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6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
8 , ) Case No.:
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9 Plaintiff(s) )
) STANDING ORDER REGARDING
10 v. ) NEWLY ASSIGNED CASES
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12 Defendant(s) )
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14 READ THIS ORDER CAREFULLY. IT CONTROLS THIS CASE.
15 This action has been assigned to the calendar of Judge R. Gary Klausner.
16 The responsibility for the progress of litigation in the Federal Courts falls not only
17 upon the attorneys in the action, but upon the Court as well. “To secure the just,
18 speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action,” Federal Rule of Civil
19 Procedure 1, all counsel are hereby ordered to familiarize themselves with the
20 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 16,
21 26, the Local Rules of the Central District of California (available on the Court’s
22 website at www.cacd.uscourts.gov), this Court’s Order for Jury Trial, and this
23 Court’s Order for Court Trial.
24 UNLESS OTHERWISE ORDERED BY THE COURT, THE
25 FOLLOWING RULES SHALL APPLY:
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1 1. Service of the Complaint. The Plaintiff(s) shall promptly serve the
2 Complaint in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 and file the proofs of service
3 pursuant to Local Rule. Any Defendant(s) not timely served shall be dismissed
4 from the action without prejudice. Any “DOE” or fictitiously-named Defendant(s)
5 who is not identified and served within 90 days after the case is filed shall be
6 dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m). Proof of service of the
7 summons and complaint shall be filed within 5 days of service of said documents.
8 2. Removed Actions. Any answers filed in state court must be refiled in this
9 Court as a supplement to the petition. Any pending motions must be re-noticed in
10 accordance with Local Rules. If an action is removed to this Court that contains a
11 form pleading, i.e., a pleading in which boxes are checked, the party or parties
12 utilizing the form pleading must file an appropriate pleading with this Court within
13 thirty (30) days of receipt of the Notice of Removal. The appropriate pleading
14 referred to must comply with the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
15 Rules 7, 7.1, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
16 3. Petitions under 18 U.S.C. Section 983(f). Petitioner(s) shall file and
17 serve within 3 days of the date of this order an ex parte application requesting a
18 hearing on the Petition to ensure prompt resolution of the Petition in compliance
19 with section 983(f)’s deadlines.
20 4. Presence of Lead Counsel. The attorney attending any proceeding
21 before this Court, including all status and settlement conferences, must be the lead
22 trial counsel. However, with respect to Scheduling Conferences, any attorney of
23 record who is authorized to request and accept scheduling dates may appear in lieu
24 of the lead trial counsel.
25 5. Discovery. All discovery matters have been referred to a United States
26 Magistrate Judge to hear all discovery disputes. (The Magistrate Judge's initials
27 follow the Judge's initials next to the case number.) All documents must include the
28 words “DISCOVERY MATTER” in the caption to ensure proper routing. Counsel
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1 are directed to contact the Magistrate Judge's Courtroom Deputy Clerk to schedule
2 matters for hearing. Please do not deliver courtesy copies of these papers to this
3 Court.
4 The decision of the Magistrate Judge shall be final, subject to modification by
5 the District court only where it has been shown that the Magistrate Judge's order is
6 clearly erroneous or contrary to law. Any party may file and serve a motion for
7 review and reconsideration before this Court. The moving party must file and serve
8 the motion within ten (10) days of service of a written ruling or within ten (10) days
9 of an oral ruling that the Magistrate Judge states will not be followed by a written
10 ruling. The motion must specify which portions of the text are clearly erroneous or
11 contrary to law, and the claim must be supported by points and authorities. Counsel
12 shall deliver a conformed copy of the moving papers and responses to the
13 Magistrate Judge's clerk at the time of filing.
14 6. Motions and Trial Briefs. Motions shall be filed and set for hearing in
15 accordance with Local Rule 6-1, except: (1) the notice of motion shall be filed with
16 the Clerk not earlier than twenty-eight (28) days, and no later than thirty-five (35)
17 days, before the date set for hearing; and (2) this Court hears motions on Mondays
18 commencing at 9:00 a.m. If Monday is a national holiday, this Court will hear
19 motions on the succeeding Tuesday. If the date the motion was noticed for hearing
20 is not available, the Court will issue a minute order resetting the date. Any
21 opposition or reply papers due on a holiday are due the preceding Friday, not the
22 following Tuesday. Memoranda of Points and Authorities, pretrial briefs, trial
23 briefs, and postrial briefs (including oppositions thereto) shall not exceed 20
24 pages, nor exceed 5,600 words, including headings, footnotes, and quotations.
25 Replies shall not exceed 10 pages. These page and word count limitations exclude
26 the caption, table of contents, table of authorities, signature block, and certification
27 required by Local Rule 11-6.2. Only in rare instances and for good cause shown
28 will the Court agree to extend these limitations. Pursuant to Local Rule 11-3.1.1,
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1 either a proportionally spaced or monospaced font may be used. A proportionally
2 spaced font must be 14-point or larger, or as the Court may otherwise order. A
3 monospaced font may not contain more than 10½ characters per inch.
4 Motions, Oppositions, and Replies shall be electronically filed only.
5 With the exception of physical exhibits, all documents supporting the motion,
6 opposition, or reply (e.g., declarations, exhibits, statements of undisputed or
7 disputed facts, judicial notices) shall also be electronically filed only, and filed
8 as attachments to the corresponding brief. Furthermore, each supporting
9 document shall be filed as an individual attachment, such that each document
10 can be accessed by its own individual link. Each attachment shall be designated
11 by the title of the document.
12 Example (Docket Entry for Defendant’s Notice of Motion and Motion for Summary
13 Judgment):
14 Document Selection Menu
15 Select the document you wish to view.
16 Document Number: 100 23 pages 150 kb
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18 Attachment Description
19 1 Separate Statement of Undisputed Facts 10 pages 50 kb
20 2 Declaration of Bob Smith 4 pages 30 kb
21 3 Exhibit A - Purchase Agreement 5 pages 1.2 mb
22 4 Exhibit B - Jones Deposition 10 pages 0.9 mb
23 5 Exhibit C - Thomas Declaration 3 pages 23 kb
24 6 Proposed Order 2 pages 20 kb
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26 Within the parties’ briefs, any reference to information or evidence contained
27 in the supporting documents shall contain the documents’ location in the
28 citation. Example: Plaintiff and Defendant executed the Purchase Agreement on
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1 January 2, 2010. (Purchase Agreement, Smith Decl., Ex. A at p.5, Docket Entry
2 100-3.)
3 Motions for Summary Judgment: Without prior permission from the Court,
4 no party may file more than one motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ. P. 56 regardless of
5 whether such motion is denominated as a motion for summary judgment or
6 summary adjudication.
7 Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings: Without prior permission from the
8 Court, no party may file more than one motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ. P. 12(c).
9 Motions to Dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6): Where a defendant
10 has filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, and in lieu of filing an opposition, if the plaintiff
11 intends to file an amended complaint, and it is still within the time to amend the
12 complaint as a matter of course pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1), the plaintiff
13 shall file either the Amended Complaint or a Notice of Intent to File Amended
14 Complaint prior to the date on which the opposition is due. Failure to do so may
15 result in sanctions.
16 7. Motion for Class Certification. For any action purporting to commence
17 a class action other than an action subject to the Private Securities Litigation
18 Reform Act of 1995, the plaintiffs must file a Motion for Class Certification no later
19 than 90 days from the date the complaint was served, unless showing of good cause
20 has been made.
21 8. Proposed Orders. Each party filing or opposing a motion or seeking the
22 determination of any matter (e.g., ex parte applications, stipulations, and general
23 requests) shall electronically file and lodge a proposed order setting forth the relief
24 or action sought and a brief statement of the rationale for the decision with
25 appropriate citations.
26 9. Preparation of Documents/PDF. Counsel shall adhere to Local Rule 5-
27 4.3.1 with respect to the conversion of all documents to a PDF so that when a
28 document is electronically filed, it is in the proper size and format that is PDF
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1 searchable.
2 10. Telephonic and/or Video Hearings. The Court does not permit
3 appearances or arguments by way of telephone conference calls or remote video
4 appearance.
5 11. Ex Parte Applications. The Court considers ex parte applications on
6 the papers and does not usually set these matters for hearing. If a hearing is
7 necessary, the parties will be notified. Ex parte applications are solely for
8 extraordinary relief and should be used with discretion. Sanctions may be imposed
9 for misuse of ex parte applications. See Mission Power Engineering Co. v.
10 Continental Casualty Co., 883 F.Supp. 488 (C.D. Cal. 1995).
11 Counsel’s attention is directed to the Local Rules. The moving party shall
12 serve the opposing party and shall notify the opposition that opposing papers must
13 be filed not later than 3:00 p.m. on the first business day following service. If
14 counsel does not intend to oppose an ex parte application, he or she must inform the
15 Courtroom Deputy Clerk at
[email protected]
16 12. Continuances. This Court has a strong interest in keeping scheduled
17 dates certain. Changes in dates are disfavored. Trial dates set by the Court are firm
18 and will rarely be changed. Therefore, a stipulation to continue the date of any
19 matter before this Court must be supported by a sufficient basis that demonstrates
20 good cause why the change in the date is essential. Without such compelling
21 factual support, stipulations continuing dates set by this Court will not be approved.
22 Counsel requesting a continuance must file a stipulation and lodge a proposed order
23 including a detailed declaration of the grounds for the requested continuance or
24 extension of time. See Local Rules. Failure to comply with the Local Rules and this
25 Order will result in rejection of the request without further notice to the parties.
26 Proposed stipulations extending scheduling dates do not become effective unless
27 and until this Court so orders. Counsel wishing to know whether a stipulation has
28 been signed shall comply with the applicable Local Rule.
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1 13. Communications with Chambers. Counsel shall not attempt to contact
2 the Court or its staff by telephone or by any other ex parte means. Counsel may
3 contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk with appropriate inquiries only. Counsel shall
4 not contact the Courtroom Deputy regarding status of rulings on motions, ex parte
5 applications or stipulations. Counsel shall not contact the Court to ask if a matter is
6 going forward. Notice will be given if the matter is taken off calendar.
7 14. Order Setting Scheduling Conference. Pursuant to Federal Rule of
8 Civil Procedure 16(b), the Court will issue an Order setting a Scheduling
9 Conference as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 and the Local Rules
10 of this Court. Strict compliance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 16 and 26 is
11 required.
12 15. Notice of this Order. Counsel for plaintiff or plaintiff (if appearing on
13 his or her own behalf) shall immediately serve this Order on all parties, including
14 any new parties to the action. If this case came to the Court by a Petition for
15 Removal, the removing defendant(s) shall serve this Order on all other parties.
16 16. Courtesy Copies. Chambers copies are not required at this time with
17 exception of any copies specifically requested by the Court, any physical items
18 including CD’s or flash drives, and any sealed documents and criminal documents
19 as set forth below. Any paper copy or physical item to be delivered to the Court
20 shall be delivered to and placed in the Judge’s courtesy box, located outside of the
21 Clerk’s office, on the 12th floor of the Roybal Federal Building, 255 East Temple
22 Street, Los Angeles. Chambers copies of under seal documents shall all be placed
23 together in a manila envelope labeled “UNDER SEAL.”
24 Criminal matters:
25 Sentencing memoranda greater than 20 pages in length. All exhibits, declarations,
26 etc. to chambers copies must be tabbed, where applicable. Blue-backs and hole
27 punches are not required. Chambers copies of under seal documents shall all be
28 placed together in a manila envelope labeled “UNDER SEAL.”
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1 17. Applications to File Documents Under Seal: For detailed instructions
2 and information on the procedures for filing documents under seal, please refer to
3 Local Rule 79-5 Confidential Court Records – Under Seal. With regard to Under-
4 seal Documents in Non-sealed Civil Cases (L.R. 79-5.2.2), the filing party shall not
5 provide a chambers or courtesy copy of the Application or any associated
6 documents. Please bear in mind that all applications must (1) indicate which
7 portions of the documents to be filed under seal are confidential; and (2) provide
8 reasons(s) as to why the parties’ interest to file the document(s) under seal
9 outweighs the public’s right to access. If a party submits an application to file under
10 seal pursuant to a protective order only (i.e., no other reason is given), the Court
11 will automatically deny the application if the party designating the material as
12 confidential does not file a declaration pursuant to L.R. 79-5.2.2(b)(i). This
13 declaration shall be entitled: “DESIGNATING PARTY’S DECLARATION IN
14 SUPPORT OF APPLICATION TO FILE UNDER SEAL PURSUANT TO
15 PROTECTIVE ORDER”.
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17 DATED: 6/2/2026
18 __________________________
19 R. GARY KLAUSNER
United States District Judge
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