All local rules for M.D. Fla., integrated with this judge's published requirements.
Can counsel or litigants without lawyers contact Chambers? Yes. Counsel of record and litigants without lawyers may contact Chambers about procedures specific to Judge Chappell, scheduling, and other non-substantive matters. Law clerks will not discuss the merits of any case ex parte. Nor will they give legal advice, interpret procedural rules, explain court orders, or provide time estimates on orders. Before contacting Chambers, counsel and litigants without lawyers must review this website, the docket, and the federal and Local Rules. When calling Chambers, counsel and litigants without lawyers must provide (1) the case number, (2) their name and party they represent, (3) whether opposing counsel has been consulted, and (4) why they are contacting Chambers. For emails, all parties must be copied.
(b) LENGTH AND CONTENT OF A MOTION, A BRIEF, OR AN OBJECTION. A motion must include — in a single document no longer than twenty-five pages — a concise statement of the precise relief requested, a statement of the basis for the request, and a legal memorandum supporting the request. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(b) ↗
(c) LENGTH AND CONTENT OF A RESPONSE. A party responding to a motion or brief may file a legal memorandum no longer than twenty pages. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(c) ↗
(e) NO REPLY AS A MATTER OF RIGHT. Except for a reply to a motion for summary judgment or a reply brief in a social security action, no party may reply without leave. A motion for leave to reply must not exceed three pages; must specify the need for, and the length of, the proposed reply; and must not include the proposed reply. No response to a motion for leave to reply is permitted. A party may reply to a response to a motion for summary judgment within fourteen days after service of the response. A reply must not exceed seven pages. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(e) ↗
(d) TIME TO RESPOND. A party may respond to a motion within fourteen days after service of the motion. However, a party may respond within twenty-one days after service to a motion to dismiss, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to exclude or limit expert testimony, to certify a class, for a new trial, or to alter or amend the judgment. If a party fails to timely respond, the motion is subject to treatment as unopposed. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(d) ↗
Silent on motion hearing days. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01 (silent) ↗
(k) NO PROPOSED ORDER. Unless otherwise permitted by these rules, no party in a civil action may submit a proposed judgment or other order without leave. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(k) ↗
Does the court accept proposed orders or judgments? No.The Court only accepts proposed orders if they are required by the federal or local rules.
(i) ORAL ARGUMENT OR EVIDENTIARY HEARING. A party must request oral argument or an evidentiary hearing in a separate document accompanying the party’s motion or response and stating the time necessary. M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(i) ↗
Are discovery matters referred to the assigned magistrate judge? Yes.
What Local Rule is most overlooked? Local Rule 3.01(g). It requires a moving party to confer with opposing counsel in a good-faith effort to resolve the issue to be raised in a motion before filing a motion in a civil case. Placing a phone call or sending an email is not enough. Source ↗
Does the court require courtesy copies? Yes, but only for summary judgment motions. The parties must submit courtesy copies for a motion for summary judgment, response, and reply that exceeds 25 pages (including exhibits and attachments). Courtesy copies should be mailed by United States mail or other reliable service to Chambers promptly after the electronic filing. Source ↗
Does the court require mediation? Yes. Judge Chappell refers all civil cases to mandatory mediation. All parties must attend mediation in a good-faith effort to resolve the case. Source ↗
Does the court hear oral arguments? The court decides most, if not all, motions on the papers. The court holds oral arguments only if it grants a party's request or sets them sua sponte. Source ↗
Can a party file more than one motion for summary judgment? No. Only one motion for summary judgment may be filed by a party (or multiple parties represented by the same counsel) without the court's leave. Source ↗