Civil Case Information Statement (CIS) - New Jersey

CIVIL CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT (CIS)

Superior Court of New Jersey — Law Division, Civil Part

Form CN 10517 (Appendix XII-B1)

FORM PURPOSE: The Civil Case Information Statement (CIS) is required under Rule 4:5-1 to be filed and served with the first pleading (complaint, answer, or third-party complaint) in every civil action in the Law Division, Civil Part. The CIS provides the court with essential information for case management, track assignment, and judicial assignment.

MANDATORY FILING: The CIS must be completed and filed with the initial pleading. Failure to file the CIS may result in rejection of the pleading by the clerk.

SECTION 1: COURT DESIGNATION

County / Vicinage: [________________________________]

New Jersey has 15 vicinages within 21 counties:

SECTION 2: CASE CAPTION

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
LAW DIVISION, CIVIL PART
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

________________________________________
[________________________________],
                    Plaintiff(s),

        v.                                          Docket No.: ____________________
                                                    (Assigned by Clerk)
[________________________________],
                    Defendant(s).
________________________________________

CIVIL CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT

SECTION 3: CASE TYPE CODE

Select ONE case type code. This code determines the discovery track assignment.

Track I — 150-Day Discovery

Track II — 300-Day Discovery

Track III — 450-Day Discovery

Track IV — Complex / Commercial (Individualized Management)

Other

SECTION 4: TRACK ASSIGNMENT

Based on the case type code selected above, the anticipated track assignment is:

• ☐ Track I — 150-day discovery period; generally simpler cases
• ☐ Track II — 300-day discovery period; standard civil litigation
• ☐ Track III — 450-day discovery period; complex cases
• ☐ Track IV — Complex commercial; individualized case management

NOTE: The court issues a Track Assignment Notice (TAN) after reviewing the CIS. Parties may apply to the court for a different track assignment within 30 days of the TAN (R. 4:25-7).

SECTION 5: SPECIAL CASE DESIGNATIONS

A. Complex Commercial Litigation

• Is this case appropriate for designation as a complex commercial case? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Does this case meet the criteria under R. 4:25-7(b)? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Involves primarily business or commercial disputes
• Amount in controversy exceeds $200,000 (or no monetary damages sought)
• At least one party is a business entity

B. Multicounty Litigation (MCL)

• Does this case involve a multicounty litigation (MCL) designation? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• If yes, identify the MCL: [________________________________]
• MCL docket number (if assigned): [________________________________]

C. Law Against Discrimination (LAD) / Sexual Abuse

• Does this case involve allegations of discrimination or harassment under the NJ Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.)? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Does this case involve allegations of sexual abuse? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• If yes, describe: [________________________________]

D. Insurance Coverage

• Insurance carrier(s) on risk: [________________________________]
• Policy number(s): [________________________________]
• Coverage type: ☐ CGL ☐ Professional Liability ☐ Auto ☐ Homeowner ☐ Other: [________]

E. Class Action

• Is this case filed as a class action? ☐ Yes ☐ No
• If yes, estimated class size: [________________________________]

SECTION 6: AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY / RELIEF SOUGHT

A. Monetary Relief

• ☐ Amount in controversy exceeds $20,000 (Law Division jurisdiction)
• ☐ Amount in controversy is $20,000 or less (should be filed in Special Civil Part)

Specific amount claimed (exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees):
$[________________________________]

NOTE: The Law Division, Civil Part has jurisdiction over claims exceeding $20,000. Claims of $20,000 or less must be filed in the Special Civil Part unless they involve equitable relief or other matters within exclusive Law Division jurisdiction.

B. Non-Monetary / Equitable Relief

• ☐ Injunctive relief sought
• ☐ Declaratory judgment sought
• ☐ Specific performance sought
• ☐ Other equitable relief: [________________________________]

C. Punitive Damages

• ☐ Punitive damages claimed (N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.9 et seq.)
• ☐ No punitive damages claimed

SECTION 7: MANDATORY ARBITRATION

Under R. 4:21A, certain civil actions are subject to mandatory non-binding arbitration.

Arbitration Eligibility

• ☐ This case IS subject to mandatory arbitration (Tracks I, II, and III; amount in controversy generally under $50,000 per vicinage guidelines)
• ☐ This case is NOT subject to mandatory arbitration
• ☐ Unsure — to be determined by track assignment

Arbitration Threshold

The mandatory arbitration threshold varies by vicinage. Common thresholds:

NOTE: Arbitration is mandatory for applicable cases on Tracks I, II, and III, and only as required by the managing judge for Track IV cases. Arbitration hearings typically last 1-2 hours. The arbitration award is non-binding; either party may file a trial de novo demand within 30 days (R. 4:21A-6).

SECTION 8: ADR / MEDIATION

• Is this case appropriate for mediation? ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Uncertain
• Is this case appropriate for other ADR? ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Uncertain
• Type of ADR contemplated: ☐ Mediation ☐ Early Settlement Panel ☐ Voluntary Binding Arbitration ☐ Other: [________]
• Have the parties engaged in pre-suit settlement discussions? ☐ Yes ☐ No

SECTION 9: JURY DEMAND

• ☐ Jury trial demanded (R. 4:35-1)
• ☐ Non-jury / bench trial
• ☐ Jury demand to be filed later (must be made not later than 10 days before the date set for the pretrial conference per R. 1:8-2)

Jury Demand Fee: $0 additional fee (included in filing fee).

SECTION 10: PARTY INFORMATION

A. Plaintiff(s)

Plaintiff 1:

• Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Phone: [________________________________]
• Email: [________________________________]
• Party Type: ☐ Individual ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Partnership ☐ Government Entity ☐ Other: [____]

Plaintiff 2 (if applicable):

• Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Phone: [________________________________]
• Email: [________________________________]

☐ Additional plaintiffs listed on attached sheet (total: [____])

B. Defendant(s)

Defendant 1:

• Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Phone (if known): [________________________________]
• Email (if known): [________________________________]
• Party Type: ☐ Individual ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Partnership ☐ Government Entity ☐ Other: [____]

Defendant 2 (if applicable):

• Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Phone (if known): [________________________________]
• Email (if known): [________________________________]

☐ Additional defendants listed on attached sheet (total: [____])

SECTION 11: ATTORNEY INFORMATION

A. Filing Attorney

• Attorney Name: [________________________________]
• New Jersey Bar ID Number: [________________________________]
• Firm Name: [________________________________]
• Mailing Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Telephone: [________________________________]
• Facsimile: [________________________________]
• Email Address: [________________________________]
• eCourts Attorney ID: [________________________________]
• Attorney for: ☐ Plaintiff(s) ☐ Defendant(s) ☐ Third-Party Plaintiff ☐ Other: [________]

B. Self-Represented Party (if applicable)

• ☐ Party is self-represented (pro se)
• Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
• Mailing Address: [________________________________]
• City, State, ZIP: [________________________________]
• Telephone: [________________________________]
• Email Address: [________________________________]

SECTION 12: RELATED CASES

Are there any related, pending, or previously adjudicated cases involving the same parties, same claims, or same subject matter?

• ☐ No related cases
• ☐ Yes — Provide details below:

Is consolidation with a related case being sought?

• ☐ Yes — Motion to consolidate to be filed
• ☐ No

SECTION 13: SERVICE OF PROCESS

A. Method of Service

• ☐ Personal service by sheriff or civil process officer
• ☐ Personal service by special civil process server (R. 4:4-3)
• ☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested (R. 4:4-3)
• ☐ Simultaneous mail (regular and certified) (R. 4:4-3)
• ☐ Publication (R. 4:4-5) — requires court approval
• ☐ Other (specify): [________________________________]

B. Service Addresses

Defendant 1 Service Address:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Defendant 2 Service Address (if applicable):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

C. Registered Agent (for entity defendants)

• Registered Agent Name: [________________________________]
• Registered Agent Address: [________________________________]
• NJ Division of Revenue Entity ID: [________________________________]

SECTION 14: FILING FEE INFORMATION

Current Filing Fees

Payment

• ☐ Filing fee of $[________] paid via eCourts e-filing system
• ☐ Filing fee of $[________] paid at the clerk's window
• ☐ Fee waiver requested (In Forma Pauperis application attached)

SECTION 15: SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

• Interpreter needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Language: [________________________________]
• ADA / disability accommodation needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Describe accommodation: [________________________________]
• Hearing impairment services needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Type of service: ☐ Sign language interpreter ☐ Real-time captioning ☐ Other: [________]

SECTION 16: CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment.

I further certify that the within Civil Case Information Statement has been served upon all parties to the action with the initial pleading, as required by R. 4:5-1.

I further certify that confidential personal identifiers have been redacted from documents filed with the court in accordance with R. 1:38-7(b).

Date: [__/__/____]

________________________________________
Signature of Attorney / Pro Se Party

________________________________________
Printed Name

________________________________________
NJ Bar ID Number (or "Pro Se")

________________________________________
Firm Name (if applicable)

________________________________________
Address

________________________________________
City, State, ZIP

________________________________________
Telephone

________________________________________
Email Address

SECTION 17: E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS AND CHECKLIST

eCourts E-Filing System

Portal: https://portal.njcourts.gov

Pre-Filing Checklist

• ☐ Registered for an eCourts attorney/pro se account
• ☐ Complaint drafted and finalized
• ☐ Civil Case Information Statement (CIS) completed — this form
• ☐ Filing fee payment method confirmed
• ☐ Case type code identified from Section 3
• ☐ All documents converted to PDF format
• ☐ Confidential personal identifiers redacted (R. 1:38-7(b)):
• ☐ Social Security numbers
• ☐ Financial account numbers
• ☐ Dates of birth for minors
• ☐ Names of minor children (use initials)
• ☐ Summons prepared

Filing Steps (eCourts)

1. Log in to the eCourts portal
2. Select "New Filing" and choose "Law Division — Civil Part"
3. Select the appropriate county/vicinage
4. Enter case type code from Section 3
5. Enter all party and attorney information
6. Upload complaint (PDF)
7. Upload CIS (PDF) — this document
8. Pay filing fee
9. Submit and retain confirmation/transaction number

Post-Filing Steps

• ☐ Receive docket number from clerk
• ☐ Receive Track Assignment Notice (TAN) from court
• ☐ Serve complaint, summons, and CIS on all defendants
• ☐ File proof of service / affidavit of service
• ☐ Review TAN — apply for track reassignment within 30 days if necessary
• ☐ Calendar arbitration date (if applicable)
• ☐ Calendar discovery end date per track assignment

SECTION 18: PRACTITIONER NOTES

Venue Rules

• Venue in the Law Division is governed by R. 4:3-2.
• General venue is in the county where the cause of action arose or where any party resides.
• Contract actions: where the contract was made or breached, or where any party resides.
• Tort actions: where the cause of action arose or where any party resides.
• Real property actions: where the property is located.
• Change of venue may be sought under R. 4:3-3 for convenience of parties and witnesses.

Track Assignment Deadlines

Mandatory Arbitration Notes

• Arbitration under R. 4:21A is non-binding.
• Hearings typically last 1-2 hours before a panel of three attorney-arbitrators.
• Trial de novo demand must be filed within 30 days of the arbitration award (R. 4:21A-6).
• If a party demands trial de novo and does not improve their position by 20% or more, the court may assess costs and attorney fees under R. 4:21A-6(c).

Confidentiality Requirements (R. 1:38)

Under R. 1:38-7(b), the following must be redacted from all publicly filed documents:

• Social Security numbers (use last four digits only)
• Financial account numbers (use last four digits only)
• Dates of birth for minors
• Names of minor children (use initials)

Common Statute of Limitations

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• NJ Courts — Civil Case Information Statement (CN 10517): https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10517_ps_pkt.pdf
• NJ Court Rules, Rule 4:5-1: https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court
• NJ Court Rules, Rule 4:21A (Arbitration): https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court
• NJ Courts — eCourts Filing Portal: https://portal.njcourts.gov
• NJ Filing Fee Schedule: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/11112_courtfees.pdf
• N.J.S.A. 22A:2-25 (Law Division Filing Fees): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-22a/section-22a-2-25/
• NJ Courts — Arbitration Program: https://www.njcourts.gov/courts/civil/arbitration

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Laws, rules, fees, and procedures change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the New Jersey court system and consult a licensed New Jersey attorney before filing.