S.D. Ohio Civ. R. 3.1

(a) Civil Cover Sheet. Every complaint or other document initiating a civil action must

be filed electronically using the ECF system unless the filer does not have access to the

ECF system or is a pro se litigant. Filers who do not have access to the ECF system

and pro se litigants may file a complaint or other document initiating a civil action in

paper form with the Clerk. This filing must be accompanied by a completed civil cover

sheet on a form available from the Clerk and on the Court’s website. The civil cover

sheet is solely for administrative purposes, and matters appearing only on the civil

cover sheet have no legal effect in the action. If the complaint or other initiating

document is tendered for filing without a completed civil cover sheet, the Clerk shall

file the complaint or other initiating document and shall give notice of the omission to

the filing party that the completed civil cover sheet must be promptly filed.

(b) Related Cases. An initiating party shall identify on the civil cover sheet or other form

provided by the Clerk any previously filed case or cases in the District that the party

knows or believes to be related. After the initial filing of a case, any party may call to

the Court’s attention any related case(s) by filing a notice of related case(s). For

purposes of this Rule, civil cases may be deemed related by the Court if they:

(1) Arise from the same or substantially identical transaction, happening, or event; or

(2) Call for a determination of the same or substantially identical questions of law or

fact; or

(3) Would entail a substantial duplication of effort and expense by the Court and the

parties if heard by different Judges; or

(4) Seek relief that could result in a party’s being subject to conflicting orders of this

Court.

(c) This Rule is intended to provide for the orderly division of the business of the Court

and does not grant any right to any litigant.