(a) Notice Requirement. When a plaintiff files a complaint and there is a related
case, as defined by LR 3.3(b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3), the complaint must be
accompanied by a notice of related case. The notice must state the style and civil
action number of the related case, the name of the presiding judge, whether the case
Effective September 2, 2025
is pending, and, if the case has been dismissed or remanded, the date of the final
judgment or order remanding the case.
(b) Related Case Defined. A “related case” is any civil action
(1) that the plaintiff dismissed with the intent or for the purpose of obtaining a
different assigned presiding judge and that is being refiled through the
complaint;
(2) that the plaintiff dismissed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1) by notice of
dismissal, and that is being refiled through the complaint without changing
the parties, or after adding or omitting one or more parties;
(3) that—to the best of the plaintiff’s or removing party’s knowledge,
information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the
circumstances—arises from a common nucleus of operative fact with the
case being filed or removed, regardless whether the related case is a pending
case; or
(4) that was remanded and, regardless whether one or more parties or one or
more claims or defenses have changed, is being removed again.
(c) Effect of Failure to File Notice of Related Case. A plaintiff who does not file a
notice of related case under LR 3.3(a), and a removing party who does not file a notice of
related case under LR 81.1(a)(3), certifies that there is no related case, as defined in LR
3.3(b), to the case being filed or removed.
