(a) Filing. Civil and miscellaneous case opening documents and related attachments
may be (i) electronically filed through the court’s ECF system if the attorney Filing User
pays the filing fee using a credit card or ACH debit card through ECF’s payment system,
simultaneously submits a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, or if no filing fee is
required, or (ii) conventionally filed with the appropriate filing fee. If conventionally
filed by an attorney, the case opening documents and attachments must also be
downloaded onto a data storage device as separate documents in PDF format and
received within 48 hours.
“Civil case opening documents” shall include, but are not limited to, complaints,
petitions, or notices of removal. Related attachments that should be electronically filed
shall include, but are not limited to, the civil cover sheet and summons/notice of lawsuit
and waiver of summons. A Filing User requesting summonses must complete the top
section of each summons form before filing electronically or conventionally.
(b) Service. If summonses are submitted with the case opening documents, the
clerk’s office will return signed and sealed summonses either electronically through ECF
or on paper by regular mail to counsel for the plaintiff(s) for service of process. Case
opening complaints or petitions may not be served electronically and must be served in
accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4.
(c) Return of Service. All returns of service or other returns in civil and
miscellaneous cases shall be electronically filed in a scanned PDF format.
(§ (a) amended 5/1/05, 10/1/06, 6/1/11; § (b) amended 8/1/05; §§ (a) and (c) amended 12/1/13)
