Recent News

March 12, 2010

New Commercial Docket Procedure – Common Pleas Court

Lawyers filing new cases in Common Pleas Court now have a streamlined, alternative procedure to direct cases to the “Commercial Docket” from the outset. A new case designation form is available from the Clerk. Plaintiff’s lawyers may complete the form when filing a new case, and identify one or more specific provisions in Temp. Superintendence Rule 1.03 that support placing the case directly on the Commercial Docket. If counsel certify their case qualifies, it will be directly assigned to the Docket and drawn to either Judge Bessey or Judge Frye. This new procedure does not preclude defense counsel from later seeking to have a case transferred if plaintiff’s counsel overlooked it at the outset, or to have an improper transfer withdrawn (Temp. S. R. 1.04.) Please note: a lawyer, not a runner or law clerk, must sign the certification form.