Massachusetts Superior Court

Filing

The moving party must include a separate Certificate of Compliance with a partially dispositive motion package.

“The moving party shall file, as part of the motion package, a separate document entitled ‘Certificate of Compliance’ that details the steps taken by the parties to comply with this procedural order.”

Filing

BLS parties should provide a courtesy paper copy of an electronic filing that needs immediate attention, has a memorandum over twenty pages, or has more than twenty pages of exhibits or attachments.

“Parties should provide to the court courtesy paper copy of any electronically-filed papers that need immediate attention, electronically-filed memoranda longer than twenty pages, and electronically-filed papers with exhibits or attachments that exceed twenty pages in total.”

Filing

Electronically filed text documents in Superior Court civil cases must be searchable PDFs.

“E-filed text documents must be in searchable Portable Document Format (PDF).”

Motions

A moving party may file a reply memorandum in a BLS Rule 9A motion, limited to ten double-spaced pages.

“shall not exceed ten typed double-spaced pages,”

Motions

The BLS reply must accompany the motion papers within ten days after the moving party receives the opposition.

“shall be filed with the motion, opposition, and all other papers within ten days of receipt of the opposition,”

Motions

Before serving a partially dispositive BLS motion, the moving party must request and attend a court status conference.

“No such partially dispositive motion shall be served until after a status conference with the Court, which will be scheduled by the clerk at the request of the moving party.”

Motions

BLS reconsideration motions should be limited to intervening law, previously unavailable evidence, or clear legal error.

“A motion for reconsideration should only be filed when there has been an intervening change in the law, newly discovered evidence that was not previously available, or a clear error of law.”

Discovery

BLS parties are encouraged to submit a proposed protective order by the initial Rule 16 conference when one would facilitate discovery.

“Parties are encouraged to submit proposed protective orders in any case where such an order will facilitate discovery. To the extent practicable, such proposed protective orders should be submitted on or before the initial Rule 16 conference.”

Conferences

Counsel seeking to participate by telephone in an eligible BLS proceeding must ask the session clerk in advance.

“make the request in advance by telephone or brief letter to the session clerk;”

Conferences

Counsel may request an in-person or video BLS hearing and should include a brief reason with the hearing request when filing the motion.

“Counsel may ask that a particular hearing or conference be held in person or by video conference, with a brief explanation why they favor one or the other for that hearing. We prefer that counsel include that information in any request for hearing made when a motion is filed.”

Sealing

Impounded documents and motions to impound must be filed on paper, not electronically.

“No impounded document or motion to impound shall be e-filed.”