DC Superior Court Civil Cover Sheet / Case Information Sheet

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — INFORMATION-SHEET PREPARATION WORKSHEET

Civil Division — Civil Actions Branch

DO NOT FILE THIS WORKSHEET. Use the court's official two-page Civil Division — Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet, Form CV-496 (February 2023). The court's current Civil Actions guidance requires a complaint, a separate prepared summons for each defendant, and one official Information Sheet. Rule 3 says an action begins by filing the complaint; Rule 3-I concerns only the inscription for pleadings affecting real property.

SECTION 1: CASE CAPTION AND COURT INFORMATION

Division / Branch (select one):

☐ Civil Actions Branch — Civil claims seeking more than $10,000 in damages or equitable/injunctive relief
☐ Small Claims and Conciliation Branch — Claims for money only, $10,000 or less (D.C. Code § 11-1321)
☐ Landlord and Tenant Branch — Eviction, possession, and rent disputes (separate forms required)

Official CV-496 header fields:

Pending related cases:

☐ ACTION INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY — If a pleading may affect title to or interests in real property, including a pleading in a change-of-name case, Rule 3-I requires the inscription "ACTION INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY" immediately below the pleading title. The current 2025 rules do not direct the filer to add an "RP" suffix; do not invent or preassign a case-number suffix.

Supplemental material below is an attorney-preparation checklist, not part of Form CV-496. Transfer only the fields and the single nature-of-suit choice that appear on the current official form.

SECTION 2: CASE TYPE — NATURE OF ACTION

Instructions: Select ONE primary case type. The Civil Actions Branch uses case type classifications for case assignment, track designation, and statistical reporting. Cases are assigned to either Civil I or Civil II calendars based on case type.

CIVIL I CASES (Complex / Specialized — assigned to designated Civil I judges)

☐ Toxic Tort / Mass Tort (asbestos, environmental contamination, pharmaceutical)
☐ Complex Multi-District Litigation
☐ Class Action
☐ Other Complex Litigation — Describe: [________________________________]

CIVIL II CASES (General Civil — assigned to individual calendar judges)

Contract / Commercial:
☐ Breach of Contract (general)
☐ Business / Commercial Dispute
☐ Insurance Coverage / Bad Faith
☐ Construction Contract
☐ Debt Collection (consumer or commercial)
☐ Negotiable Instrument / UCC
☐ Other Contract: [________________________________]

Tort — Motor Vehicle:
☐ Motor Vehicle Accident — Personal Injury
☐ Motor Vehicle Accident — Property Damage
☐ Motor Vehicle Accident — Wrongful Death

Note: Vehicle accident cases are assigned to one of four specialized vehicle accident tracks.

Tort — Medical / Professional Malpractice:
☐ Medical Malpractice
☐ Dental Malpractice
☐ Legal Malpractice
☐ Other Professional Negligence: [________________________________]

Note: Medical malpractice cases are assigned to one of two specialized malpractice tracks.

Tort — General:
☐ Premises Liability (slip and fall, unsafe conditions)
☐ Product Liability
☐ Assault and Battery
☐ Defamation (libel / slander)
☐ Fraud / Misrepresentation
☐ Wrongful Death (non-vehicle, non-medical)
☐ Other Personal Injury: [________________________________]
☐ Other Property Damage: [________________________________]
☐ Other Tort: [________________________________]

Real Property:
☐ Quiet Title
☐ Ejectment
☐ Mortgage Foreclosure
☐ Mechanics Lien
☐ Partition
☐ Condemnation / Eminent Domain
☐ Other Real Property: [________________________________]

Employment:
☐ Employment Discrimination (D.C. Human Rights Act, Title VII)
☐ Wrongful Termination
☐ Wage and Hour (D.C. Wage Payment and Wage Collection Law)
☐ Whistleblower / Retaliation
☐ Other Employment: [________________________________]

Equity / Declaratory / Injunctive:
☐ Declaratory Judgment
☐ Injunctive Relief (TRO, preliminary or permanent injunction)
☐ Mandamus
☐ Specific Performance
☐ Other Equitable Relief: [________________________________]

Administrative / Statutory:
☐ Administrative Agency Appeal
☐ Statutory Action (D.C. Code enforcement)
☐ Constitutional Challenge
☐ Consumer Protection (D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act)
☐ Other Statutory Action: [________________________________]

Miscellaneous Civil:
☐ Confirmation / Vacatur of Arbitration Award
☐ Foreign Judgment Registration
☐ Change of Name (with or without real property implications)
☐ Civil Contempt
☐ Other Civil: [________________________________]

SECTION 3: CASE MANAGEMENT TRACKS — DIFFERENTIATED CASE MANAGEMENT (DCM)

SCR-Civ. R. 40-III and Administrative Order 09-12: The Civil Division employs a Differentiated Case Management (DCM) system. Cases are assigned to tracks at the scheduling conference based on case type, complexity, and anticipated discovery needs. Each track has standardized deadlines for witness lists, discovery, motions, ADR, and pretrial/settlement conferences.

Civil I Cases

☐ Civil I Track — Complex and mass tort cases; assigned to one of two designated Civil I judges

Civil II Cases — Three Tracks

☐ Track 1 (Expedited) — Simpler cases; shorter discovery period; early trial date
☐ Track 2 (Standard) — Moderate complexity; standard discovery period
☐ Track 3 (Complex) — Multi-party or document-intensive cases; extended discovery

Medical Malpractice — Two Tracks

☐ Malpractice Track 1 — Standard medical malpractice
☐ Malpractice Track 2 — Complex medical malpractice

Vehicle Accident — Four Tracks

☐ Vehicle Track 1 — Minor damages / straightforward liability
☐ Vehicle Track 2 — Moderate damages / contested liability
☐ Vehicle Track 3 — Significant damages / complex liability
☐ Vehicle Non-Jury Fast Track — Damages sought of $50,000 or less AND all parties waive jury trial

Non-Jury Fast Track Eligibility: The complaint must seek damages of $50,000 or less, and ALL parties must waive their right to a jury trial. If any party demands a jury, the case is removed from the fast track.

Small Claims / Landlord-Tenant

☐ Non-jury small claims / L&T — Not assigned to a track
☐ Jury demand in small claims / L&T — Assigned to fast track; case prefix changed to SCJ or LTJ

SECTION 4: AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY AND JURISDICTIONAL INFORMATION

D.C. Code § 11-921: The Superior Court has jurisdiction over any civil action or other matter (at law or in equity) brought in the District of Columbia, regardless of the amount in controversy, except where exclusive jurisdiction is vested in another court.

Jurisdictional Amount:

• Civil Actions Branch: Claims for more than $10,000 or claims for non-monetary relief
• Small Claims Branch: Claims for money only, $10,000 or less (D.C. Code § 11-1321)

Amount in Controversy:
$[________________________________] (exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees)

☐ Amount exceeds $10,000 — filing in Civil Actions Branch
☐ Amount is $10,000 or less — eligible for Small Claims (money claims only)
☐ Non-monetary relief sought — must file in Civil Actions Branch regardless of amount

Relief Sought:
☐ Compensatory damages: $[________________________________]
☐ Punitive damages: $[________________________________]
☐ Treble damages (statutory): $[________________________________]
☐ Injunctive relief: [________________________________]
☐ Declaratory judgment: [________________________________]
☐ Specific performance: [________________________________]
☐ Other relief: [________________________________]

SECTION 5: JURY DEMAND

SCR-Civ. Rule 38: The right to a jury trial as declared by the Seventh Amendment or any D.C. statute is preserved inviolate. A party may demand a jury trial by: (1) serving the other parties with a written demand no later than 14 days after the last pleading directed to the issue is served, AND (2) filing the demand with the court. Other parties may serve a demand within 14 days after being served with the initial demand or within a shorter time ordered by the court. Failure to serve and file a demand constitutes a waiver of jury trial. A demand once properly made cannot be withdrawn without the consent of all parties.

☐ Jury trial demanded — Demand endorsed hereon or filed with complaint
☐ Non-jury (bench trial)
☐ Jury demand to be filed within 14 days of last pleading
☐ All parties waive jury — Case eligible for Non-Jury Fast Track (vehicle cases $50,000 or less)

Jury Fee:
☐ Jury fee deposit paid: $[________________________________]
☐ Fee to be paid at scheduling

Small Claims Jury Demand: A party in a small claims case may demand a jury trial. The case type changes to "SCJ" and the case is reassigned from the Small Claims Branch.

SECTION 6: PARTY INFORMATION

Plaintiff(s)

(Attach additional sheet for additional plaintiffs)

Defendant(s)

(Attach additional sheet for additional defendants)

Minor or Incapacitated Party

☐ Case involves a minor — guardian ad litem may be required; initials may be used
☐ Case involves an incapacitated person — guardian or conservator required
☐ Compromise petition required

SECTION 7: ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Attorney for Filing Party

☐ Pro Se (Self-Represented Litigant)

• Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• Phone / Email: [________________________________]

D.C. Bar Membership or Pro Hac Vice: An attorney must be a member of the D.C. Bar or admitted pro hac vice to appear in DC Superior Court. Pro hac vice applicants must associate with a D.C. Bar member. Applications are filed with the court.

SECTION 8: SERVICE OF PROCESS

SCR-Civ. Rule 4: Service of the summons and complaint must be made within 60 days after filing (or 90 days if served outside the District). Service may be made by a person who is not a party and is at least 18 years of age.

Method of Service (select all that apply):

☐ Personal service by special process server (SCR-Civ. 4(c)(2)) — ☐ Filing party bears cost
☐ Personal service by U.S. Marshal or deputy (limited availability)
☐ Service on authorized agent
☐ Service on registered agent (for entities registered with DC)
☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested
☐ Service by publication (SCR-Civ. 4(e)) — ☐ Motion and affidavit of due diligence filed
☐ Service outside the District of Columbia (SCR-Civ. 4(d))
☐ Service on the Mayor or designated agent (for DC Government)
☐ Service on the United States (SCR-Civ. 4(i))
☐ Waiver of service (SCR-Civ. 4(f))

Service Addresses:

Service Deadline: Service must be completed within 60 days of filing (90 days for out-of-District service). Failure to serve within the time limit may result in dismissal without prejudice (SCR-Civ. 4(m)).

SECTION 9: E-FILING INFORMATION

DC Superior Court E-Filing: The DC Superior Court has implemented mandatory electronic filing for attorneys in the Civil Division. E-filing is conducted through the DC Courts e-filing system.

E-Filing System:
☐ DC Courts E-Filing System (CaseFileXpress / current e-filing platform)

Filing Status:
☐ Attorney — mandatory e-filing
☐ Self-represented litigant — paper filing permitted
☐ Self-represented litigant — e-filing voluntarily
☐ Paper filing approved by court order (exemption)

Required Documents for Initial Filing (e-filed together):
☐ Complaint
☐ Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet (cover sheet)
☐ Summons (one per defendant, prepared for court issuance)
☐ Filing fee payment
☐ Civil case type designation
☐ Jury demand (if applicable)

Document Format:
☐ PDF format required
☐ Maximum file size per system requirements: [____] MB

SECTION 10: RELATED CASES

☐ No related cases
☐ Related cases exist:

☐ Consolidation requested
☐ Related case pending in federal court (U.S. District Court for D.C.)
☐ Companion case
☐ Previously dismissed case — Prior case number: [________________________________]

SECTION 11: ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)

SCR-Civ. Rule 16 and Administrative Order: The Civil Division's DCM plan includes ADR milestones. Cases are generally required to participate in mediation or other ADR before trial.

ADR Status:
☐ Willing to participate in mediation
☐ Willing to participate in arbitration (non-binding)
☐ Willing to participate in early neutral evaluation
☐ ADR not appropriate — explain: [________________________________]
☐ Parties have already attempted ADR — describe: [________________________________]

Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division:
☐ Referral to DC Superior Court Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division requested
☐ Case previously mediated through Multi-Door

SECTION 12: SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS

☐ D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act (D.C. Code § 28-3901 et seq.) — treble damages may be sought
☐ D.C. Human Rights Act (D.C. Code § 2-1401 et seq.)
☐ D.C. Whistleblower Protection Act
☐ D.C. Wage Payment and Wage Collection Law (D.C. Code § 32-1301 et seq.)
☐ Government entity as party — D.C. Government, federal agency, or foreign government
☐ International party or treaty implications
☐ Sealed or confidential filing
☐ Emergency relief sought — TRO / expedited hearing requested

SECTION 13: ADA ACCOMMODATIONS AND INTERPRETER SERVICES

☐ No accommodations needed
☐ Accommodations requested:
☐ Wheelchair-accessible courtroom
☐ Assistive listening device
☐ Sign language interpreter — Type: ☐ ASL ☐ Other: [________________________________]
☐ Real-time captioning (CART)
☐ Large-print documents
☐ Visual aids or screen reader compatibility
☐ Other: [________________________________]

☐ Foreign language interpreter needed
Language: [________________________________]
☐ For party ☐ For witness

DC Courts Language Access Program: The DC Courts provide free interpreter services in civil proceedings. Contact the Office of Court Interpreting Services at least 10 business days before any hearing. The DC Courts serve a linguistically diverse population and regularly provide interpretation in Spanish, Amharic, French, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, and many other languages.

SECTION 14: FILING FEE INFORMATION

Filing Fee: $[________________________________]

DC Superior Court Filing Fees (approximate — verify with clerk):

• Civil Actions Branch — new complaint: approximately $120
• Small Claims Branch: approximately $5–$50 (sliding scale based on amount)
• Jury demand fee: approximately $50
• Motion fee: varies by type
• Appeal filing fee: approximately $100

☐ Fee paid
☐ Fee waiver requested — Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP) filed
☐ Government entity exempt from fees

SECTION 15: CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

Before transferring information to Form CV-496, the filer should confirm that the official form is complete and sign and date the official form itself. This worksheet is not the filing.

PRACTICE TIPS: COMMON FILING ERRORS IN DC SUPERIOR COURT

1. Wrong Branch — Civil Actions vs. Small Claims: Civil Actions Branch handles claims over $10,000 and all non-monetary relief claims. Small Claims handles money-only claims of $10,000 or less. Filing in the wrong branch requires transfer and delays the case. The $10,000 threshold was increased from $5,000 in 2017.

2. Missing Information Sheet: The Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet MUST be filed with the complaint. Filing will be rejected without it. E-filers must include the Information Sheet as part of the filing package.

3. Summons Preparation: Unlike some jurisdictions, DC requires the filing party to prepare a separate summons for each defendant. The clerk issues (signs/stamps) the summons, but the party must provide the prepared form.

4. Service Deadline — 60 Days: DC imposes a strict 60-day service deadline (90 days for out-of-District service). Federal courts allow 90 days. Confusing the two deadlines is a common error that can result in dismissal.

5. Real Property Inscription: Any pleading that may affect title to or interests in real property MUST bear the inscription "ACTION INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY" immediately below the title. Failure to include this inscription can delay proper docketing and indexing.

6. Jury Demand Timing — 14 Days: The jury demand must be served and filed within 14 days after the last pleading directed to the issue. Missing this deadline waives the jury right. Consider endorsing the demand on the complaint itself.

7. Vehicle Case Fast Track Eligibility: The Non-Jury Fast Track for vehicle cases requires BOTH that damages sought be $50,000 or less AND that all parties waive jury trial. If any party demands a jury, the case exits the fast track.

8. Pro Hac Vice Requirements: Out-of-jurisdiction attorneys must file a motion for pro hac vice admission and designate a D.C. Bar member as local counsel. Filing without proper admission may result in rejection of pleadings.

9. Multi-Door ADR Referral: Many cases are referred to the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division for mediation. Failing to participate in court-ordered ADR can result in sanctions. Indicate willingness to participate on the Information Sheet.

10. E-Filing System Errors: Common rejection reasons include incomplete payment processing, missing required attachments (Information Sheet, summons), incorrect case type selection, and non-PDF documents. Verify all required documents are included before submitting.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• DC Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure: https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/superior-court-resources/rules-of-the-superior-court
• Official Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet, Form CV-496 (Feb. 2023): https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/Information_Sheet_Civil_Actions.pdf
• Civil Division Case Management Plan: https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/divisionspdfs/Civil-Division-Case-Management-Plan-Civil-Actions-Branch.pdf
• D.C. Code § 11-921 (Civil Jurisdiction): https://code.dccouncil.gov
• DC Courts E-Filing: https://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/e-filing
• DC Bar: https://www.dcbar.org

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. The official Civil Actions Branch Information Sheet is available from the DC Courts website. Always use the official forms when filing in DC Superior Court. Consult an attorney admitted to the D.C. Bar before filing.