Dauphin Cnty. C.P. Rule 205.2(a) - Physical Characteristics of Pleadings and...

RULE 205.2(a) PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER

LEGAL PAPERS

(1) All documents filed in the Office of Prothonotary shall be on 8½ inch by

11-inch paper and shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) The document shall be prepared on white paper of good quality and

the use of recycled paper is encouraged.

(b) The first sheet shall contain a 3-inch space from the top of the

paper for all court stampings, filing notices, etc.

(c) The text must be double spaced, but quotations more than two

lines long may be indented and single spaced. Except as provided

in subsection b, margins must be at least one inch on all four sides.

(d) The lettering shall be clear, legible and no smaller than Arial 12

point.

(e) The lettering shall be on only one side of a page.

(f) All exhibit tabs shall appear at the bottom of the pleading.

(g) No backers shall be used on the original or any copies of pleadings

or other legal papers filed with the Prothonotary. The original of

pleadings or other legal papers should be stapled in the top left

corner. If the document is over one-half inch thick, it should be

secured with a binder clip. Backers may be used for copies

provided to the court, opposing parties or clients.

(h) Exhibits or attachments smaller than 8½ inches by 11 inches shall

be attached to a regular size paper by using adhesive tape.

(i) Pages shall be consecutively numbered beginning with page 2 and

said number shall appear on the bottom center of the pleading.

(j) The name of the attorney or party, the address at which service can

be made, a telephone number and email address of the attorney or

party shall appear on the top left-hand corner of the first page of all

papers filed in the Office of the Prothonotary.

(k) With the initiating filing and all subsequent filings, in cases where

medical malpractice is or will be alleged, the notation “Civil Action –

Medical Professional Liability Action” shall appear on all captions

directly underneath the docket number.

(l) Any courtesy copies of filings that are provided to a judge and

served on opposing parties must be firmly bound and any metal

fasteners or staples must be securely covered with no sharp or

protruding edges of any kind.

(m) Filings of record may be referenced in any subsequent filing but

shall not be attached thereto.

(n) Attorneys and self-represented parties shall comply with the Case

Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of

Pennsylvania and Local Rules of Judicial Administration 101 and

102 which may be found on the Dauphin County website under

Local Rules of Court.

(2) The Prothonotary shall endorse upon each paper filed, the date and time

of its filing, and enter it upon the proper docket.

(3) (a) All civil motions, petitions, administrative applications and answers

or responses thereto shall be accompanied by a proposed order (or

alternative orders). Except for Petitions in Forfeiture filed pursuant

to 42 Pa. C.S.A. §5805, Petitions shall also include a proposed

Rule to Show Cause.

(b) The proposed order(s) and any Rule to Show Cause shall contain a

distribution legend which shall include the name(s) and mailing

address(es), telephone number(s), facsimile number(s) and e-mail

address(es), if any, of all attorneys and self-represented parties to

be served. The distribution legend shall identify which party each

person represents.

(c) Counsel and self-represented litigants are strongly encouraged to

include stamped envelopes addressed to the attorneys and/or self-represented parties listed in the distribution legend along with all

proposed orders and/or Rules to Show Cause.

(4) The judge(s) chambers shall:

(a) file the original order with the Prothonotary;

(b) prepare copies of the order for mailing;

(c) have the Prothonotary’s Office certify the copies for mailing;

(d) mail copies of the certified order to all parties listed in the

distribution legend;

(e) note the date of mailing and the initials of the person who

accomplished the mailing on the filed original order.

COMMENT

Paragraph (3) of this rule is intended to formalize a practice of long standing in

Dauphin County as well as the majority of other counties. The proposed order should

identify the relief sought, e.g. continuance, rule to show cause, request status or

discovery conference, amend a complaint, etc.

An accurate distribution legend naming all attorneys and self-represented parties

and their addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses, if

any, is essential since the court is now assuming the responsibility for service of its

orders. Inclusion of facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses is not intended to

authorize service by these methods.

Paragraph (4) of this rule is intended to formalize what is now a hybrid process

which has left some doubt as to the responsibility for service of orders.