Civil Procedure 1028(c), 1034(a), and 1035.2(a) are amended and shall now read as follows.

 It Is Further Ordered that The District Court Administrator shall

 1. Transmit a copy of this order and the foregoing rules to the Civil Procedural Rules Committee for transmittal to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) for publication on the Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web Application Portal.

 2. Distribute two (2) certified paper copies and one (1) computer diskette or CD-ROM copy to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

 3. Provide one (1) certified copy of the Local Rule changes to the Franklin County Law Library and one (1) certified copy to the Fulton County Law Library.

 4. Keep such local rule changes, as well as all local civil rules, continuously available for public inspection and copying in the Office of the Prothonotary of Franklin County and the Office of the Prothonotary of Fulton County. Upon request and payment of reasonable costs of reproduction and mailing, the Prothonotary shall furnish to any person a copy of any local rule.

 5. Arrange to have the local rule changes published on the Franklin County Bar Association web site at www.franklinbar.org.

By the Court

DOUGLAS W. HERMAN, 
President Judge

Local Rule 1028(c). Preliminary Objections.

 Preliminary Objections shall be scheduled, argued and decided in accordance with Local Rule 211.

 Note: Local Rule 211, relating to Oral Arguments, reads as follows:

39-211.1	Except as otherwise provided by the Court, arguments in the Franklin County Branch shall be held on the first Thursday of each month excluding August, except when that Thursday is a legal holiday, in which case the argument shall be held on as scheduled by the Court; and in the Fulton County Branch, arguments shall be held on days as established by the annual Court calendar or as scheduled by the Court.
39-211.2	In the Franklin County Branch, causes for argument shall be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose, on or before the Thursday which is six (6) weeks preceding the day for argument. Any party may list a cause by filing a Praecipe directing the Prothonotary to list the cause for argument. In the Fulton County Branch, causes for argument may be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose upon Praecipe of a party filed at least six (6) weeks before the argument is to be scheduled before the assigned judge. The party entering a cause for argument shall forthwith, by ordinary mail, notify all other parties that the cause has been listed for argument; and shall file proof of service of such notice. Failure to give such notice shall be grounds for striking the cause from the list upon Motion.
39-211.3	The parties may agree in writing to add a cause to the argument list at any time so long as service of briefs may be made in accordance with the time requirements of Rule 39-211.7. The Court may order a cause listed for argument at the next scheduled argument court or on such other day as it may direct and, in that event, it may set the time for service of briefs.
39-211.4	When the ascertainment of facts is necessary for the proper disposition of a cause listed for argument, such facts may be determined by deposition or as otherwise provided in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.
39-211.5	The person seeking the order applied for shall argue first, and may also argue in rebuttal, if permitted by the Court, but such rebuttal shall be limited to answering arguments advanced by the opposing party. In causes where there is more than one responding party, the order of argument by the responding parties shall be as directed by the Court.
39-211.6	Each party shall furnish to every other party a typewritten brief in the form set forth in Local Rule 210, Form and content of Briefs.
39-211.7	When a case is listed for argument, the moving party shall file and serve a copy of his brief upon all other parties in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the responding party not later than the thirty-fifth (35th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. The responding party shall, in return, serve a copy of his brief upon the moving party in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the moving party not later than the twenty-eighth (28th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. At the time each party serves his brief, he shall furnish two copies thereof to the assigned judge.
39-211.8	Unless the time for filing and serving briefs is extended by the Court for cause shown, where briefs have not been timely filed and served as required by Rule 39-211.7, the Court may upon its own motion or upon request of a party:
	(1) Deny the relief requested where the moving party has failed to comply;
	(2) Grant the requested relief where the responding party has failed to comply;
	(3) Permit oral argument, but only by the complying party;
	(4) Grant such other relief or impose such other sanctions as it shall deem proper.
39-211.9	With the approval of the Court, oral argument may be dispensed with by agreement of the parties and the matter shall be submitted to the Court on briefs filed.
39-211.10	Cases shall be continued or stricken from the argument list only pursuant to order of Court. A party may request such an order of Court by petition setting forth the basis for the request. Such petition must include certification regarding concurrence or non-concurrence of all other parties as required by Local Rule 39-206.1.

Local Rule 1034(a). Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.

 Within twenty (20) days after service of a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the responding party shall file an answer and concurrently serve same on the moving party. Motions for judgment on the pleadings shall be scheduled, argued and decided in accordance with Local Rule 211.

 Note: Local Rule 211, relating to Oral Arguments, reads as follows:

39-211.1	Except as otherwise provided by the Court, arguments in the Franklin County Branch shall be held on the first Thursday of each month excluding August, except when that Thursday is a legal holiday, in which case the argument shall be held on as scheduled by the Court; and in the Fulton County Branch, arguments shall be held on days as established by the annual Court calendar or as scheduled by the Court.
39-211.2	In the Franklin County Branch, causes for argument shall be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose, on or before the Thursday which is six (6) weeks preceding the day for argument. Any party may list a cause by filing a Praecipe directing the Prothonotary to list the cause for argument. In the Fulton County Branch, causes for argument may be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose upon Praecipe of a party filed at least six (6) weeks before the argument is to be scheduled before the assigned judge. The party entering a cause for argument shall forthwith, by ordinary mail, notify all other parties that the cause has been listed for argument; and shall file proof of service of such notice. Failure to give such notice shall be grounds for striking the cause from the list upon Motion.
39-211.3	The parties may agree in writing to add a cause to the argument list at any time so long as service of briefs may be made in accordance with the time requirements of Rule 39-211.7. The Court may order a cause listed for argument at the next scheduled argument court or on such other day as it may direct and, in that event, it may set the time for service of briefs.
39-211.4	When the ascertainment of facts is necessary for the proper disposition of a cause listed for argument, such facts may be determined by deposition or as otherwise provided in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.
39-211.5	The person seeking the order applied for shall argue first, and may also argue in rebuttal, if permitted by the Court, but such rebuttal shall be limited to answering arguments advanced by the opposing party. In causes where there is more than one responding party, the order of argument by the responding parties shall be as directed by the Court.
39-211.6	Each party shall furnish to every other party a typewritten brief in the form set forth in Local Rule 210, Form and content of Briefs.
39-211.7	When a case is listed for argument, the moving party shall file and serve a copy of his brief upon all other parties in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the responding party not later than the thirty-fifth (35th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. The responding party shall, in return, serve a copy of his brief upon the moving party in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the moving party not later than the twenty-eighth (28th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. At the time each party serves his brief, he shall furnish two copies thereof to the assigned judge.
39-211.8	Unless the time for filing and serving briefs is extended by the Court for cause shown, where briefs have not been timely filed and served as required by Rule 39-211.7, the Court may upon its own motion or upon request of a party:
	(1) Deny the relief requested where the moving party has failed to comply;
	(2) Grant the requested relief where the responding party has failed to comply;
	(3) Permit oral argument, but only by the complying party;
	(4) Grant such other relief or impose such other sanctions as it shall deem proper.
39-211.9	With the approval of the Court, oral argument may be dispensed with by agreement of the parties and the matter shall be submitted to the Court on briefs filed.
39-211.10	Cases shall be continued or stricken from the argument list only pursuant to order of Court. A party may request such an order of Court by petition setting forth the basis for the request. Such petition must include certification regarding concurrence or non-concurrence of all other parties as required by Local Rule 39-206.1.

Local Rule 1035.2(a). Motion for Summary Judgment

 After the filing of a response in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. 1035.3, motions for summary judgment shall be scheduled, argued and decided in accordance with Local Rule 211.

 Note: Local Rule 211, relating to Oral Arguments, reads as follows:

39-211.1	Except as otherwise provided by the Court, arguments in the Franklin County Branch shall be held on the first Thursday of each month excluding August, except when that Thursday is a legal holiday, in which case the argument shall be held on as scheduled by the Court; and in the Fulton County Branch, arguments shall be held on days as established by the annual Court calendar or as scheduled by the Court.
39-211.2	In the Franklin County Branch, causes for argument shall be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose, on or before the Thursday which is six (6) weeks preceding the day for argument. Any party may list a cause by filing a Praecipe directing the Prothonotary to list the cause for argument. In the Fulton County Branch, causes for argument may be listed in the Prothonotary's office in a docket to be provided for that purpose upon Praecipe of a party filed at least six (6) weeks before the argument is to be scheduled before the assigned judge. The party entering a cause for argument shall forthwith, by ordinary mail, notify all other parties that the cause has been listed for argument; and shall file proof of service of such notice. Failure to give such notice shall be grounds for striking the cause from the list upon Motion.
39-211.3	The parties may agree in writing to add a cause to the argument list at any time so long as service of briefs may be made in accordance with the time requirements of Rule 39-211.7. The Court may order a cause listed for argument at the next scheduled argument court or on such other day as it may direct and, in that event, it may set the time for service of briefs.
39-211.4	When the ascertainment of facts is necessary for the proper disposition of a cause listed for argument, such facts may be determined by deposition or as otherwise provided in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.
39-211.5	The person seeking the order applied for shall argue first, and may also argue in rebuttal, if permitted by the Court, but such rebuttal shall be limited to answering arguments advanced by the opposing party. In causes where there is more than one responding party, the order of argument by the responding parties shall be as directed by the Court.
39-211.6	Each party shall furnish to every other party a typewritten brief in the form set forth in Local Rule 210, Form and content of Briefs.
39-211.7	When a case is listed for argument, the moving party shall file and serve a copy of his brief upon all other parties in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the responding party not later than the thirty-fifth (35th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. The responding party shall, in return, serve a copy of his brief upon the moving party in the manner set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 440(a) to insure receipt by the moving party not later than the twenty-eighth (28th) day preceding the day scheduled for argument. At the time each party serves his brief, he shall furnish two copies thereof to the assigned judge.
39-211.8	Unless the time for filing and serving briefs is extended by the Court for cause shown, where briefs have not been timely filed and served as required by Rule 39-211.7, the Court may upon its own motion or upon request of a party:
	(1) Deny the relief requested where the moving party has failed to comply;
	(2) Grant the requested relief where the responding party has failed to comply;
	(3) Permit oral argument, but only by the complying party;
	(4) Grant such other relief or impose such other sanctions as it shall deem proper.
39-211.9	With the approval of the Court, oral argument may be dispensed with by agreement of the parties and the matter shall be submitted to the Court on briefs filed.
39-211.10	Cases shall be continued or stricken from the argument list only pursuant to order of Court. A party may request such an order of Court by petition setting forth the basis for the request. Such petition must include certification regarding concurrence or non-concurrence of all other parties as required by Local Rule 39-206.1.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-717. Filed for public inspection April 29, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]

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