UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

LOCAL RULES

EFFECTIVE: MARCH, 2018

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN

DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGES

Gina M. Groh, Chief Judge, Martinsburg, West Virginia

John Preston Bailey, Judge, Wheeling, West Virginia

Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., Judge, Wheeling, West Virginia

Irene M. Keeley, Judge, Clarksburg, West Virginia

__________

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Patrick M. Flatley, Wheeling, West Virginia

__________

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES

James E. Seibert, Wheeling, West Virginia

Robert W. Trumble, Martinsburg, West Virginia

Michael J. Aloi, Clarksburg, West Virginia

__________

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT

Cheryl Dean Riley, Wheeling, West Virginia

__________

CLERK OF BANKRUPTCY COURT

Ryan W. Johnson, Wheeling, West Virginia

PREFACE

The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (Court)

adopts the following Local Rules of General Practice and Procedure (LR Gen P), Local

Rules of Civil Procedure (LR Civ P), Local Rules of Criminal Procedure (LR Cr P), and

Local Rules of Prisoner Litigation Procedure (LR PL P). These Local Rules, in

conjunction with the standing orders of this Court, govern the conduct and management

of the business, operations and proceedings of the Court (see www.wvnd.uscourts.gov

for pertinent standing orders).

In the absence of any controlling statute, by standing order of the Court and

agreement of the judicial officers, directive by the Administrative Office of the United

States Courts or agreement by a majority of the district judges of this Court, the Chief

Judge is authorized and empowered to implement these Local Rules.

These Local Rules supplement and complement the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.), the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (Fed. R. Crim. P.)

and the Bankruptcy Rules and controlling statutes, and are applied, construed and

enforced to avoid inconsistency with those controlling statutes and other rules. They

shall be construed and applied to provide fairness and simplicity in procedure and avoid

unjustifiable delay; secure just, expeditious and inexpensive determination of all actions

and proceedings; and promote the efficient administration of justice.

A district judge may, in the interest of the orderly, expeditious and efficient

administration of justice, allow departures from these Local Rules when

warranted by particular facts and circumstances.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. LOCAL RULES OF GENERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Courthouse Security

LR Gen P 1.01. ....................................................................................... 1

(a) Entry of Federal Courthouse Buildings ...................................... 1

(b) Persons Requiring Access ......................................................... 1

(d) Identification Card ...................................................................... 2

(e) Enforcement .............................................................................. 2

Disclosure Statement

LR Gen P 2.01 ........................................................................................... 3

(a) Form Provided by the Clerk of Court ......................................... 3

(b) Form Provided by Counsel ........................................................ 3

Commencement of an Action

LR Gen P 3.01 Proceedings In Forma Pauperis. ....................................... 4

Contempt and Sanctions

LR Gen P 4.01. Initiation of Civil Contempt Proceedings ........................ 4

LR Gen P 4.02. Issues; Trial by Jury ....................................................... 5

LR Gen P 4.03. Order of the Court; Confinement of Contemner ............. 5

Filing of Papers

LR Gen P 5.01. Filing of Papers .............................................................. 6

(a) Electronic Filing ......................................................................... 6

(b) Working Copy to the Judge ....................................................... 7

Filing and Service by Fax Transmission or Electronic Filing via CM/ECF

LR Gen P 5.02. Definitions Related to Fax Transactions and CM/ECF... 7

(a) Facsimile or Fax ........................................................................ 7

(b) Fax Transaction ....................................................................... 8

(d) Fax Machine .............................................................................. 8

(e) Electronic Filing ......................................................................... 8

LR Gen P 5.03. Applicability of Fax Transmissions and Electronic

Filings ........................................................................................................ 8

(a) Filing by Fax .............................................................................. 8

(b) Electronic Filing ......................................................................... 8

LR Gen P 5.04. General Provisions for Filing by Fax ................................ 9

(a) Availability of Fax Services ........................................................ 9

(b) Form and Format ....................................................................... 9

(d) Oversized Documents ............................................................. 10

(e) Fax Cover Sheet ...................................................................... 10

(f) Signatures ................................................................................ 10

(g) Verification of Receipt .............................................................. 10

(h) Filing Effective upon Receipt of Transmission ......................... 10

(i) Payment of Fees ....................................................................... 11

(j) Filing of Original ........................................................................ 11

(k) Retention of Original………. .................................................... 11

(l) Photocopying Charges .............................................................. 11

(m) Transmission Error ................................................................. 11

(n) Notice of Transmission Error; Risk of Using Fax ..................... 11

(o) Nunc Pro Tunc Filing ............................................................... 12

(o) Fax Receipt and Transmission ................................................ 12

LR Gen P 5.05. Filing and Service of Documents in Civil Actions by Fax

Transmission ................................................................................. 12

(a) Method of Filing ....................................................................... 12

(b) Service ..................................................................................... 12

(d) Proof of Service ....................................................................... 13

Service by Electronic Means

LR Gen P 5.06. General ............................................................................ 13

(a) Service by Fax ........................................................................... 13

(b) Electronic Service through CM/ECF .......................................... 13

(d) Summons Forms ...................................................................... 14

(e) Certificate of Service ................................................................ 14

(f) Service upon Non-CM/ECF Filers ............................................. 14

(g) Time to Respond Under Electronic Service ............................. 14

(h) Service of Sealed Filing ........................................................... 14

LR Gen P 5.07. Video ................................................................................ 14

(a) Video Technology ...................................................................... 14

(b) Video Facilities and Equipment ................................................. 15

E-Government Act

LR Gen P 5.08. E-Government Act ........................................................... 16

(a) Documents ................................................................................ 16

(b) Redaction Policy ........................................................................ 17

(d) Violations of Rule ....................................................................... 18

Time

LR Gen P 5.09. Computing and Extending Time ....................................... 18

Sealed Documents

LR Gen P 6.01. Documents Not Available to the Public ............................ 18

(a) Public's Right to Access ............................................................ 18

(b) Judicial Conference Policy ........................................................ 18

(d) Motion for Leave to File Under Seal .......................................... 20

(e) Order on Motion for Leave to File Under Seal ........................... 20

(f) Service ........................................................................................ 21

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Contact with Jurors

LR Gen P 47.01. Contact with Jurors ...................................................... 21

Entry of Judgments

LR Gen P 58.01. Entry of Judgments and Orders ................................... 21

Bonds

LR Gen P 65.01. Approval of Bonds by the Clerk of Court ...................... 22

Principal Office of Clerk of Court; Points of Holding Court; and Session of the

Court

LR Gen P 77.01. Principal Office of Clerk of Court ................................. 22

LR Gen P 77.02. Points of Holding Court ................................................ 22

LR Gen P 77.03. Sessions ...................................................................... 25

(a) Court Hours ............................................................................... 25

(b) Filing Deadline ........................................................................... 25

LR Gen P 79.01. Exhibits ........................................................................ 25

(a) Custody and Disposition of Exhibits .......................................... 25

(b) Custody of Sensitive Exhibits .................................................... 26

…. ......................................................................................... 26

LR Gen P 79.02. Removal of Papers from Custody of Clerk of Court ..... 27

Attorneys; Representation of Parties; Pro Se Appearances; and Law Students

LR Gen P 83.01. Permanent Members of Bar of Court ........................... 27

LR Gen P 83.02. Visiting Attorneys ......................................................... 28

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(a) General ...................................................................................... 28

(b) Responsible Local Attorney ....................................................... 30

LR Gen P 83.03. Representation of Parties and Pro Se Appearances

........................................................................................................ 32

LR Gen P 83.04. Legal Assistance by Law Students .............................. 32

(a) Appearance on Behalf of Indigent Persons ............................... 32

(b) Eligibility to Appear .................................................................... 33

Conduct and Examination of Witnesses

LR Gen P 84.01. Ethical Considerations ................................................. 34

LR Gen P 84.02. Bias and Prejudice ....................................................... 35

LR Gen P 84.03. Addressing the Court; Examination of Witnesses ........ 35

LR Gen P 84.04. Pro Se Litigants ........................................................... 36

Photographing and Broadcasting Court Proceedings, Electronic Equipment

LR Gen P 85.01. Photography in and Broadcasting from Courtroom ...... 36

LR Gen P 85.02. Impoundment of Equipment ......................................... 36

LR Gen P 85.03. Electronic Equipment in the Courthouse ...................... 37

Scheduling Conflicts; Requests for Continuance

LR Gen P 88.01. Scheduling Conflicts .................................................... 37

LR Gen P 88.02. Requests for Continuance ........................................... 38

Departures from Local Rules

LR Gen P 89.01. Departures from Local Rules ....................................... 38

II. LOCAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ................................................................ 39

Applicability of General Rules

LR Civ P 1.01. Applicability ...................................................................... 39

Summons

LR Civ P 4.01. Waiver of Service ............................................................ 39

Court Filings

LR Civ P 5.01. Discovery ......................................................................... 40

(a) Discovery Not Filed; Certificate of Service Filed ........................ 40

(b) Custodial Responsibility ............................................................ 40

(d) Pro Se Parties ........................................................................... 41

Filings

LR Civ P 7.01. Stipulations ...................................................................... 42

LR Civ P 7.02. Motion Practice ................................................................ 42

(a) Motions and Supporting Memoranda ......................................... 42

(b) Memoranda in Response to Motions and Reply Memoranda .... 43

(d) Action on Motions ...................................................................... 45

LR Civ P 7.10. Disclosure Statement ...................................................... 46

(a) Form Provided by the Clerk of Court ......................................... 46

(b) Form Filed by Counsel ............................................................... 46

LR Civ P 7.20. Disclosure Statement in a Diversity Action ........................ 46

Social Security Cases

LR Civ P 9.01. Complaints Filed Pursuant to Social Security Act ............ 47

(a) Electronic Filing ........................................................................... 47

(b) Contents of Complaint ................................................................ 47

LR Civ P 9.02 Social Security Appeals ...................................................... 48

(a) Referral ....................................................................................... 48

(b) Answer ........................................................................................ 48

Support ........................................................................................... 48

(d) Defendant's Memorandum in Opposition .................................... 48

(e) Page Limits ................................................................................. 49

(f) Extension of Time ........................................................................ 49

(g) References to Administrative Record .......................................... 49

(h) Date Received ............................................................................ 50

Answer

LR Civ P 12.01. Extensions of Answer Date ........................................... 50

LR Civ P 12.02. Motions to Dismiss ........................................................ 50

Amended Pleadings

LR Civ P 15.01. Motions to Amend........................................................... 50

Conferences

LR Civ P 16.01. Scheduling Conferences ............................................... 51

(a) Convening Scheduling Conferences; Transferred Actions ........ 51

(b) Obligation of the Parties to Meet ............................................... 51

(d) Conducting Scheduling Conferences ........................................ 53

(e) Scheduling Orders ..................................................................... 54

(f) Modification of Scheduling Order................................................ 55

(g)Categories of Actions Exempted ................................................ 56

LR Civ P 16.02. Case Management Conferences in Complex Cases .... 57

(a) Conduct of Case Management Conferences ............................. 57

(b) Obligation of Counsel to Confer................................................. 58

LR Civ P 16.03. Pretrial Conferences in Non-Complex Cases ................ 58

(a) Convening Pretrial Conferences ................................................ 58

(b) Pretrial Conference Order .......................................................... 59

LR Civ P 16.04. Final Conferences; Pretrial Order .................................. 59

(a) Obligation of Counsel to Meet; Pretrial Disclosures ................... 59

(b) Proposed Pretrial Order ............................................................. 59

(d) Final Settlement Conference.................................................... 61

(e) Settlement Before Trial .............................................................. 61

LR Civ P 16.05. Authority Regarding Stipulations, Agreements, and

Admissions at Conferences Before Judicial Officers ...................... 62

LR Civ P 16.06. Mediation ....................................................................... 62

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(a) Cases to Mediate ....................................................................... 62

(b) Selection of Mediator; Notice of Nomination .............................. 62

(d) Mediation Statements ................................................................ 63

(e) Confidentiality ............................................................................ 63

(f) Impartiality of Mediator ............................................................... 64

(g) Immunity .................................................................................... 64

(h) Mediation Report ....................................................................... 64

(i) Settlement Proceedings .............................................................. 64

Discovery

LR Civ P 26.01. Control of Discovery ...................................................... 65

(a) Initial Disclosures Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) ...................... 65

(b) Disclosures Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) Regarding

Experts ............................................................................................ 65

(d) Further Discovery ...................................................................... 67

LR Civ P 26.02. Uniform Definitions in Discovery Requests .................... 68

(a) Incorporation by Reference and Limitations .............................. 68

(b) Effect on Scope of Discovery..................................................... 68

LR Civ P 26.03. Inspection of Documents and Copying Expense ........... 69

(a) Inspection of Documents ........................................................... 69

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(b) Copies of Documents ................................................................ 69

LR Civ P 26.04. Discovery Disputes ........................................................ 70

(a) Objections to Disclosures or Discovery ..................................... 70

(b) Duty to Meet ............................................................................. 73

LR Civ P 26.05. Protective Orders and Sealed Documents .................... 73

(a) Protective Orders ...................................................................... 73

(b) Sealed Documents ................................................................... 74

LR Civ P 26.06. Discovery of Electronically Stored Information .............. 74

(a) Duty to Investigate .................................................................... 74

(b) Designation of Resource Person .............................................. 75

(d) Duty to Confer ........................................................................... 75

(e) Scheduling Conference ............................................................ 75

Interrogatories to Parties

LR Civ P 33.01. Interrogatories ............................................................... 76

(a) Form of Response ..................................................................... 76

(b) Reference to Records ................................................................ 76

Production of Documents

LR Civ P 34.01. Document Production .................................................... 77

(a) Form of Response ..................................................................... 77

(b) Objections to Document Requests ............................................ 77

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Requests for Admissions

LR Civ P 36.01. Admissions .................................................................... 78

(a) Form of Response ..................................................................... 78

(b) Statements in Response After Objections ................................. 78

Sanctions

LR Civ P 37.01. Failure to Make Disclosures or to Cooperate in

Discovery; Sanctions ....................................................................... 78

(a) Failure to Preserve Electronically Stored Information ................. 78

(b) Sanctions .................................................................................... 79

Motions to Compel

LR Civ P 37.02. Motions to Compel ......................................................... 79

(a) Motions to Compel ...................................................................... 79

(b) Waiver ......................................................................................... 80

Dismissal of Actions

LR Civ P 41.01 Dismissal of Actions........................................................... 81

Trial

LR Civ P 47.01. Trial Juries ..................................................................... 81

(a) Examination of Prospective Jurors ............................................ 81

(b) Proposed Juror Questionnaires ................................................. 82

Fees and Costs

LR Civ P 54.01. Fees and Costs ............................................................. 82

Magistrate Judges

LR Civ P 72.01. Authority of Magistrate Judges ....................................... 83

(a) General ....................................................................................... 83

(b) Statutory Duties .......................................................................... 84

(d) Post-Conviction Habeas Corpus and Related Actions ............... 84

(e) Miscellaneous Duties ................................................................. 85

(f) Method of Assignment of Matters to Magistrate Judges ............. 86

LR Civ P 72.02. Effect of Magistrate Judge Ruling Pending Objection ... 87

Hearings on Motion

LR Civ P 78.01. Hearings on Motions ...................................................... 87

III. LOCAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ....................................................... 88

Applicability of General Rules

LR Cr P 1.01. Applicability ....................................................................... 88

LR Cr P 2.01. Grand Jury ........................................................................ 88

LR Cr P 10.01. Duties of the Magistrate Judge ......................................... 88

(a)Jurisdiction ................................................................................... 88

(b) Arraignments .............................................................................. 89

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(d) Additional Duties ......................................................................... 89

Discovery

LR Cr P 16.01. Pretrial Discovery and Inspection ................................... 90

(a) Do Not File Discovery With the Court ......................................... 90

(b) Standard Discovery Request Form ............................................. 90

(d) Time for Government Response................................................. 90

(e) Reciprocal Discovery Response ................................................. 90

(f) Defense Discovery Request Deemed Speedy Trial Motion ......... 90

(g) Duty to Supplement .................................................................... 91

(h) Modification for Complex Case ................................................... 91

LR Cr P 16.02. Declination of Disclosure ................................................ 92

LR Cr P 16.03. Additional Discovery or Inspection .................................. 92

LR Cr P 16.04. Additional Evidence ........................................................ 93

LR Cr P 16.05. Exculpatory Evidence ..................................................... 94

LR Cr P 16.06. Rule 404(b), Giglio and Roviaro Evidence ...................... 94

LR Cr P 16.07. List of Witnesses............................................................. 94

LR Cr P 16.08. List of Trial Exhibits ......................................................... 95

LR Cr P 16.09. Protective and Modifying Orders ..................................... 95

LR Cr P 16.10. Failure to Comply With Discovery ................................... 95

LR Cr P 16.11. Continuing Disclosure ..................................................... 96

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LR Cr P 16.12. Effect of Disclosure by the Government ......................... 96

Motions in Limine

LR Cr P 24.01. Motions in Limine, Jury Instructions and Voir Dire .......... 96

Petition for Disclosure of Presentence Report, Pretrial or Probation Records and

Guideline Presentence Reports

LR Cr P 32.01. Disclosure of Presentence Reports ................................. 97

(a) Disclosure .................................................................................... 97

(b) Time ............................................................................................. 97

(d) Objections .................................................................................... 98

(e) No Objections Form ..................................................................... 98

(f) Sentencing Memoranda ................................................................ 98

(g) Presentence Report After Sentencing ......................................... 98

LR Cr P 32.02. Disclosure of Records or Testimony ................................ 99

Videoconference in Criminal Cases

LR Cr P 43.01. Matters That May Be Conducted by Videoconference . 100

Deadlines

LR Cr P 45.01. Deadlines ..................................................................... 101

Motions

LR Cr P 47.01. Motions ......................................................................... 101

(a) Pretrial Motions ........................................................................ 101

(b) Post-trial Motions ..................................................................... 102

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Continuance of Trial

LR Cr P 50.01. Continuances ................................................................ 102

Forfeiture of Collateral in Lieu of Appearance for Certain Misdemeanor

Offenses

LR Cr P 58.01. Forfeiture of Collateral .................................................. 103

(a) Posting Collateral ...................................................................... 103

(b) Petty Offense ............................................................................ 103

(d) Failure to Post Collateral ........................................................... 104

(e) Collateral Posted ....................................................................... 104

(f) Violation Notices ........................................................................ 104

(g) Certification of Record of Traffic Violations ............................... 104

(h) Non-Collateral Forfeiture Cases................................................ 104

IV. LOCAL RULES OF PRISONER LITIGATION PROCEDURE ............................... 106

Part 1 - General Provisions

LR PL P 1. Scope .................................................................................. 106

LR PL P 2. Prisoner Cases Assigned to Magistrate Judges .................. 107

LR PL P 3. Pro Se Prisoner Petitions. Applications, Motions and

Complaints are to be Filed on Court-Approved Forms .................. 107

LR PL P 3.1. Generally .......................................................................... 107

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LR PL P 3.2. Applications to Proceed in Forma Pauperis ..................... 107

(a) Application and Required Documentation ............................... 107

(b) Eligibility .................................................................................. 108

(d) Requirements for in Forma Pauperis Applicants ..................... 108

LR PL P 3.3. Obtaining Copies of the Local Rules of Prisoner

Litigation ......................................................................................... 109

LR PL P 3.4. Use of the Court-Approved Forms ................................... 109

LR PL P 4. Filing Pro Se Prisoner Petitions, Applications, Motions and

Complaints .................................................................................... 110

(a) Points of Holding Court ........................................................... 110

(b) Mailing Petitions, Motions, Applications and Complaints to the

Clerk of Court ................................................................................ 111

LR PL P 5. Notice of Deficient Pleading ................................................ 112

LR PL P 6. Current Mailing Address ...................................................... 112

LR PL P 7. Discovery ............................................................................. 112

LR PL P 8. Prisoners May Not Utilize This Court's CM/ECF System .... 112

LR PL P 9. Court Personnel Cannot Provide Legal Advice ................... 113

LR PL P 10. Procedures for Cases Where a Prisoner is Represented by

Counsel ......................................................................................... 113

(a) Use of Court-Approved Forms .................................................. 113

(b) Required Information ................................................................ 113

LR PL P 11. Motions Practice and Court Deadlines .............................. 114

LR PL P 12. Objections to a Magistrate Judge's Recommended

Disposition .................................................................................... 114

LR PL P 13. Filing of Pleadings or Papers Not Authorized by the Rules115

LR PL P 14. Filing Fee for Appeals ....................................................... 115

LR PL P 15. Sanctions .......................................................................... 116

LR PL P 16. Appointment of Counsel ...................................................... 116

Part 2 - Habeas Corpus Petitions and Motions to Vacate or Modify Sentence (28

U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254 and 2255)

LR PL P 16. Filing Fee .......................................................................... 116

LR PL P 17. Applications by Prisoners to Proceed in Forma Pauperis §

2254 and 2241 Petitions ............................................................ 116

LR PL P 18. Separate Petitions are Required for Judgments Entered by

Different Courts ............................................................................. 117

LR PL P 19. No Responses Required Without Court Order .................. 117

LR PL P 20. Filing a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2241 ............................................................................... 118

(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 ....................................... 118

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms................................................. 118

LR PL P 21. Filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2254 ............................................................................... 118

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(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 ....................................... 118

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms................................................. 118

(d) Successive Applications for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to

§ 2254 or § 2255 ........................................................................... 119

LR PL P 22. Filing a Motion to Vacate or Modify Sentence Pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2255 .......................................................................... 119

(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 ....................................... 119

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms................................................. 119

(d) Filing Fee ................................................................................. 119

LR PL P 23. Appeals ............................................................................. 120

(a) Appealing the Denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petition ............... 120

(b) Appealing the Denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 Petition ............... 120

Part 3 - All Other Civil Causes of Action

LR PL P 24. Filing Fee for Civil Causes of Action ................................. 121

LR PL P 25. Applications by Prisoners to Proceed in Forma Pauperis in

Civil Actions Other Than Those Filed Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241

or 2254 .......................................................................................... 121

(a) Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees .............. 121

(b) Objections ............................................................................... 123

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LR PL P 27. Service of the Complaint ................................................... 123

(a) Service Without Prepayment of Fees ....................................... 123

(b) Service After Prepayment of Fees ............................................ 123

(d) Service on the Federal Government and Federal Agencies ..... 124

LR PL P 28. Consent to Trial by Magistrate Judge ................................ 124

LR PL P 29. Appeals from Adverse Decision in a Civil Action ............... 124

(a) Appeal of Adverse Decision Against an Individual Defendant .. 124

(b) Appeal of Adverse Decision Against a Federal Defendant ....... 125

LR PL P 30. Filing a Pro Se State Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983................................................................................ 125

(a) Proceeding Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ........................................ 125

(b)Use of Court-Approved Forms ................................................... 125

LR PL P 31. Filing a Pro Se Federal Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to

Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of

Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).....................................................125

(a) Proceeding Under Bivens ......................................................... 125

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms .................................................. 126

LR PL P 32. Filing a Pro Se Complaint Pursuant to the Federal Tort

Claims Act ("FTCA") ...................................................................... 126

(a) Proceeding Under the FTCA ..................................................... 126

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(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms .................................................. 126

LR PL P 33. Filing a Pro Se Complaint Pursuant to Any Statutory

Authority Not Specifically Designated Above ................................ 126

I. LOCAL RULES OF GENERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

LR Gen P 1.01. Courthouse Security.

(a) Entry of Federal Courthouse Buildings: All persons wishing to enter a federal

building housing a United States Court within the Northern District of West Virginia (the

building) must first properly clear the security screening post located in the main lobby at

each facility. Court Security Officers staff the security screening post during normal

business hours. The purpose for the security screening post is to ensure that no

weapons, including guns, knives, explosives or other items that are deemed by a Deputy

United States Marshal or Court Security Officer to be possible weapons, are brought into

the building. Any person refusing to submit to an inspection, including inspection of all

carried items, shall be denied entrance to the building.

(b) Persons Requiring Access: All persons, other than those who are stationed

in the building, having business in the building (e.g., contractors, work crews and repair

persons) shall enter and leave the Court facilities through the designated screening

posts. Persons needing to use other entrances must make arrangements with Court

Security prior to bypassing the screening posts. Workers seeking to work after hours

must obtain prior approval from the appropriate officials. The United States Marshals

Service and Court Security Officers are charged with the enforcement of these

regulations.

Court Security Officers may possess and oversee possession of firearms or other

weapons in the building. Federal law enforcement agencies who have offices in the

building, including but not limited to, the United States Probation Office, the Federal

Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Office of the United

States Attorney, shall be authorized to possess weapons on a direct route from the

security screening post to their respective offices and return. No agency personnel may

carry weapons inside any courtroom without specific authorization from the United

States Marshal and the presiding judge. All agencies shall provide written authorization

to the United States Marshal identifying which specific employees are authorized to carry

weapons in the building. All other employees are prohibited from possessing weapons

within the building. State, city and local law enforcement officers are required to secure

their weapons with the Court Security Officers and successfully pass through the

security screening post.

(d) Identification Card: All employees must use an identification card issued by

the employee’s agency. In order to bypass the security screening post and use an

employee entrance, employees will be required to display or show the identification card

to the Court Security Officers. If an employee fails to present an agency issued

identification card, he or she must successfully pass through the security screening post.

(e) Enforcement: The United States Marshals and Court Security Officers are to

coordinate enforcement of this Local Rule and to take into custody any person violating

its provisions. Any person who violates the provisions of this Local Rule shall be

brought before the Court without unnecessary delay. The United States Marshals or

Court Security Officers shall promptly take into their custodial possession all weapons or

other items that are, or could be, used as possible weapons that have been carried into

the building in violation of federal laws or the laws of the State of West Virginia. The

United States Marshals shall retain the weapons or items until the possessor makes a

proper showing that possession thereof is lawful. If the weapons or items are not

lawfully reclaimed within thirty (30) days, they may be disposed of according to law.

LR Gen P 2.01. Disclosure Statement.

In order for a presiding judicial officer to be aware of any potential issues

regarding judicial disqualification on the basis of financial information unknown to the

Court, a non-governmental corporate party to any civil or criminal proceeding, and the

government in a criminal proceeding, must provide the Court with sufficient information

to allow the judge to make an informed decision about any potential conflict of interest

pursuant to the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal

Procedure and Rules Governing Judicial Conduct.

(a) Form Provided by the Clerk of Court: The Clerk of Court shall provide on

the Court Internet Site (www.wvnd.uscourts.gov) a form that parties may use to provide

any statement required by this Rule or, in lieu thereof, a party may prepare and file a

similar statement containing the same information required by this Rule.

(b) Form Provided by Counsel: The form shall be filed by counsel in the Case

Management/Electronic Case Files (“CM/ECF”) System.

Please also refer to LR Civ P 7.10 for further guidance regarding the filing of

Corporate Disclosures in civil actions.

Commencement of Action

LR Gen P 3.01. Proceedings In Forma Pauperis.

The Court may authorize the commencement, prosecution or defense of any civil

or criminal action or proceeding, or any appeal (except Prisoner Litigation Reform Act

actions), without prepayment of fees and costs or security, by a person who affirms by

affidavit that he or she is unable to pay costs or give security as provided in 28 U.S.C. §

1915.

In all civil cases initiated without payment of fees and costs, the plaintiff shall

stipulate in an affidavit that any recovery in the action shall, pursuant to the order of the

Court, be paid to the Clerk of Court, who shall pay therefrom any remaining unpaid costs

taxed against the plaintiff and remit the balance to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney.

Contempt and Sanctions

LR Gen P 4.01. Initiation of Civil Contempt Proceedings.

A proceeding to adjudicate a person in civil contempt of court shall be

commenced by the service of a notice of motion or order to show cause. The affidavit

upon which the notice of motion or order to show cause is based shall specify the

alleged misconduct, any claim for damages and any evidence that is available to the

moving party as to the amount of damages. A reasonable attorney’s fee may be

included as an item of damage. Where the alleged contemner has appeared by an

attorney, the notice of motion or order to show cause and the papers upon which it is

based may be served upon his or her attorney. In all other instances, service shall be

made personally in the manner provided for by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for

the service of a summons. Upon a showing of necessity, the Court may issue an order

to show cause, which may include a direction to the United States Marshals Service to

arrest the alleged contemner and hold him or her on bail in an amount fixed by the order,

conditioned upon his or her appearance at the hearing and further conditioned that the

alleged contemner will hold himself or herself thereafter amenable to all orders of the

Court for his or her surrender.

LR Gen P 4.02. Issues; Trial by Jury.

If the alleged contemner puts in issue his or her alleged misconduct or the

damages sought, he or she shall, upon demand, be entitled to have evidence taken,

either before the Court or before a master appointed by the Court. When the alleged

contemner is entitled to a trial by jury, he or she shall make a written demand therefor at

least thirty (30) days before the trial date. If no written demand is made, the right to a

trial by jury is waived.

LR Gen P 4.03. Order of the Court; Confinement of Contemner.

If the alleged contemner is found to be in contempt of court, an order shall be

entered:

(a) reciting the verdict or findings of fact upon which the adjudication is based;

(b) setting forth the amount of the damages to which the complainant is entitled;

(d) stating any other conditions necessary to purge the contempt; and

(e) directing the arrest of the contemner by the United States Marshals Service

and his or her confinement until the performance of the conditions in the order or

until the contemner is otherwise lawfully discharged.

Unless the order specifies otherwise, the place of confinement shall be in a

federally approved jail facility in the area where the Court is sitting. No party shall be

required to pay or to advance to the United States Marshals Service any expenses for

the upkeep of the prisoner. A certified copy of the order committing the contemner shall

be sufficient warrant to the United States Marshals Service for the arrest and

confinement of the contemner. The aggrieved party shall have the same remedies

against the property of the contemner as if the order awarding the judgment were a final

judgment.

In the event the alleged contemner is found not guilty of the charges, he or she

shall be discharged from the proceeding and, in the discretion of the Court, may have

judgment against the complainant for his or her costs and disbursements and a

reasonable attorney’s fee.

Filing of Papers

LR Gen P 5.01. Filing of Papers.

(a) Electronic Filing: Absent good cause, counsel shall file electronically using

the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (“CM/ECF”) system in this Court.

Electronic filing of a document in CM/ECF, together with the transmission of a Notice of

Electronic Filing (“NEF”), constitutes filing of the document for purposes of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and constitutes

entry of the document on the docket kept by the Clerk’s Office under Fed. R. Civ. P. 58

and 79 and Fed. R. Crim. P. 49 and 55. Emailing a document to the Clerk’s Office or to

the assigned judge shall not constitute “filing.”

(b) Working Copy to the Judge: For documents electronically filed within the

page limits set by these Local Rules, no paper copies are necessary. Counsel shall

obtain permission prior to filing any document in excess of the page limits set by these

Rules and shall provide paper copies of all such documents. Paper copies shall be

provided to the assigned district judge and magistrate judge within three (3) days of

electronic filing, but not less than two (2) days before any hearing on such filing. Any

attachments in support of the filing must be submitted therewith.

required by the Federal Rules, these Local Rules or court order—filers shall provide the

original and two (2) copies of all filings to the Clerk’s Office. The receiving Clerk’s

Office shall then forward the filing to the appropriate Clerk’s Office, if necessary. Within

twenty-one (21) days of the removal of an action from state court, counsel shall file the

certified state court record in CM/ECF.

Filing and Service by Fax Transmission or Electronic Filing via CM/ECF

LR Gen P 5.02. Definitions Related to Fax Transactions and CM/ECF.

(a) “Facsimile” or “fax” refers to a document transmitted by a system that

encodes the document into electronic signals, transmits these electronic signals over a

telephone line and reconstructs the signals to print a duplicate of the original document

at the receiving end.

(b) “Fax transaction” means the fax transmission of a document to or from the

Court.

other document to an attorney, attorney-in-fact or a party under these Rules.

(d) “Fax machine” means a machine that can send and receive, on plain paper,

a fax transmission using the international standard for scanning, coding and transmitting

established for Group 3 machines by the Consultative Committee for International

Telephony and Telegraphy of the International Telecommunication Union, in regular

resolution.

(e) “Electronic Filing” means uploading a document directly from the filer’s

computer onto the case docket via CM/ECF.

LR Gen P 5.03. Applicability of Fax Transmissions and Electronic Filings.

(a) Filing by Fax: All points of holding court within the Northern District of West

Virginia shall maintain a fax machine within the Office of the Clerk, shall accept

documents filed by fax and may send documents by fax transmission to the extent

expressly provided for in these Rules and not in conflict with statutes or other court rules.

The faxed document must be a fax of the original document in its entirety, including any

exhibits and attachments thereto.

(b) Electronic Filing: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(3) and Fed. R. Crim. P.

49(e), the Clerk’s Office will accept filings signed or verified by electronic means that are

consistent with the technical standards that the Judicial Conference of the United States

establishes. A document filed by electronic means in compliance with this Rule

constitutes a written paper for the purpose of applying these Rules, the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. All electronic filings shall

be governed by these Local Rules and this Court’s Administrative Procedures for

Electronic Case Filing, provisions of which are incorporated by reference herein, and

which may be amended from time to time.

password shall constitute that attorney’s signature for purposes of the Local and Federal

Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, including but not limited to Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.

Any document requiring an attorney’s signature shall be signed in the following manner:

“s/ (attorney name).” Merely writing “s/” without providing an attorney name is

insufficient.

LR Gen P 5.04. General Provisions for Filing by Fax.

(a) Availability of Fax Services: Each Clerk’s Office shall have a fax machine

available for court-related business during regular business hours and such additional

hours as may be established by the judge at each point of holding court.

(b) Form and Format: All documents conveyed via fax transmission must

conform in form and format to existing standards established by applicable statutes or

rules of court. In addition to satisfying all other requirements under these Local Rules,

documents should be printed on, or the receiver shall make any necessary photocopies

on, 8½ by 11-inch, 20-pound alkaline plain paper of archival quality.

twenty-five (25) pages (excluding the cover sheet and affidavit with transmission record)

without express consent by the Court or the Clerk of Court.

(d) Oversized Documents: Fax transmission of, or involving, any original

document larger than 8½ by 11 inches is prohibited absent express consent from the

Court or the Clerk of Court.

(e) Fax Cover Sheet: The sender must provide his or her name, or the relevant

entity’s name, together with the person or entity’s address, telephone number, fax

number, document(s) being transmitted by caption and matter, and notice of the number

of pages (including the cover sheet). The sender also must provide clear and concise

instructions as needed concerning processing.

(f) Signatures:

(1) Presumption of Authenticity: Any signature appearing on a fax copy

of a document shall be presumed to be authentic.

(2) Inspection of Original, Physically-Signed Document or Certified Copy:

Upon demand by the receiver, the sender of a fax shall make available to

the receiver for inspection the original, physically-signed document or, if

the Court is the sender, a certified copy of the original, physically-signed

document.

(g) Verification of Receipt: If the sender so requests, Court personnel shall

verify, either orally or in writing, the receipt of documents filed by fax transmission.

(h) Filing Effective Upon Receipt of Transmission: A fax copy of a document

shall be deemed filed when it arrives in its entirety on a Clerk’s Office fax machine

without regard to the hours of operation of the Clerk’s Office. Upon receiving a faxed

filing, the Clerk of Court shall note the filing date on the fax copy in the same manner as

with other documents filed by mail or in person.

(i) Payment of Fee:

(1) No later than seven (7) days after filing by fax, the filing party must

pay any required fee.

(2) The Clerk of Court may decline to process a faxed document until

receiving the required fee and the Court shall withhold the entry of

judgment pending receipt of such fee.

(3) If any required fee is not received by the Court within seven (7) days

after the filing by fax, the filing shall be void and no further notice need be

given any party.

(j) Filing of Original: The original need not be filed, unless otherwise ordered by

the Court or directed by the Clerk of Court.

(k) Retention of Original: If filing of the original is not required, the sender must

retain the original, physically-signed document in his or her possession or control.

(l) Photocopying Charges: The sender is responsible for all photocopying

charges associated with processing any document filed by fax transmission.

(m) Transmission Error: If an error occurs in any fax transmission, the Clerk of

Court shall not accept or note the document as filed until a corrected, acceptable

document is received.

(n) Notice of Transmission Error; Risk of Using Fax: If the receiver discovers or

suspects a transmission error, the receiver shall notify the sender as soon as possible.

The sender bears the risk of using fax transmission to convey any document to the

Court. The potential receiver bears any risk of receiving any document by fax

transmission from the Court.

(o) Nunc Pro Tunc Filing: If the attempted fax transmission is not accepted as

filed with the Court because of a transmission error or other deficiency, the sending

party may move for acceptance nunc pro tunc by filing a written motion with the Court.

The motion shall be accompanied by the activity report or other documentation to verify

the attempted transmission. The Court, in the interest of justice and upon the

submission of appropriate documentation, may entertain the motion and hold a hearing

if the Court so chooses.

(p) Fax Receipt and Transmission: The Clerk of Court may send or receive fax

transmissions involving court-related business.

LR Gen P 5.05. Filing and Service of Documents in Civil Actions by Fax

Transmission.

(a) Method of Filing: As stated in LR Gen P 5.01, absent good cause, counsel

shall file electronically in CM/ECF. However, other than a complaint or petition, when

necessary a party may file a document by fax transmission. The Clerk of Court shall

accept the document as filed if the filing and the document comply with these and other

applicable rules and statutes.

(b) Service: Service of any document in a civil action, other than original

process, may be made by fax transmission subject to the provisions of these Rules,

other applicable rules and statutes, and Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b).

entire document by the receiver’s fax machine.

(d) Proof of Service: Where service is made by fax transmission, proof of

service shall be made by affidavit of the person making service or by certificate of an

attorney. Attached to such affidavit or certificate shall be a copy of the sender’s fax

machine transmission record.

Service by Electronic Means

LR Gen P 5.06. General.

(a) Service by Fax: The Court authorizes the service of court orders and notices

by fax when the parties have expressly consented to the service in writing.

(b) Electronic Service through CM/ECF: CM/ECF sends a Notice of Electronic

Filing (NEF) to all parties participating in electronic filing in that particular case.

Documents are deemed filed at the time and date stated on the NEF. The emailing of

the NEF is equivalent to service of the document under the pertinent Federal Rules of

Civil and Criminal Procedure.

because they must bear an original signature. The plaintiff must prepare the

summonses in paper form and provide them to the Clerk’s Office. A deputy clerk from

the Clerk’s Office will sign and seal the completed forms and return them by regular mail

to counsel for the plaintiff. It is the responsibility of the parties—not the Clerk’s

Office—to properly serve a summons. Parties may serve all other case documents

electronically.

(d) Summonses Forms: Forms for summonses are available at

www.wvnd.uscourts.gov.

(e) Certificate of Service: A certificate of service is required for all filings,

including all documents filed electronically. The certificate must be attached to every

filing and must specify who was served and the manner in which service or notice was

accomplished on each party. A sample certificate of service is available at

www.wvnd.uscourts.gov.

(f) Service Upon Non-CM/ECF Filers: Parties not using CM/ECF are entitled to

paper copies of all electronically-filed documents. The filing party must therefore

provide the non-CM/ECF filer with the document according to the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure.

(g) Time to Respond Under Electronic Service: Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d)

and Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(c), dissimilar to service by mail, service via electronic means

does not provide an additional three (3) days to the prescribed period to respond.

(h) Service of Sealed Filing: Counsel must serve all sealed filings in CM/ECF

by other traditional means (e.g. mail, hand delivery, fax).

LR Gen P 5.07. Video.

(a) Video Technology: District judges, the bankruptcy judge, and magistrate

judges may conduct hearings and proceedings using video telecommunications

pursuant to the provisions of this Local Rule. Video hearings may be held in the

following instances:

(1) Criminal proceedings consistent with LR Cr P 43.01,

(2) Civil proceedings, and

(3) Bankruptcy proceedings.

(b) Video Facilities and Equipment: During any hearing or proceeding under

this Local Rule, the Court shall assure that:

(1) The facility and equipment enable counsel to be present personally

with the out-of-court party and to confer privately with such party outside

the reach of the camera and audio microphone.

(2) The judge must be able to fully view the out-of-court party and

counsel, though not necessarily at the same time. The out-of-court party

and counsel must be able to fully view the judge and all attorneys present

in the courtroom, though not necessarily at the same time.

(3) The facility must have the capacity, through video equipment or

through fax or e-mail, to contemporaneously transmit documents and

exhibits.

(4) Color images shall be transmitted in color.

(5) The audio and video transmission shall be of such quality, design and

architecture as to allow easy public viewing of all public proceedings. The

use of video technology in conducting hearings and proceedings shall in no

way abridge any right that the public may have to access the courtroom.

(6) The official record of any proceeding conducted using video

telecommunications shall be made in a manner prescribed by the judicial

officer conducting the proceedings.

need to use any type of courtroom technology at a hearing or trial, including the use of

document presentation equipment, video equipment, and/or audio equipment, counsel

must notify the Clerk’s Office of the need for the courtroom technology at least seven (7)

days before the hearing or trial. Counsel shall also be responsible for testing their

equipment with the courtroom technology at least three (3) days prior to the hearing or

trial.

E-Government Act

LR Gen P 5.08. E-Government Act.

(a) Documents: In compliance with the policy of the Judicial Conference of the

United States and the E-Government Act of 2002, consistent with Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1,

and to promote electronic access to case files while also protecting personal privacy and

other legitimate interests, parties shall refrain from including, or shall partially redact

where inclusion is necessary, the following personal data identifiers from all documents

filed with the Court, including exhibits thereto, whether filed electronically or in paper,

unless otherwise ordered by the Court:

(1) Social Security Numbers: If an individual’s social security number

must be included in a filing, use only the last four digits of that number.

(2) Names of Minor Children: If the involvement of a minor child must

be mentioned, use only the child’s initials.

(3) Dates of Birth: If an individual’s date of birth must be included in a

filing, use only the year.

(4) Financial Account Numbers: If financial account numbers are

relevant, use only the last four digits of these numbers.

(5) Home Address in Criminal Cases: If a home address must be

included in a document to be filed, include only the city and state.

(b) Redaction Policy: In compliance with the E-Government Act of 2002, a party

wishing to file a document containing the personal data identifiers listed above must:

(1) File a redacted, unsealed version of the document along with a

reference list under seal. The reference list shall contain the complete

personal data identifier(s) and the redacted identifier(s) used in its (their)

place in the filing. All references in the case to the redacted identifiers

included in the reference list must refer to the corresponding complete

personal data identifier. The reference list must be filed under seal and

may be amended as a right; or

(2) With approval of the Court, file an unredacted version of the document

under seal. The Court may, however, still require the party to file a

redacted copy for the public file. The unredacted version of the document

or the reference list shall remain sealed and retained by the Court as part

of the record.

The responsibility for redacting personal identifiers rests solely with the parties

and their counsel. The Clerk of Court will not review each filing for compliance with this

Local Rule.

elicited during testimony or other court proceedings, it will become available to the public

when the official transcript is filed at the courthouse unless, and until, it is redacted.

The better practice is to avoid introducing this information into the record in the first

place. If a restricted item is mentioned in court, any party or attorney may ask to have it

stricken from the record or partially redacted to conform to the privacy policy, or the

Court may do so on its own motion.

(d) Violations of Rule: Upon learning that documents have been filed that do not

comply with this Local Rule, a judicial officer may, sua sponte, seal or restrict all or part

of the case file.

Time

LR Gen P 5.09. Computing and Extending Time.

All time period computations shall be made in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 6,

Fed. R. Crim. P. 45 and Fed. R. App. P. 26.

Sealed Documents

LR Gen P 6.01. Documents Not Available to the Public.

(a) Public’s Right to Access: To serve the legal presumption of openness and

the public’s right to access to court proceedings, pleadings filed in this Court are

generally filed unsealed. However, when necessary, the Court may determine that a

case or documents in a case be sealed.

(b) Judicial Conference Policy: Pursuant to Judicial Conference policy, the

following documents shall not be included in the public case file and will not be made

available to the public at the courthouse or via remote electronic access:

1) unexecuted summonses or warrants of any kind (e.g. search warrants,

arrest warrants);

2) pretrial bail or presentence investigation reports;

3) statement of reasons in the judgment of conviction;

4) juvenile records;

5) documents containing identifying information about jurors or potential

jurors;

6) financial affidavits filed in seeking representation pursuant to the CJA;

7) ex parte requests for authorization of investigative, expert or other services

pursuant to the CJA;

8) motions for downward departure for substantial assistance;

9) plea agreements indicating cooperation; and

10) victim statements.

c) District Policy: In addition, pursuant to district policy the following documents

shall also not be included in the public case file and will not be made available to the

public at the courthouse or via remote electronic access:

1) unredacted Indictments;

2) Rule 35 motions;

3) sentencing memoranda and responses thereto;

4) Prisoner Trust Fund Account Statements;

5) motions to proceed in forma pauperis;

6) psychiatric reports;

7) mediation statements;

8) mediator reports; and

9) Personal Identification Attachment to the revocation judgment.

(d) Motion for Leave to File Under Seal:

(1) Motion: To file any other document under seal, a party must first

electronically file a motion for leave to file under seal. If the motion itself

contains sensitive information, the party shall:

(i) Electronically file it under seal in CM/ECF and effect service of

the motion traditionally, because the filing will be otherwise

inaccessible to recipients of the NEF, or

(ii) File the motion with the Clerk’s Office in paper. The Clerk’s

Office will then file the motion under seal. The parties remain

responsible for effecting service of process traditionally.

(2) Memorandum: Along with the motion to file under seal, the party

shall file a memorandum of law that explains why sealing is required.

(3) Exhibits:

If the motion for leave to file under seal is itself filed under seal per

(d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) above, the filer shall attach the document for

which sealing is sought as an exhibit to the motion.

(e) Order on Motion for Leave to File Under Seal: If the Court grants the motion

for leave to file under seal, the judge will electronically enter the order authorizing the

filing of the documents in the appropriate manner. The party may then file the

document under seal in CM/ECF or bring the document to the Clerk’s Office to be filed.

(f) Service: Sealed filings produce a NEF, but the recipient cannot open the

attached document. Consequently, filers must effect service through traditional means.

Contact with Jurors

LR Gen P 47.01. Contact with Jurors.

No party, party’s agent or attorney shall communicate or attempt to communicate

with any member of the jury regarding the jury’s deliberations or verdict without first

obtaining an order from the Court allowing such communication.

Entry of Judgments

LR Gen P 58.01. Entry of Judgments and Orders.

Except for good cause shown, no judgment or order prepared by the parties may

be presented for entry unless it bears the signature of all counsel and unrepresented

parties. This Rule does not apply to judgments or orders drawn or prepared by the

Court or proposed default judgment orders prepared by counsel or unrepresented

parties. When counsel or unrepresented parties responsible for the preparation and

presentation of a judgment or order unreasonably delay or withhold its presentation, the

Court, upon determining that the delay has been unreasonable, may proceed to enter

such judgment or order.

Bonds

LR Gen P 65.01. Approval of Bonds by the Clerk of Court.

Except in criminal cases, or where another procedure is prescribed by law, the

Clerk of Court may approve bonds without an order if:

(a) the amount of the bond has been fixed by prior order, local rule or statute;

and

(b) the bond is secured by:

(1) the deposit of cash or obligations of the United States,

(2) the guaranty of a corporate surety holding a certificate of authority

from the Secretary of the Treasury, or

(3) the guaranty of a qualified property owner, when the guaranty is

accompanied by an acceptable certificate of justification.

Principal Office of Clerk of Court; Points of Holding Court; and Sessions of the

Court

LR Gen P 77.01. Principal Office of Clerk of Court.

The principal office of the Clerk of Court for the United States District Court for the

Northern District of West Virginia is located in the United States Courthouse, Wheeling,

West Virginia. The mailing address is P.O. Box 471, Wheeling, WV 26003.

LR Gen P 77.02. Points of Holding Court.

The Northern District of West Virginia is composed of thirty-two (32) counties.

Each of these counties is assigned to one of four points of holding court. Each point of

holding court is given the name of the city at the point of holding court where the Court

and offices of its Clerk of Court are located. The addresses, fax numbers and phone

numbers of points of holding court offices, and counties comprising each point of holding

court, are as follows:

Point of Holding Court Address/Telephone/Fax Counties

Clarksburg Street address:

Federal Building

500 West Pike Street

Room 301

Clarksburg, WV 26301

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 2857

Clarksburg, WV 26302

304-622-8513

(Fax) 304-623-4551

Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge,

Gilmer, Harrison, Marion,

Monongalia, Pleasants,

Preston, Ritchie and Taylor

Elkins Street address:

Federal Building

300 Third Street

Elkins, WV 26241

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 1518

Elkins, WV 26241

304-636-1445

(Fax) 304-636-5746

Barbour, Grant, Hardy, Lewis,

Pendleton, Pocahontas,

Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and

Webster

Martinsburg Street address:

Federal Building

217 West King Street

Martinsburg, WV 25401

Mailing address:

217 W. King St., Room 207

Martinsburg, WV 25401

304-267-8225

(Fax) 304-264-0434

Berkeley, Hampshire,

Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan

Wheeling Street address:

Federal Building

1125 Chapline Street

Wheeling, WV 26003

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 471

Wheeling, WV 26003

304-232-0011

(Fax) 304-233-2185

Brooke, Hancock, Marshall,

Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel

LR Gen P 77.03. Sessions.

(a) Court Hours: The Court is considered open and in continuous session at all

points of holding court on all business days throughout the year in accordance with the

provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 139; Fed. R. Civ. P. 77(a) and (c); Fed. R. Crim. P. 56 and

other controlling statutes and rules. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday

from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

(b) Filing Deadline: Unless otherwise ordered, to be considered timely, an

electronic filing must be filed by no later than midnight, Eastern Time. A filing is

deemed to be made on the date and time specified on the NEF that is automatically

generated by CM/ECF.

LR Gen P 79.01. Exhibits.

(a) Custody and Disposition of Exhibits:

(1) Paper Exhibits: After being marked for identification, all paper

exhibits admitted in evidence shall be placed in the custody of the Clerk of

Court until the transcript has been completed and the record has been

submitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Sixty (60) days following submission of the record on appeal, the Clerk of

Court shall place the exhibits in the custody of the attorney or party

producing them, and the attorney or party shall execute a receipt therefor

to be filed by the Clerk of Court.

(2) Non-paper Exhibits:

(i) After being marked for identification, all non-paper exhibits

admitted in evidence shall be placed in the custody of the Clerk of

Court through the conclusion of a hearing or trial. Upon conclusion

of the hearing or trial, the Clerk of Court shall place the exhibits in

the custody of the attorney or party producing them, and the

attorney or party shall execute a receipt therefor to be filed by the

Clerk of Court.

(ii) A party or attorney who retains custody of a non-paper exhibit

shall make it available to this Court or any appellate court and shall

grant the reasonable request of any party to examine or reproduce

the exhibit for use in the proceeding.

(b) Custody of Sensitive Exhibits: Sensitive exhibits shall include, but are not

necessarily limited to, controlled substances, weapons, ammunition, real or counterfeit

currency, exhibits of a pornographic nature and articles of high monetary value.

Sensitive exhibits offered or received in evidence shall be maintained in the custody of

the Clerk of Court during the course of the hearing or trial. Following the return of a

verdict in a trial or at the conclusion of a hearing, and after the case is timely disposed of

by the Court, sensitive exhibits shall be returned to the entitled party. When the

government is the entitled party, the government may, at the conclusion of all related

cases, request that the United States Marshals Service destroy the evidence.

A party or attorney who retains custody of a sensitive exhibit shall make it

available to this Court or any appellate court and shall grant the reasonable request of

any party to examine or reproduce the exhibit for use in the proceeding.

discretion on a case-by-case basis, the Court may provide the Clerk of Court with

alternative procedures for custody and instructions for disposition of specific exhibits.

LR Gen P 79.02. Removal of Papers from Custody of Clerk of Court.

The Office of the Clerk shall produce filed papers pursuant to subpoena from a

court of competent jurisdiction. Filed papers may be removed from the Clerk’s Office

only upon order. The Clerk of Court may permit temporary removal of papers by a

United States District Judge, Bankruptcy Judge, Magistrate Judge or a master in matters

relating to his or her official duties.

Any person receiving filed papers shall provide to the Clerk’s Office a signed

receipt identifying the papers removed. The Clerk’s Office shall file the receipt on the

docket.

Attorneys; Representation of Parties; Pro Se Appearances; and Law Students

LR Gen P 83.01. Permanent Members of Bar of Court.

(a) Any person admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Appeals of

West Virginia and in good standing as a member of its bar is eligible for admission as a

permanent member of the bar of this Court. An eligible attorney may be admitted as a

permanent member of the bar of this Court upon motion of a permanent member who

shall sign the register of attorneys with the person admitted. If the motion for admission

is granted, the applicant shall take the attorney’s admission oath or affirmation, sign the

attorneys’ register and pay the admission fee.

(b) Any attorney employed by the Office of the United States Attorney or the

Office of the Federal Public Defender for this judicial district must qualify as a permanent

member of the bar of this Court within one year of his or her employment. Until so

qualified, the attorney may appear and practice as a visiting attorney under the

sponsorship of the appointing officer.

West Virginia State Bar shall be prohibited from practicing before the Court until the

attorney has his/her license reinstated with the West Virginia State Bar and has been

readmitted before the Court. Readmission requires that the suspended attorney

provide written verification of his/her reinstatement with the West Virginia State Bar. In

the event of a disciplinary suspension, the suspended attorney must also pay the

attorney admission fee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West

Virginia.

LR Gen P 83.02. Visiting Attorneys.

(a) General: Whenever it shall appear that a person who has not been lawfully

licensed and admitted to the practice of law in the State of West Virginia has been duly

licensed to be admitted to practice before a court of record of general jurisdiction in any

other state or country or in the District of Columbia, and when that person is in good

standing as a member of the bar of such jurisdiction but has not been admitted to the

bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia or the

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, he or she may

appear in a particular action, suit, proceeding or other matter in this Court:

(1) upon providing this Court a verified statement of application for pro

hac vice admission listing:

(i) the action, suit, proceeding or other matter that is the subject of

the application;

(ii) the name, address and telephone number of the registration or

disciplinary agency of all state courts, the District of Columbia or of

the country in which the applicant is admitted;

(iii) the name and address of the member of the West Virginia

State Bar who will be the responsible local attorney in the matter;

(iv) all matters before West Virginia tribunals or bodies in which the

applicant is or has been involved in the preceding twenty-four (24)

months;

(v) all matters before West Virginia tribunals or bodies in which any

member of the applicant's firm, partnership, corporation or other

operating entity is or has been involved in the preceding twenty-four

(24) months;

(vi) a representation by the applicant for each state, the District of

Columbia or any other country where the applicant has been

admitted to practice, stating that the applicant is in good standing

with the bar of every such jurisdiction and that he or she has not

been disciplined in any such jurisdiction within the preceding

twenty-four (24) months; and

(vii) an agreement to comply with all laws, rules and regulations of

West Virginia state and local governments, where applicable,

including taxing authorities and any standard for pro bono civil and

criminal indigent legal defense services;

(2) upon payment of a fee established by the Court and paid to the Clerk

of Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of

West Virginia; and

(3) upon certification that the pro hac vice applicant has paid to the West

Virginia State Bar the initial pro hac vice fee required by Rule 8.0 of the

Rules of Admission for the West Virginia State Bar.

(b) Responsible Local Attorney: The applicant shall be associated with an active

member in good standing of the state bar, having an office for the transaction of

business within the State of West Virginia, who shall be a responsible local attorney in

the action, suit, proceeding or other matter that is the subject of the application. Service

of notices and other papers upon the responsible local attorney shall be binding upon

the client and the applicant. The local attorney shall be required to sign all pleadings

and filings, affix his or her West Virginia State Bar identification number thereto and

attend all hearings, trials or proceedings actually conducted before the judge, tribunal or

other body of the State of West Virginia for which the applicant has sought admission

pro hac vice. The local attorney shall attend the taking of depositions and other actions

that occur in the case that are not actually conducted before the judge, tribunal or other

body of the State of West Virginia unless, upon motion of counsel, the presiding judge

permits local counsel to appear by telephone or other electronic means, and shall

further be a responsible attorney in all other aspects of the case. With prior permission

of the Court, local counsel will not be required to attend routine court hearings or

proceedings. To be a responsible local attorney, the local attorney must maintain an

actual physical office equipped to conduct the practice of law in the State of West

Virginia, which must be the primary office from which the responsible local attorney

practices law on a daily basis. The responsible local attorney shall evidence his or her

agreement to participate in the matter by his or her endorsement upon the verified

statement of application or by written statement attached to the application.

(1) Bankruptcy Cases: The visiting attorney fee will apply in every

bankruptcy case in which the reference to the Bankruptcy Court has been

withdrawn and in every appeal of a bankruptcy case to the District Court.

Otherwise, the imposition of a visiting attorney fee in a bankruptcy case will

be governed by the Local Rules for Bankruptcy Court.

(2) Multidistrict Litigation Cases: Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure of

the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, a visiting attorney fee will not

be charged in any case filed in this Court pursuant to a transfer under

those Rules.

(3) Miscellaneous Cases: A visiting attorney who files a miscellaneous

case that does not require judicial action (e.g., one filed in order to obtain a

subpoena) is exempt from paying the visiting attorney fee, from associating

with a sponsoring attorney and from filing the statement of visiting attorney.

A visiting attorney who files a miscellaneous case that does require judicial

action (e.g., a motion to compel testimony at a deposition) must comply

with LR Gen P 83.02(a).

(4) Federal Government Attorneys: This section does not apply to

properly licensed attorneys with the United States Department of Justice,

those associated with federal executive branch agencies, and those

appointed from outside the district pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18

U.S.C. §3005A and §3006A.

(5) Law Students: Law students who participate in a case in accordance

with these Rules will not be charged a visiting attorney fee.

LR Gen P 83.03. Representation of Parties and Pro Se Appearances.

Every party to proceedings in this Court, except parties appearing pro se, shall be

represented by a permanent member of the bar of this Court and may be represented by

a visiting attorney as provided in LR Gen P 83.02. With the exception of student loan

cases, the United States Attorney, in addition to other government attorneys, must sign

all papers filed and served by the United States. The United States Attorney must

abide by this requirement even when the United States is associated with other

government attorneys in proceedings involving the government. All papers involving the

government may be served on the United States Attorney in accordance with the service

requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Criminal

Procedure. Parties appearing pro se shall, at their first appearance, provide written

notice of their phone numbers, complete names, and addresses where all papers may

be served upon them, and shall have a continuing duty to update this information in

writing.

In absence of a court order, no attorney who has entered an appearance in any

civil or criminal action shall withdraw the appearance or have it stricken from the record.

LR Gen P 83.04. Legal Assistance by Law Students.

(a) Appearance on Behalf of Indigent Persons: With the written consent of an

indigent person and his or her attorney of record, an eligible law student may appear on

his or her behalf. With the written consent of the United States Attorney, or his or her

representative, an eligible law student may also appear on behalf of the United States.

With the written consent of the Attorney General of the State of West Virginia, or his or

her representative, an eligible law student may appear on behalf of the State of West

Virginia. In each case in which an eligible law student appears, the parties shall file the

consent with the Clerk of Court.

An eligible law student may assist in the preparation of pleadings, briefs and other

documents to be filed in this Court, but such documents must be signed by the attorney

of record. An eligible law student may also participate in hearings, trials and other

proceedings with leave of Court, but only in the presence of the attorney of record. The

attorney of record shall assume professional responsibility for the law student’s work and

shall be familiar with the case and prepared to supplement or correct any written or oral

statement made by the law student.

(b) Eligibility to Appear: To be eligible to appear pursuant to this Rule, the law

student must:

(1) be enrolled in a law school approved by the American Bar Association;

(2) have successfully completed legal studies for at least four semesters,

or the equivalent if the school is on a schedule other than a semester

basis;

(3) be certified by the dean of his or her law school as being of good

character and competent legal ability. The dean’s certification shall be

filed with the Clerk of Court. This certification may be withdrawn by the

dean at any time without notice or hearing and without any showing of

cause by notifying the Clerk of Court in writing, or it may be terminated by

the Court at any time without notice of hearing and without any showing of

cause. Unless withdrawn or terminated, the certification shall remain in

effect for eighteen (18) months after it has been filed or until the law

student has been admitted as a permanent member of the bar of this

Court, whichever occurs first;

(4) certify in writing that he or she has read the Rules of Professional

Conduct as adopted by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia;

(5) be introduced to the Court by a permanent member of the bar of this

Court; and

(6) neither ask for nor receive any compensation or remuneration of any

kind for services from the party assisted, but this shall not prevent an

attorney, legal services program, law school, public defender agency, the

State of West Virginia or the United States from paying compensation to

the law student or from making appropriate charges for such services.

Conduct and Examination of Witnesses

LR Gen P 84.01. Ethical Considerations.

In all appearances, actions and proceedings within the jurisdiction of this Court,

attorneys shall conduct themselves in accordance with the Rules of Professional

Conduct and the Standards of Professional Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court of

Appeals of West Virginia and the Model Rules of Professional Conduct published by the

American Bar Association, and shall be subject to the statutes, rules and orders

applicable to the procedures and practice of law in this Court. These rules provide

minimum standards for the conduct of attorneys and the Court encourages attorneys to

conform their conduct to the highest ethical standards.

Judges and others serving in a judicial capacity are expected to comply with the

Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the

United States. Judiciary employees of this Court shall comply with the Code of Conduct

for Judicial Employees, also adopted by the Judicial Conference.

LR Gen P 84.02. Bias and Prejudice.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia aspires

to achieve absolute fairness in the determination of cases and matters before it and

expects the highest standards of professionalism, human decency and considerate

behavior toward others from lawyers and court personnel, as well as from all witnesses,

litigants and other persons who come before it. As to matters in issue before the Court,

conduct and statements toward one another must be without bias with regard to such

factors as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, handicap, age and sexual orientation when

such conduct or statements bear no reasonable relationship to a good faith effort to

argue or present a position on the merits. Judicial officers must ensure that appropriate

action is taken to preserve a neutral and fair forum for all persons. Nothing in this Local

Rule, however, is intended to infringe unnecessarily or improperly upon the otherwise

legitimate rights, including the right of freedom of speech, of any person, or to impede or

interfere with the advocacy of causes and positions by lawyers and litigants.

LR Gen P 84.03. Addressing the Court; Examination of Witnesses.

Attorneys and pro se litigants who are physically able must stand and speak

clearly when addressing the Court. Except by leave of Court, only one attorney for

each party may participate in the examination and cross-examination of a witness. With

the Court’s permission, the attorney may approach a witness to present or inquire about

an exhibit.

LR Gen P 84.04. Pro Se Litigants.

All persons appearing pro se are reminded of and expected to comply with Rule

11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and are subject to sanctions for a violation

thereof. Copies of the Rules of Civil Procedure and these Local Rules are available on

the District Court’s website.

Photographing and Broadcasting Court Proceedings; Electronic Equipment

LR Gen P 85.01. Photography in and Broadcasting from Courtroom.

The taking of photographs in the courtroom, or in the corridors immediately

adjacent, and the transmitting or sound recording of proceedings for broadcast by radio,

television or other forms of media during judicial proceedings or during any recess are

not permitted. Upon approval of the Court and under its supervision, non-judicial

proceedings designed and conducted as ceremonies, such as administering oaths of

office to appointed officials of the Court, presentation of portraits, naturalization

proceedings and similar ceremonial occasions may be photographed in or broadcasted

from the courtroom.

LR Gen P 85.02. Impoundment of Equipment.

The United States Marshal, Deputy United States Marshals and Court Security

Officers may impound any camera, recording, broadcasting or other related equipment

brought into the courtroom or the adjacent corridors in violation of LR Gen P 85.01.

The impounded equipment shall be returned to its owner or custodian after the

proceedings have concluded.

LR Gen P 85.03. Electronic Equipment in the Courthouse.

Attorneys are permitted limited use of electronic devices, such as cellular

telephones, pagers, PDAs, smartphones, tablet devices, and laptop computers, in the

courthouses within the District. Any audio or video recording of proceedings, or the

taking of photographs by any means, is not permitted while in the courthouse. All

electronic devices are to be programmed so as to not emit any audible noise while in the

courtrooms. PDAs, smartphones, tablet devices, and laptop computers may be used to

assist attorneys in data entry or data display in furtherance of courtroom proceedings.

The use of electronic devices for purposes of transmitting or receiving is not permitted

while in the courtrooms. The use of electronic devices shall not be disruptive to court

proceedings. Electronic devices of any kind are not permitted in the grand jury rooms.

Each judicial officer may modify this Rule as the circumstances warrant.

Scheduling Conflicts; Requests for Continuance

LR Gen P 88.01. Scheduling Conflicts.

In the absence of an emergency, if a party has a scheduling conflict with another

court of federal jurisdiction, that party must file a motion with the Court no later than

fourteen (14) days before a scheduled court appearance. In addition, in the event the

scheduling conflict involves a state court, parties must work with the Court to resolve all

such scheduling conflicts considering those factors set forth in West Virginia Trial Court

Rule 5.

LR Gen P 88.02. Requests for Continuance.

A party or parties requesting a continuance must first meet and confer with all

other parties in an attempt to reach an agreement as to three (3) possible

non-consecutive dates to which to move the deadline or hearing. If an agreement is

reached, the moving party must specify the three (3) possible non-consecutive dates

within the motion to continue. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, then each

party must advise the Court of their suggested dates.

Departures from Local Rules

LR Gen P 89.01. Departures from Local Rules.

A district judge may, in the interest of orderly, expeditious and efficient

administration of justice, allow departures from these Local Rules when warranted by

particular facts and circumstances.

II. LOCAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Applicability of General Rules

LR Civ P 1.01. Applicability.

In all civil proceedings, the General Rules of this Court shall be followed insofar

as they are applicable.

All rights and duties contained in these Local Rules of Civil Procedure apply

equally to all parties.

Summons

LR Civ P 4.01. Waiver of Service.

A plaintiff who intends to request that a defendant waive service of a summons

under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1) shall, within fourteen (14) days of filing the complaint, mail

a copy of the notice and request via first class mail or other reliable means to the

defendant and file the original thereof.

If a plaintiff fails to mail and file the notice and request within the specified period,

service of the complaint shall be effected by means other than by waiver of service

unless otherwise ordered.

A plaintiff who mails a notice and request under the provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(d)(1) shall allow the defendant not less than thirty (30) days and not more than

forty-five (45) days from the date on which the notice and request is sent within which to

return the waiver of service. If notice is sent to the defendant outside any judicial district

of the United States, a plaintiff who mails a notice and request under the provisions of

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1) shall allow the defendant not less than sixty (60) days and not

more than seventy-five (75) days from that date within which to return the waiver of

service.

The Plaintiff shall file the executed waiver of service in CM/ECF within seven (7)

days of its return.

Court Filings

LR Civ P 5.01. Discovery.

(a) Discovery Not Filed; Certificate of Service Filed: Parties shall not file in

CM/ECF any disclosures pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1), (2) and (3); depositions

upon oral examination or written questions and any notice thereof; notices of receipt of

depositions; interrogatories; requests pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 34; requests for

admissions or answers and responses thereto; or any other discovery materials, unless

expressly ordered by the Court or required under these Local Rules of Civil Procedure.

Parties shall file only certificates of service of discovery materials.

(b) Custodial Responsibility: Unless otherwise stipulated or ordered, the party

taking a deposition or obtaining any material through discovery is responsible for its

custody, preservation and delivery to the Court if needed or ordered. This responsibility

shall not terminate upon dismissal of any party while the action is still pending in the

district or appellate courts. The custodial responsibility of the dismissed party may be

discharged by stipulation of the parties to transfer the custody of the discovered material

to one or more of the remaining parties. If for any reason a party or concerned citizen

believes that any of the named documents should be filed, that party or citizen may

request, ex parte, that the document be filed, stating the reasons therefor. The Court

may also order filing sua sponte. A party seeking relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c) or

37 shall file copies of the relevant portions of the disputed documents with any motion.

If the moving or nonmoving party relies on discovery documents during proceedings

concerning a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, that party shall file copies of the pertinent

portions of any such documents together with the motion or brief in opposition.

matters in electronic format—rather than traditionally via paper—on all non-pro se

parties. Parties may convert the matters to PDF format and email them to all non-pro

se parties. Service by electronic means constitutes service of the discovery materials

and has the same legal force and effect as if served in paper. If the recipient counsel’s

email system rejects the mailing of documentary discovery, the sender may serve such

documents, by agreement of the parties after confirming that the recipient has the

appropriate technology available, through the regular mail by CD-ROM, DVD or other

removable media, or the sender may post the PDF files to a secured extranet site for

downloading.

(d) Pro Se Parties: Because pro se parties are not electronic filers, parties must

serve pro se parties traditionally with paper. This Rule applies to all documentary

discovery, including but not limited to depositions upon oral examination or written

questions and any notice thereof; notices of receipt of depositions; interrogatories;

requests pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 34; requests for admissions and answers and

responses thereto; and any other discovery material that can be scanned or otherwise

converted into PDF format. Consistent with LR Civ P 5.01(a), counsel must file

certificates of service of all discovery materials filed electronically, specifying the method

used to serve the discovery materials.

Filings

LR Civ P 7.01. Stipulations.

Unless otherwise ordered, stipulations under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

and these Local Rules of Civil Procedure must be in writing, signed by the stipulating

parties or their counsel, and promptly filed. With electronic filings, each party or

attorney may sign in “s/ signature” form, consistent with the Court’s Administrative

Procedures for Electronic Filing.

LR Civ P 7.02. Motion Practice.

(a) Motions and Supporting Memoranda: All motions shall be concise, state the

relief requested precisely, be filed timely, but not prematurely, and, except for

nondispositive motions other than a motion for sanctions, be accompanied by a

supporting memorandum of not more than twenty-five (25) pages, double-spaced, and

shall be further accompanied by copies of depositions (or the pertinent portions thereof),

admissions, documents, affidavits and other such materials upon which the motion

relies. A judicial officer, for good cause shown on motion made to the Court, may allow

a supporting memorandum to exceed twenty-five (25) pages. The proposed supporting

memoranda must be attached to the motion during the e-filing process. A dispositive

motion or a motion for sanctions that is unsupported by a memorandum may be denied

without prejudice. The memorandum must be submitted on 8½ by 11-inch paper.

Margins must be one inch on all four sides. Page numbers, but no text, may be placed

in the margins. The memorandum must be in either Times New Roman, Courier New

or Arial font. The font size must be twelve (12) point proportionally spaced type or

eleven (11) point non-proportionally spaced type. Footnotes and indented quotations

may be single-spaced and footnote text shall be no smaller than eleven (11) point

proportionally spaced or ten (10) point non-proportionally spaced type.

Parties may file a memorandum in support of a nondispositive motion, but are not

required to do so. Motions for summary judgment shall include or be accompanied by

a short and plain statement of uncontroverted facts.

(b) Memoranda in Response to Motions and Reply Memoranda:

(1) Memoranda in Response: Except for responses to motions for

summary judgment, responses to motions shall be filed and served within

fourteen (14) days from the date of service of the motion. Responses to

motions for summary judgment shall be filed and served within twenty-one

(21) days from the date of service of the motion.

(i) Traditional Filing: When not filing electronically in CM/ECF,

parties shall file the original and two (2) copies of the memoranda

and other materials and serve paper copies on opposing counsel

and unrepresented parties.

(ii) Electronic Filing: When filing in CM/ECF, the filer must provide

any non-CM/ECF filer with the document according to this Rule.

CM/ECF filers need not, however, provide paper copies to other

CM/ECF filers, as the document will be served electronically.

(iii) Page Limitations: Responsive memoranda may not exceed

twenty-five (25) pages and are subject to the restrictions set forth in

LR Civ P 7.02(a) regarding paper size, font size and line spacing.

A judicial officer, for good cause shown on motion made to the

Court, may allow a memorandum in response to exceed twenty-five

(25) pages. The proposed memoranda in response must be

attached to the motion during the e-filing process.

(2) Memoranda in Reply: Except for replies to responses to motions for

summary judgment, replies shall be filed and served within seven (7) days

from the date of service of the response to the motion. Replies to

responses to motions for summary judgment shall be filed and served

within fourteen (14) days from the date of service of the response to the

motion.

(i) Traditional Filing: When filing in paper and not filing in

CM/ECF, parties shall file the original and two (2) copies of the reply

memoranda and serve paper copies on opposing counsel and

unrepresented parties.

(ii) Electronic Filing: When filing in CM/ECF, the filer must provide

any non-CM/ECF filer with the document according to these Rules.

CM/ECF filers need not, however, provide paper copies to other

CM/ECF filers, as the document will be served electronically.

(iii) Page Limitations: Reply memoranda may not exceed fifteen

(15) pages, subject to the restrictions set forth in LR Civ P 7.02(a)

regarding paper size, font size and line spacing. A judicial officer,

for good cause shown on motion made to the Court, may allow a

reply memorandum to exceed fifteen (15) pages. The proposed

reply memoranda must be attached to the motion during the e-filing

process.

(3) Surreply and Surrebuttal: Except by leave of court, parties shall not

file surreply or surrebuttal memoranda. The proposed surreply or

surrebuttal must be attached to the motion during the e-filing process.

(4) Time Limits; Judicial Officer Discretion: The judicial officer to whom

the motion is addressed may modify the times for serving memoranda.

(5) Courtesy Copy: When electronically filing a memorandum, the filing

party must file a courtesy copy of the memorandum with the Court if the

memorandum, together with documents in support thereof, is twenty-five

(25) pages or more, or where any administrative record is seventy-five (75)

pages or more in length. Courtesy copies should be delivered to the

Clerk’s Office at the appropriate courthouse. Courtesy copies should not

be delivered directly to chambers.

dispositive motion may be referred to a magistrate judge by the presiding district judge.

(d) Action on Motions: All motions shall be decided expeditiously to facilitate

compliance with the deadlines established by the scheduling order. Failure of a judicial

officer to rule on a dispositive motion may, upon motion of a party, constitute good cause

for modification of a scheduling order pursuant to LR Civ P 16.01(f)(1).

District judges may impose time limits on referred motions and monitor those time

limits accordingly.

LR Civ P 7.10. Disclosure Statement.

In order for a presiding judicial officer to be aware of any potential issues

regarding judicial disqualification on the basis of financial information unknown to the

Court, a non-governmental corporate party to any civil or criminal proceeding, and the

government in a criminal proceeding, must provide the Court with sufficient information

to allow the judge to make an informed decision about any potential conflict of interest

pursuant to the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal

Procedure and Rules Governing Judicial Conduct.

(a) Form Provided by the Clerk of Court: The Clerk of Court shall provide a

form on the Court Internet Site (www.wvnd.uscourts.gov) that parties

may use to provide any statement required by this Rule or, in lieu

thereof, a party may prepare and file a similar statement containing

the same information required by this Rule.

(b) Form Filed by Counsel: The form shall be filed by counsel in CM/ECF.

LR Civ P 7.20. Disclosure Statement in a Diversity Action.

In diversity actions, any party that is a limited liability corporation (LLC), a limited

liability partnership (LLP), a master limited partnership (MLP), or a partnership must, in

the disclosure statement required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.1, list those states from which the

owners/members/partners of the LLC, LLP, MLP, or partnership are citizens. If any

owner/member/partner of the LLC, LLP, MLP, or partnership is another LLC, LLP, MLP,

or partnership, then the disclosure statement must also list those states from which the

owners/members/partners of the LLC, LLP, MLP, or partnership are citizens.

Social Security Cases

LR Civ P 9.01. Complaints Filed Pursuant to Social Security Act.

(a) Electronic Filing: Absent a showing of good cause, litigants shall file and

notice all documents in social security reviews, except case opening documents,

electronically. The United States Attorney shall file social security transcripts

electronically in CM/ECF. The United States Attorney shall provide a paper copy of the

social security transcript to the appropriate magistrate judge, who shall provide it to the

presiding district judge upon request. The Clerk’s Office staff will not make copies of

the social security transcript.

(b) Contents of Complaint: Complaints filed pursuant to Section 205(g) of the

Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), shall contain, in addition to the

information required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), the following:

(1) in cases involving claims for retirement, survivor’s, disability and

health insurance benefits, the Social Security number of the worker on

whose wage record the application for benefits was filed; and

(2) in cases involving claims for supplemental security income benefits,

the Social Security number of the plaintiff.

under the Social Security Act, access to the electronic file is authorized as follows:

(1) the parties and their attorneys may have remote electronic access to

any part of the case file, including the administrative record; and

(2) any other person may have electronic access, whether remotely or at

the courthouse, only to:

(i) the docket maintained by the Court; and

(ii) an opinion, order, judgment or other disposition of the Court, but

not any other part of the case file or the administrative record.

LR Civ P 9.02. Social Security Appeals.

(a) Referral: Upon receipt of a properly completed complaint and either (1) the

full filing fee or (2) an Application for Leave to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees,

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 , actions filed pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 405(g) will be referred to the designated United States Magistrate Judge, who

is authorized to consider the record and do all things proper to recommend disposition of

any dispositive motions filed in the action and to rule upon any nondispositive motions,

including, without limitation, conducting a hearing on the motions, if necessary, and

entering into the record a written order setting forth the disposition of the motions or

recommendation for disposition.

(b) Answer: Within sixty (60) days after the date of service of the complaint, the

defendant shall file an answer and a complete copy of the record of the administrative

proceedings. The defendant shall serve a copy of the same on plaintiff.

Within thirty (30) days after the defendant has filed an answer and a complete copy of

the administrative record, the plaintiff shall file a motion for summary judgment and

memorandum in support setting forth his or her claim(s) for relief. The plaintiff shall

serve copies of his or her motion for summary judgment and memorandum in support

upon the United States Attorney’s Office.

(d) Defendant’s Memorandum in Opposition: Within thirty (30) days after the

plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and memorandum in support are filed, the

defendant shall file a memorandum in opposition and serve copies upon the plaintiff.

The defendant is specifically directed to address all of the contentions and arguments

made by the plaintiff in the same order in which the plaintiff has stated them in his or her

motion and memorandum in support.

(e) Page Limits: The memoranda shall not exceed a total of fifteen (15) pages,

except as approved by the Court upon motion. Objections to a Magistrate Judge’s

recommended disposition, or any response to the opposing party’s objections, shall not

exceed ten (10) typewritten pages or twenty (20) handwritten pages, including exhibits,

except as approved by the Court upon motion. Any motion to exceed the Court’s page

limit shall be filed no later than one week before the deadline for the submission of the

memorandum, objection, or response.

(f) Extension of Time: The Court will grant an extension of time only upon a

showing of good cause. If a party desires an extension of time within which to respond,

the moving party must file a motion for extension before the date upon which the

memorandum is due. The memorandum shall be deemed submitted as of the date on

which the defendant’s memorandum is filed. If the Court, in response to a party’s

motion, grants an extension of time for a pleading or memorandum to be filed, the

opposing party is automatically granted an extension for the same amount of time to file

a responsive pleading or memorandum.

(g) References to the Administrative Record: Claims or contentions by the

plaintiff alleging deficiencies in the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) consideration of

claims or alleging mistaken conclusions of fact or law, and contentions or arguments by

the Commissioner supporting the ALJ’s conclusions of fact or law, must include a

specific reference, by page number, to the portion of the record that (1) recites the ALJ’s

consideration or conclusion and (2) supports the party’s claims, contentions or

arguments.

(h) Date Received: The time limitations set forth above shall not be altered

except as set forth in LR Civ P 16.01(f). All dates for submissions, deliveries and filings

refer to the date the materials must actually be received, not the mailing date.

Answer

LR Civ P 12.01. Extensions of Answer Date.

Unless otherwise ordered, the time to answer or otherwise respond to a complaint

may be extended by stipulation. For purposes of LR Civ P 16.01(a) only, the stipulation

shall constitute an appearance by any defendant who is a party to the stipulation. An

extension by stipulation will not affect other deadlines established by the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure, these Local Rules of Civil Procedure or the Court.

LR Civ P 12.02. Motions to Dismiss.

Motions to dismiss shall be given priority status by the Court, provided they are

designated prominently as a motion to dismiss and filed as a separate pleading.

Amended Pleadings

LR Civ P 15.01. Motions to Amend.

Any party filing a motion to amend a pleading that requires leave of court to file

shall attach to that motion a signed copy of the proposed amended pleading. However,

the amended pleading shall not be filed until the Court grants the particular motion.

Conferences

LR Civ P 16.01. Scheduling Conferences.

(a) Convening Scheduling Conferences; Transferred Actions: Except in actions

exempted by paragraph (g) of this Rule or by standing order, a judicial officer may,

unless the Court determines otherwise, convene a scheduling conference as soon as

practicable.

A judicial officer may establish the date, time and place of the scheduling

conference. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than seven (7) days after the

appearance of a defendant, the Court shall enter an order which shall be served on all

counsel then of record and mailed to each then unrepresented party for whom an

address is available from the record. The order shall also establish the date by which a

meeting of the parties must be held pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and paragraph (b)

of this Rule, and the date by which a written report on the meeting of the parties must be

filed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and paragraph (c) of this Rule.

In a case removed or transferred to this Court, a judicial officer shall convene a

scheduling conference as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days

after removal or transfer. The Court shall enter an order which shall be served on all

counsel then of record and to each then unrepresented party for whom an address is

available from the record no later than seven (7) days after the case is removed or

transferred.

(b) Obligation of the Parties to Meet: As soon as practicable, and in any event

at least twenty-one (21) days before the date set for the scheduling conference, the

parties shall meet in person or by telephone to discuss and report on all Fed. R. Civ. P.

16 and 26(f) matters, and:

(1) consider, consistent with paragraph (d) of this Rule, whether the case

is complex and appropriate for monitoring in an individualized and

case-specific manner through one or more case management conferences

and, if applicable, to propose for the Court’s consideration three alternative

dates and times for the first conference;

(2) agree, if possible, upon the disputed facts that have been alleged with

particularity in the pleadings;

(3) consider consenting to trial by a magistrate judge;

(4) consider alternative dispute resolution processes;

(5) confer and attempt to agree on discovery of ESI pursuant to LR Civ P

26.06; and

(6) prepare an agenda of matters to be discussed at the scheduling

conference.

Counsel and all unrepresented parties who have appeared in the case are jointly

responsible for arranging and being present or represented at the meeting, agreeing on

matters to be considered at the scheduling conference and considering a prompt

settlement or resolution of the case.

all unrepresented parties who were present or represented at the meeting are jointly

responsible for filing a written report on their meeting no later than fourteen (14) days

after the meeting.

Any matters on which the parties differ shall be set forth separately and explained

in the parties’ meeting report. The parties’ proposed pretrial schedule and plan of

discovery and disclosures shall advise the Court of their best estimates of the time

needed to accomplish specified pretrial steps. The parties’ meeting report shall be

considered by the judicial officer as advisory only.

If, after the date fixed for filing the written report, the judicial officer determines

that the scheduling conference is not necessary, it may be canceled and the scheduling

order may be entered.

(d) Conducting Scheduling Conferences: Except in a case in which a

scheduling conference has not been scheduled pursuant to order by a judicial officer or

has been canceled pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Rule, a judicial officer may

convene a scheduling meeting by telephone or by video conference, within the

mandatory time frame specified in paragraph (a) of this Rule, regardless of whether the

parties have met pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Rule or filed a written report pursuant

to paragraph (c) of this Rule. At the scheduling meeting , the Court shall consider any

written report filed by the parties and discuss time limits and other matters counsel were

obligated to consider in their meeting and that may be addressed in the scheduling

order.

At or following the scheduling conference, if one is held, or as soon as practicable

after the date fixed for filing the written report if the scheduling conference is canceled,

the judicial officer shall determine whether the case is complex or otherwise appropriate

for careful and deliberate monitoring in an individualized and case-specific manner.

The judicial officer shall consider assigning in the scheduling order any case so

categorized to a case management conference or series of conferences under LR Civ P

16.02. If the case is so assigned, the scheduling order, notwithstanding paragraph (e)

of this Rule, may be limited to establishing time limits and addressing other matters that

must be resolved before the first case management conference. The factors to be

considered by the judicial officer in determining whether the case is complex include:

(1) the complexity of the issues, the number of parties, the difficulty of the

legal questions and the uniqueness of proof problems;

(2) the amount of time reasonably needed by the parties and their

attorneys to prepare the case for trial;

(3) the judicial and other resources required and available for the

preparation and disposition of the case;

(4) whether the case belongs to those categories of cases that:

(i) involve little or no discovery,

(ii) ordinarily require little or no additional judicial intervention, or

(iii) generally fall into identifiable and easily managed

patterns;

(5) the extent to which individualized, case-specific treatment will promote

the goal of reducing cost and delay; and

(6) whether the public interest requires that the case receive more intense

judicial attention.

(e) Scheduling Orders: Following the scheduling conference, if one is held, or

as soon as practicable after the date fixed for filing the written report if the scheduling

conference is canceled, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the appearance of a

defendant or within ninety (90) days after the complaint has been served on a

defendant, whichever is earlier, the judicial officer shall enter a scheduling order

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b). The order shall advise the parties that the term

“complete discovery,” as that term is used in Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), means that all

discovery, objections, motions to compel and all other motions and replies relating to

discovery must be filed in time for the parties objecting or responding to have the

opportunity under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make responses. Unless

otherwise ordered, the term “all discovery” as used in the preceding definition of

“complete discovery” includes the disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) and

(2), but not the disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3).

(f) Modification of Scheduling Order:

(1) Time limits in the scheduling order, including limits

concerning the joinder of other parties, amendment of pleadings, filing of

motions and completion of discovery, and dates concerning pretrial

conferences and trial, may be modified for cause by order. A party or

parties requesting a continuance must first meet and confer with all of the

other parties in an attempt to reach an agreement as to three (3) possible

non-consecutive dates to which to move the deadline or hearing. If an

agreement is reached, the moving party must specify these three (3)

possible non-consecutive dates within the motion to continue. If the

parties cannot reach an agreement, then each party must advise the Court

of their suggested dates.

(2) Subject to subparagraph (3), stipulations to modify disclosure or

discovery procedures or limitations will be valid and enforced if they are in

writing, signed by the stipulating parties or their counsel, filed promptly and

do not affect the trial date or other dates and deadlines specified in

subparagraph (1).

(g) Categories of Actions Exempted: In addition to those actions and

proceedings identified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 81 to which the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

do not apply, the following categories of actions are exempted from the requirements of

Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), 26(a)(1)–(4), 26(f) and the Local Rules of Civil Procedure relating

thereto unless otherwise ordered:

(1) habeas corpus cases and motions attacking a federal sentence;

(2) procedures and hearings involving recalcitrant witnesses before federal

courts or grand juries pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1826;

(3) actions for injunctive relief;

(4) review of administrative rulings;

(5) Social Security cases;

(6) prisoner petitions pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens v. Six Unknown

Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), in which the

plaintiff is unrepresented by counsel;

(7) condemnation actions;

(8) bankruptcy proceedings appealed to this Court;

(9) collection and forfeiture cases in which the United States is the plaintiff and

the defendant is unrepresented by counsel;

(10) Freedom of Information Act proceedings;

(11) post-judgment enforcement proceedings and debtor examinations;

(12) enforcement or vacation of arbitration awards;

(13) civil forfeiture actions;

(14) student loan collection cases;

(15) actions that present purely legal issues, require no resolution of factual

issues and that may be submitted on the pleadings, motions and memoranda of

law;

(16) certain cases involving the assertion of a right under the Constitution of the

United States or a federal statute, if good cause for exemption is shown; and

(17) such other categories of actions as may be exempted by standing order.

LR Civ P 16.02. Case Management Conferences in Complex Cases.

(a) Conduct of Case Management Conferences: Case management

conferences shall be presided over by a judicial officer who, in furtherance of the

scheduling order required by LR Civ P 16.01(e), may:

(1) explore the possibility of settlement;

(2) identify the principal issues in contention;

(3) prepare a specific discovery schedule and plan that may:

(i) identify and limit the discovery available to avoid

unnecessary, unduly burdensome or expensive discovery,

(ii) sequence discovery into two (2) or more stages, and

(iii) include time limits for the completion of discovery;

(4) establish deadlines for filing motions and a schedule for their

disposition;

(5) consider the bifurcation of issues for trial as set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P.

42(b); and

(6) explore any other matter appropriate for the management of the case.

(b) Obligation of Counsel to Confer: The judicial officer may require counsel

and unrepresented parties to confer before a case management conference and

prepare a statement containing:

(1) an agenda of matters that any party believes should be addressed at

the case management conference; and

(2) a report of whether the case is progressing within the allotted time

limits and in accord with specified pretrial steps.

This statement is to be filed no later than seven (7) days before the case

management conference.

may convene as many case management conferences as appropriate.

After a case management conference, the judicial officer shall enter an order

reciting the action taken. The order shall control the subsequent course of the action

and may be modified in the same manner as a scheduling order under LR Civ P

16.01(f).

LR Civ P 16.03. Pretrial Conferences in Non-Complex Cases.

(a) Convening Pretrial Conferences: In addition to any scheduling conference

and the final pretrial conference, the judicial officer to whom the case is assigned for trial

may convene as many pretrial conferences as the judicial officer determines will reduce

cost and delay in the ultimate disposition of the case. The judicial officer may require

the parties to meet or confer in advance of a pretrial conference.

(b) Pretrial Conference Order: After a pretrial conference, the judicial officer

shall enter an order reciting the action taken. The order shall control the subsequent

course of the action and may be modified in the same manner as a scheduling order

under LR Civ P 16.01(f).

LR Civ P 16.04. Final Conferences; Pretrial Order.

(a) Obligation of Counsel to Meet; Pretrial Disclosures: Unless otherwise

ordered by the judicial officer to whom the case is assigned for trial, counsel and

unrepresented parties shall meet no later than twenty-one (21) days before the date of

the final pretrial conference to conduct settlement negotiations. Lead counsel for the

plaintiff first named in the complaint shall take the initiative in scheduling the meeting. If

the action is not settled, and if there is no order or stipulation to the contrary, counsel

and unrepresented parties shall make all Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) disclosures at the

meeting. The parties shall prepare a proposed pretrial order for filing. Counsel and

unrepresented parties must be prepared at the final pretrial conference to certify that

they conducted settlement negotiations during their meeting.

(b) Proposed Pretrial Order: Unless otherwise ordered by the judicial officer to

whom the case is assigned for trial, counsel and unrepresented parties shall file, no later

than seven (7) days prior to the final pretrial conference, a proposed pretrial order

setting forth:

(1) the pretrial disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) and any

objections thereto;

(2) contested issues of law requiring a ruling before trial;

(3) a realistic, brief statement by counsel for the plaintiff(s) and third-party

plaintiff(s) of essential elements that must be proved to establish any

meritorious claim remaining for adjudication and the damages or relief

sought, accompanied by supporting legal authorities;

(4) a realistic, brief statement by counsel for the defendant(s) and

third-party defendant(s) of essential elements that must be proved to

establish any meritorious defense(s), accompanied by supporting legal

authorities. Corresponding statements must also be included for

counterclaims and cross-claims;

(5) a brief summary of the material facts and theories of liability or

defense;

(6) a single listing of the contested issues of fact and a single listing of the

contested issues of law, together with case and statutory citations;

(7) stipulations;

(8) suggestions for the avoidance of unnecessary proof and cumulative

evidence;

(9) suggestions concerning any need for adopting special procedures for

managing potentially difficult or protracted aspects of the trial that may

involve complex issues, multiple parties, difficult legal questions or unusual

proof problems;

(10) a statement of all damages claimed, including an itemized list of

special damages;

(11) a statement setting forth a realistic estimate of the number of trial

days required; and

(12) any other matters relevant for pretrial discussion or disposition,

including those set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 16.

for trial shall preside at the final pretrial conference.

The final pretrial conference shall be attended by unrepresented parties and by

lead trial counsel for each represented party, rather than “by at least one attorney who

will conduct the trial for each party and by any unrepresented party” as provided in Fed.

R. Civ. P. 16(e).

The final pretrial conference shall include consideration of those matters in the

proposed pretrial order and any other appropriate matters, including those set forth in

Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(c).

(d) Final Settlement Conference: Unless otherwise ordered, a final settlement

conference may be held in each case. The conference shall be conducted by the

judicial officer and attended by unrepresented parties and lead trial counsel for each

represented party.

Individuals with full authority to settle the case for each party shall be present in

person or, if previously authorized by the Court, shall be immediately available by

telephone.

(e) Settlement Before Trial: All fees and juror costs may be imposed upon the

parties unless counsel have notified the Court and the Clerk’s Office of any settlement

not later than 4:00 p.m. of the last business day before trial. The costs shall be

assessed equally against the parties and their counsel unless otherwise ordered.

LR Civ P 16.05. Authority Regarding Stipulations, Agreements, and Admissions

at Conferences Before Judicial Officers.

At least one of the attorneys for each party and all unrepresented parties

participating in any conference before a judicial officer shall have authority to make

decisions as to stipulations, agreements, and admissions on all matters that the

participants reasonably anticipate may be discussed.

LR Civ P 16.06. Mediation.

(a) Cases to Mediate: The judicial officer may order mediation sua sponte or at

the request of any party. The Northern District of West Virginia also supports the

voluntary use of alternate dispute resolution and will endeavor to facilitate mediation or

similar proceedings when the presiding judicial officer finds a request to do so

appropriate and timely. The parties are free to engage in mediation without court

involvement so long as it does not interfere with court-ordered deadlines.

(b) Selection of Mediator; Notice of Nomination: The parties are expected to

agree upon a mediator, the amount of the mediator’s fee and the responsibility for

payment. If the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator, then they shall promptly

notify the presiding judicial officer, who shall appoint a mediator, set the amount of the

mediator’s fee and assign responsibility for payment. The parties may request that a

judicial officer (who is not the presiding judicial officer) conduct the mediation. Such

requests are particularly appropriate in complex cases or in cases in which a party is

financially unable to bear its proportionate share of the mediation expense. Except with

consent of the parties, a magistrate judge who has conducted a mediation shall not

thereafter handle discovery disputes or other substantive matters in the case.

conference is mandatory for counsel and the parties or their representatives, who must

have full authority to make final and binding decisions in accordance with the order

scheduling the case for mediation. All parties and their counsel shall be prepared to

knowledgeably discuss the facts and issues of the case and shall participate in

mediation in good faith.

(d) Mediation Statements: The mediator may require the submission of written

mediation statements. Any party may submit a written mediation statement, even if the

mediator does not require submission of written mediation statements. Mediation

statements submitted in writing to the mediator are confidential.

(e) Confidentiality: Mediators shall maintain strict confidentiality with respect to

all information that is communicated by the parties and their counsel in connection with

the mediation. The only information relative to an individual conference that will be

reported to the Court by the mediator will be: (1) the fact that the conference was

actually held; (2) whether the mediator intends to conduct further mediation in the case

in the future; and (3) whether, in the opinion of the mediator, the case should continue

routinely through the judicial process or might benefit from being scheduled for a status

or settlement conference before the Court. The mediator is also required to advise the

Court if a representative without settlement authority attends the conference or if either

party disrupts the mediation process, fails to appear or fails to mediate in good faith.

Mediation shall be regarded as a confidential settlement negotiation, subject to

Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. A mediator shall keep confidential from

opposing parties any information obtained in an individual session unless the party to

that session or the party’s counsel authorizes disclosure. A mediator may not be

subpoenaed or called to testify or otherwise be subject to process requiring disclosure of

confidential information in any proceeding relating to or arising out of the mediated

dispute.

(f) Impartiality of Mediator: A mediator shall not serve in a case in which the

mediator’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Possible conflicts of interest

shall be promptly disclosed by the mediator to all counsel and pro se parties.

(g) Immunity: A person acting as a mediator under these Rules shall have

immunity in the same manner and to the same extent as a judicial officer.

(h) Mediation Report: Unless a different time period is set by the judicial officer,

within seven (7) days of the conclusion of mediation, the mediator shall file with the

Clerk’s Office a Mediation Report Form, whether or not the mediation resulted in

settlement. This form can be found at the Court’s web page at www.wvnd.uscourts.gov

under the “Forms” link. This form shall be filed with the Clerk’s Office where the case is

pending. It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure compliance with this Rule.

(i) Settlement Proceedings: In the event mediation of a pending civil matter by a

judicial officer who is not the presiding judicial officer in the case results in a settlement

of the case, the judicial officer is authorized, in addition to filing the obligatory mediation

statement, to forthwith convene a Court proceeding with the parties, parties’

representatives, and counsel present, to make an official record of the terms of the

settlement agreement reached; to call upon the parties, parties’ representatives, and

counsel present to confirm the terms of the settlement; and to authorize the entry of an

appropriate order of dismissal by the presiding judicial officer.

Discovery

LR Civ P 26.01. Control of Discovery.

(a) Initial Disclosures Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1): Unless otherwise ordered

or stipulated by the parties, the disclosures required under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) shall

be made no later than fourteen (14) days after the meeting required under Fed. R. Civ.

P. 26(f) and LR Civ P 16.01(b). In accordance with LR Civ P 5.01, parties shall file in

CM/ECF only the certificate of service for any such disclosures.

(b) Disclosures Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) Regarding Experts: Unless

otherwise ordered or stipulated by the parties, the making, sequence and timing of

disclosures under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) will be as follows:

(1) the disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(A), (B) and (C)

must be made to all other parties or their counsel at least ninety (90) days

before the date set for trial or for the case to be ready for trial and

(2) if the evidence is intended solely to contradict or rebut evidence on

the same issue identified by another party under Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(a)(2)(B) or (C), the disclosures must be made no later than thirty (30)

days after the other party’s disclosure.

The written report described in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B) shall not be required of

witnesses who have not been specially retained or employed by a party to give expert

testimony in the case, including physicians and other medical providers who examined

or treated a party or party’s decedent unless the examination was for the sole purpose of

providing expert testimony in the case, or one whose duties as the party’s employee

regularly involve giving expert testimony. In accordance with LR Civ P 5.01, parties

shall file on CM/ECF only the certificate of service for any such disclosures.

In all events, a party seeking to elicit opinion testimony under Federal Rules of

Evidence 702, 703 or 705 from such witnesses shall:

(1) To the extent that such opinions are explicitly stated in records

prepared by such witnesses and have been produced in the course of

discovery, identify each such person as an expert witness who is

anticipated to testify at trial.

(2) To the extent that such opinions are not explicitly stated in records

prepared by such witnesses or have not been produced in the course of

discovery, identify each witness and state the subject matter on which the

expert will testify, the substance of the facts and opinions to which the

expert will testify and a summary of the grounds for each opinion or, in the

alternative, provide a report, prepared by the witness, that comports with

the provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B).

(3) The disclosures discussed in paragraph (2) above must be made within

the timelines detailed in LR Civ P 26.01(b).

(4) In no event may a health care provider or other person relying on

scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge be considered a lay

witness under Fed. R. Evid. 701.

except as to complex cases governed by LR Civ P 16.02., discovery under Fed. R. Civ.

P. 26(b)(2)(A) shall be limited as follows:

(1) Ten (10) depositions upon oral examination or written questions by

each plaintiff;

(2) Ten (10) depositions upon oral examination or written questions by

each defendant;

(3) Ten (10) depositions upon oral examination or written questions by

each third-party defendant;

(4) Twenty-five (25) written interrogatories, including all discrete subparts,

per party; and

(5) Forty (40) requests for admission per party.

(d) Further Discovery: After exhausting the opportunities for discovery pursuant

to paragraph (c) of this Rule and any stipulation of the parties or order of the Court, any

requests that the parties may make for additional depositions, interrogatories or requests

for admissions must be made by discovery motion.

The judicial officer shall not consider any discovery motion under this Rule unless

it is accompanied by a certification that the moving party has made a reasonable and

good-faith effort to reach agreement with counsel or any unrepresented parties who

oppose the additional discovery sought by the motion.

LR Civ P 26.02. Uniform Definitions in Discovery Requests.

(a) Incorporation by Reference and Limitations: The full text of the definitions

set forth in paragraph (c) of this Rule is incorporated by reference into all discovery

requests, but shall not preclude:

(1) the definition of other terms specific to a particular case,

(2) the use of abbreviations, or

(3) a narrower definition of a term defined in paragraph (c).

(b) Effect on Scope of Discovery: This Rule does not broaden or narrow the

scope of discovery permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or these Local

Rules.

(1) “communication” means the transmittal of information (in the form of

facts, ideas, inquiries or otherwise);

(2) “document” is synonymous in meaning and equal in scope to the

usage of this term in Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(a). A draft or non-identical copy is

a separate document;

(3) “identify,” when referring to a person, means to give, to the extent

known, the person’s full name and present or last known address. Once a

person has been identified in accordance with this subparagraph, only the

name of that person need be given in response to subsequent requests

concerning that person’s identity;

(4) “identify,” when referring to documents, means to give, to the extent

known, the:

(i) type of document,

(ii) general subject matter,

(iii) author(s), addressee(s) and recipient(s), and

(iv) date the document was prepared;

(5) “plaintiff,” “defendant,” a party’s full or abbreviated name, or a pronoun

referring to a party, means the party, and where applicable, its officers,

directors, employees and partners. This definition does not impose a

discovery obligation on any person who is not a party to the case;

(6) “person” means any natural person or any business, legal or

governmental entity or association; and

(7) “concerning” means referring to, describing, evidencing or constituting.

LR Civ P 26.03. Inspection of Documents and Copying Expense.

(a) Inspection of Documents: Except as otherwise provided in an order

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c), all parties to an action shall be entitled to inspect

documents produced by another party, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 33 or 34, at the

location where the documents are produced.

(b) Copies of Documents: Except as otherwise provided in an order pursuant to

Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c), a party who produces documents pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 33 or

34 shall provide copies of all or any specified part of the documents upon the requesting

party’s agreement to pay the reasonable copying costs. No party shall be entitled to

obtain copies of documents produced by another party pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 33 or

34 without paying the reasonable copying costs. Parties are encouraged, but not

required, to provide copies of documents in electronic format.

LR Civ P 26.04. Discovery Disputes.

(a) Objections to Disclosures or Discovery:

(1) Waiver: Objections to disclosures or discovery that are not filed

within the response time allowed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,

the scheduling order(s) or stipulation of the parties pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.

P. 29, whichever governs, are waived unless otherwise ordered for good

cause shown. Objections shall comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(g). Any

claim of privilege and any objection must comply with Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(b)(5).

(2) Claims of Privilege:

(i) Where a claim of privilege is asserted by a party who objects to

any means of discovery or disclosure, including but not limited to a

deposition, and when an answer is not provided on the basis of

such assertion, a party may lodge an objection on that issue.

(A) A party’s attorney asserting a privilege shall identify the

nature of the privilege that is being claimed, including

attorney work product, if applicable. If the privilege is

governed by state law, the attorney shall identify the state’s

pertinent privilege rule. The attorney must certify that he or

she has reviewed each document for which a privilege is

asserted.

(B) The following information shall be provided in an

objection, unless divulgence of such information would cause

disclosure of the allegedly privileged information:

(1) For documents:

(a) the type of document (e.g., letter or

memorandum);

(b) the general subject matter of the document;

(d) such other information as is sufficient to

identify the document for purposes of a

subpoena duces tecum, including, where

appropriate, the author of the document, the

addressees of the document, any other

recipients shown in the document and, where

not readily apparent, the relationship of the

author, addressees and recipients to each

other;

(2) For oral communications:

(a) the name of the person who made the

communication and the names of persons

present while the communication was made

and, where not readily apparent, the

relationship of the person who made the

communication to the other persons who were

present;

(b) the date and place of the communication;

and

communication.

(ii) Where a claim of privilege is asserted during a deposition, and

when information is not provided on the basis of such an assertion,

the information set forth herein in paragraph (a) shall be furnished:

(A) at the deposition, to the extent it is readily available from

the witness being deposed or otherwise; and

(B) to the extent that the information is not readily available

at the deposition, in writing within fourteen (14) days after the

deposition session at which the privilege is asserted, unless

otherwise ordered by the Court.

(iii) Where a claim of privilege is asserted in response to discovery

or disclosure other than a deposition, and when information is not

provided on the basis of such an assertion, the information set forth

herein in paragraph (a) shall be furnished in writing at the time of the

response to such discovery or disclosure, unless otherwise ordered

by the Court.

(iv) A party who produces material or information without intending

to waive a claim of privilege does not waive that claim under these

Rules or the Rules of Evidence if, within fourteen (14) days, or a

shorter time ordered by the Court, after the producing party

discovers that such production was made, the producing party

amends the response, identifying the material or information

produced and stating the privilege asserted. If the producing party

thus amends the response in order to assert a privilege, the

requesting party must promptly return the specified material or

information and any copies thereof, pending any ruling by the Court

regarding the asserted privilege.

(b) Duty to Meet: Before filing any discovery motion, including any motion for

sanctions or for a protective order, counsel for each party shall make a good faith effort

to meet in person or by telephone to narrow the areas of disagreement to the greatest

possible extent. It shall be the responsibility of counsel for the moving party to arrange

for the meeting.

LR Civ P 26.05. Protective Orders and Sealed Documents.

(a) Protective Orders: If a party, or parties jointly, seek entry of a protective order

to shield information from dissemination, the movant or movants must demonstrate with

specificity that (1) the information qualifies for protection under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c), and

(2) good cause exists for restricting dissemination of the information on the ground that

harm would result from disclosure.

(b) Sealed Documents:

(1) General. The rule requiring public inspection of Court documents is

necessary to allow interested parties to judge the Court’s work product in

the cases assigned to it. The rule may be abrogated only in exceptional

circumstances.

(2) Submission. Unless otherwise authorized by law, a motion to seal

shall be filed electronically pursuant to LR Gen P 6.01 and the Court’s

Administrative Procedures for Electronic Case Filing, shall include the

proposed document to be filed under seal as an attachment to the motion,

and shall be accompanied by a memorandum of law which contains:

(A) the reasons why sealing is necessary, including the reasons why

alternatives to sealing, such as redaction, are inadequate;

(B) the requested duration of the proposed seal; and

parameters of the common law and First Amendment rights of

access, as interpreted by the Supreme Court and the United States

Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

LR Civ P 26.06. Discovery of Electronically Stored Information.

(a) Duty to Investigate: Prior to a Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) conference, counsel

shall:

(1) Investigate the client’s Electronically Stored Information (“ESI”),

including, but not limited to, email, mobile device data, social media and

website posts, electronic documents, databases, metadata, and

computer-based and other digital systems, in order to understand how

such ESI is stored; how it has been or can be preserved, accessed,

retrieved, and produced; and any other issues to be discussed at the Fed.

R. Civ. P. 26(f) conference, and

(2) Identify a person or persons with knowledge about the client’s ESI,

with the ability to facilitate, through counsel, preservation and discovery of

ESI.

(b) Designation of Resource Person: In order to facilitate communication and

cooperation between the parties and the Court, each party shall, if deemed necessary

by agreement or by the Court, designate a single resource person through whom all

issues relating to the preservation and production of ESI should be addressed.

the parties should refer to both the “Checklist for Rule 26(f) Conference Regarding

Electronically Stored Information” set forth as Appendix LRCivP26.06A - CHECKLIST to

these Local Rules, and the “Guidelines for the Discovery of Electronically Stored

Information” set forth as Appendix LRCivP26.06B-GUIDELINES to these Local Rules.

(d) Duty to Confer: At the Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) conference, and upon a later

request for discovery of ESI, counsel shall meet and attempt to agree on the discovery

of ESI.

(e) Scheduling Conference: Prior to the scheduling conference, the parties

shall complete and file their Rule 26(f) Meeting Report, as applicable. At the discretion

of the Court, the parties may be required to submit a proposed stipulated order

regarding discovery of ESI. The parties may also choose to file an order under Fed. R.

Evid. 502(d).

Interrogatories to Parties

LR Civ P 33.01. Interrogatories.

(a) Form of Response: Each answer, statement or objection to an interrogatory

must be preceded by the interrogatory to which it responds.

(b) Reference to Records: As permitted in Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(d), whenever a

party answers any interrogatory by reference to records from which the answer may be

derived or ascertained:

(1) The producing party shall make available any computerized

information or summaries thereof that it either has or can adduce by a

relatively simple procedure, unless these materials are privileged or

otherwise not subject to discovery;

(2) The producing party shall provide any relevant compilations, abstracts

or summaries that are in its custody or that are readily obtainable, unless

these materials are privileged or otherwise not subject to discovery;

(3) The documents shall be made available for inspection and copying

within fourteen (14) days after service of the answers to interrogatories or

at a date agreed upon by the parties; and

(4) If a party answers an interrogatory by reference to a deposition in the

action, the party shall identify the deponent and the pages of a specific

transcript where the information may be found. If a party answers an

interrogatory by reference to a deposition in another action, the party shall

identify the deponent, the date of deposition, the style of the action and the

pages of a specific transcript where the information may be found, and the

party shall make a copy of the deposition available for inspection and

copying.

interrogatories to which objections were made must be answered, the answers shall be

served within fourteen (14) days of the order, unless the Court directs or the parties

stipulate otherwise.

Production of Documents

LR Civ P 34.01. Document Production.

(a) Form of Response: Each answer, statement or objection to a request for

production of documents must be preceded by the request to which it responds.

(b) Objections to Document Requests:

(1) When an objection is made to any document request or subpart, it

shall state with specificity all grounds for the objection. Any ground not

stated in an objection within the time provided by Fed. R. Civ. P. 34, or

within any extension of time, is waived.

(2) No part of a document request shall be left unanswered merely

because an objection was made to another part of the document request.

document requests to which objections were made must be answered, the answers shall

be served within twenty-one (21) days of the order, unless the Court directs or the

parties stipulate otherwise.

Requests for Admissions

LR Civ P 36.01. Admissions.

(a) Form of Response: Each answer, statement or objection must be preceded

by the request for admission to which it responds.

(b) Statements in Response After Objections: When it is ordered that a request

for admission to which objections were made is proper, the matter shall be deemed

admitted unless, within fourteen (14) days of the order, the party to whom the request

was directed serves a statement denying the matter or setting forth the reasons why that

party cannot admit or deny the matter, as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 36.

Sanctions

LR Civ P 37.01. Failure to Make Disclosures or to Cooperate in Discovery;

Sanctions.

(a) Failure to Preserve Electronically Stored Information: If electronically

stored information that should have been preserved in the anticipation or conduct of

litigation is lost because a party failed to take reasonable steps to preserve it, and it

cannot be restored or replaced through additional discovery, the Court:

(1) upon finding prejudice to another party from loss of the information, may

order measures no greater than necessary to cure the prejudice; or

(2) only upon finding that the party acted with the intent to deprive another

party of the information’s use in the litigation may:

(i) presume that the lost information was unfavorable to the party;

(ii) instruct the jury that it may or must presume the information was

unfavorable to the party; or

(iii) dismiss the action or enter a default judgment.

(b) Sanctions: Counsel and parties are subject to sanctions for the types of

failures and lack of preparation specified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f) regarding pretrial

conferences and orders. Counsel and parties are also subject to the payment of

reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(f), for

failure to participate in good faith in the development and submission of a proposed

discovery plan as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and LR Civ. P. 16.01(b) and (c).

Motions to Compel

LR Civ P 37.02. Motions to Compel.

(a) Motions to Compel: A motion to compel disclosure or discovery must be

accompanied by a statement setting forth:

(1) Each discovery request or disclosure requirement, provided verbatim,

and any response thereto to which exception is taken. If the discovery

request or disclosure requirement is ignored, the movant need only file a

motion to compel without setting forth verbatim the discovery request or

disclosure requirement;

(2) The specific rule, statute or case authority supporting the movant’s

position as to each such discovery request or disclosure requirement; and

(3) The following specifics, presented in the certification of the good faith

conference required under Fed. R. Civ. P. 37:

(i) the names of the parties who conferred or attempted to

confer,

(ii) the manner by which they conferred, and

(iii) the date and time of the conference.

(b) Waiver: A motion to compel, or other motion in aid of discovery, is deemed

waived if it is not filed within thirty (30) days after the discovery response or disclosure

requirement sought was due, which date is determined in accordance with a rule or by

mutual agreement among the parties, unless such failure to file a motion was caused by

excusable neglect or by some action of the nonmoving party. In any event, if the

moving party seeks a continuance or a modification of the scheduling order, the moving

party must demonstrate that good cause exists to grant any such request.

rule, statute or case authority supporting the position of the party responding as to each

such discovery request or disclosure requirement.

Dismissal of Actions

LR Civ P 41.01. Dismissal of Actions.

When it is apparent in any pending civil action that the principal issues have been

resolved or have become moot, or that the parties have shown no interest in further

prosecution, the judicial officer may give notice to all counsel and unrepresented parties

that the action will be dismissed after notice is given unless good cause for its retention

on the docket is shown. In the absence of good cause shown within that period of time,

the judicial officer may dismiss the action. The Clerk of Court shall transmit a copy of

any order of dismissal to all counsel and unrepresented parties.

This Rule does not modify or affect provisions for dismissal of actions under Fed.

R. Civ. P. 41 or any other authority.

Trial

LR Civ P 47.01. Trial Juries.

(a) Examination of Prospective Jurors: The judicial officer shall conduct the

examination of prospective jurors called to serve in civil actions. In conducting the

examination, the judicial officer shall identify the parties and their respective counsel and

briefly outline the nature of the action. The judicial officer shall interrogate the jurors to

elicit whether they have any prior knowledge of the case and what connections they may

have, if any, with the parties or their attorneys. Inquiries directed to the jurors shall

embrace areas and matters designed to discover the basis for a challenge for cause, to

gain knowledge enabling an intelligent exercise of peremptory challenges and to

ascertain whether the jurors are qualified to serve in the case on trial. The judicial

officer may consult with the attorneys, who may request or suggest other areas of juror

interrogation. To the extent deemed proper, the judicial officer may then supplement or

conclude his or her examination of the jurors.

(b) Proposed Juror Questionnaires: Parties must submit for the judicial

officer’s review and approval any proposed juror questionnaire at least sixty (60) days

prior to the trial date.

qualified jury wheel may be disclosed only in accordance with the Court’s Amended Jury

Plan, approved and made effective February 27, 2009, and as it may be modified. Jury

lists prepared by the Clerk of Court shall be made available to counsel and

unrepresented parties as provided in the Amended Jury Plan.

Fees and Costs

LR Civ P 54.01. Fees and Costs.

Fees and costs shall be taxed and paid in accordance with the provisions of 28

U.S.C. §§ 1911–1932 and other controlling statutes and rules. If costs are awarded,

the reasonable premiums or expenses paid on any bond or other security given by the

prevailing party shall be taxed as part of the costs.

The prevailing party shall prepare and file a bill of costs within thirty (30) days

after entry of the final judgment on Form AO 133 (Bill of Costs), which may be supplied

by the Clerk of Court or found on the Court’s website (www.wvnd.uscourts.gov). The

bill of costs shall contain an itemized schedule of the costs documenting each separate

cost and a statement signed by counsel for the prevailing party that the schedule is

correct and the charges were actually and necessarily incurred. The adverse party

shall file specific objections, if any, to the bill of costs within fourteen (14) days of

service, with a copy served on counsel for the prevailing party or on the unrepresented

prevailing party. The filer must provide any non-CM/ECF filer with the document

according to this Rule. CM/ECF filers need not, however, provide paper copies to other

CM/ECF filers, as the document will be served electronically.

Magistrate Judges

LR Civ P 72.01. Authority of Magistrate Judges.

The Federal Code at 28 U.S.C. §§ 631–639, sets forth provisions relating to the

appointment, tenure, location, jurisdiction and powers of United States Magistrate

Judges.

(a) General: A magistrate judge is a judicial officer of the district court. A

magistrate judge of this district is designated to perform, and may be assigned, any duty

allowed by law to be performed by a magistrate judge. Performance of a duty by a

magistrate judge will be governed by the applicable provisions of federal statutes and

rules, the general procedural rules of this Court and the requirements specified in any

order or reference from a district judge. In performing a duty, a magistrate judge may

determine preliminary matters; require parties, attorneys and witnesses to appear;

require briefs, proofs and argument; and conduct any hearing, conference or other

proceeding the magistrate judge deems appropriate.

(b) Statutory Duties: Magistrate judges are authorized or specially designated to

perform the duties prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 636 and such other duties as may be

assigned by the Court or a district judge which are not inconsistent with the Constitution

and laws of the United States.

perform the duties imposed upon district judges by Rules for Proceedings Under 28

U.S.C. § 2254 and Rules for Proceedings Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, in accordance with

Rule 10 of those Rules and 28 U.S.C. § 636.

(d) Post-Conviction Habeas Corpus and Related Actions: The following matters

are referred to magistrate judges:

(1) Post-conviction habeas corpus petitions or related motions, filed

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254, and 2255, and related actions;

(2) Prisoner challenges filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Bivens and

related actions;

(3) Appeals of administrative decisions under the Social Security Act and

related actions, including motions or petitions for attorney’s fees arising out

of such appeals;

(4) Discovery disputes and pretrial motions relating to discovery practice;

(5) Applications to proceed without prepayment of fees and costs; and

(6) Actions filed by persons who are proceeding pro se, whether or not

they are in custody, until such person is represented by retained counsel.

(e) Miscellaneous Duties: Magistrate judges are authorized to:

(1) Exercise general supervision of civil calendars, conduct calendar and

status calls, conduct hearings to resolve discovery disputes and determine

motions to expedite or postpone the trial of cases for the district judges;

(2) Analyze civil cases to determine an appropriate schedule; report

findings to the assigned district judge; and, in complex and other selected

cases, conduct conferences at which a schedule for the completion of

various stages of the litigation will be established, the possibility of early

settlement will be evaluated and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms

will be considered;

(3) Conduct pretrial conferences, scheduling conferences, mediations,

settlement conferences, omnibus hearings and related pretrial

proceedings;

(4) With the consent of the parties, conduct voir dire and preside over the

selection of petit juries;

(5) Accept petit jury verdicts in the absence of the district judge;

(6) Issue subpoenas, writs of habeas corpus ad testificandum or other

orders necessary to obtain the presence of parties, witnesses or evidence

for court proceedings;

(7) Rule on applications for disclosure of tax returns and tax return

information pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6103(i)(1);

(8) Order the exoneration or forfeiture of bonds;

(9) Conduct proceedings for the collection of civil penalties of not more

than $200 assessed under the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, pursuant

to 46 U.S.C. §§ 4311(d) and 12309(c);

(10) Resolve post-judgment discovery motions and conduct examinations

of judgment debtors pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 69;

(11) Supervise proceedings conducted pursuant to letters rogatory as set

forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1782(a);

(12) Issue orders of withdrawal of funds from the Court registry pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 2042;

(13) Issue orders or warrants authorizing acts necessary in the

performance of the duties of administrative and regulatory agencies and

departments of the United States;

(14) Conduct extradition proceedings in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §

3184; and

(15) Serve with designated committees or other judicial officers,

participate in promulgation of local rules and procedures, oversee

administration of the forfeiture of collateral system, and other functions of

court governance as approved by the Chief Judge.

(f) Method of Assignment of Matters to Magistrate Judges: The method for

assignment of duties to a magistrate judge shall be by standing order or case-specific

order unless otherwise provided for in these Local Rules, the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, the Rules for Proceedings Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and the Rules for

Proceedings Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Individual district judges may, in their discretion,

assign or request magistrate judges to perform such other duties as are not inconsistent

with the Constitution and the laws of the United States.

LR Civ P 72.02. Effect of Magistrate Judge Ruling Pending Objection.

When an objection to a magistrate judge’s ruling on a non-dispositive pretrial

motion is filed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a), the ruling remains in full force and effect

unless and until it is stayed by the magistrate judge or by a district judge.

Hearings on Motions

LR Civ P 78.01. Hearings on Motions.

The judicial officer may require or permit hearings on motions and may permit

attendance by telephone.

III. LOCAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Applicability of General Rules

LR Cr P 1.01. Applicability.

In all criminal proceedings, the General Rules of this Court shall be followed

insofar as they are applicable.

All rights and duties contained in these Local Rules of Criminal Procedure apply

equally to all parties. All disclosure deadlines and pretrial dates set forth herein are

subject to modification by court order to allow for compliance with the Speedy Trial Act

and trial dates set by the district judges.

LR Cr P 2.01. Grand Jury.

Pursuant to the Amended Jury Plan agreed to and entered on February 27, 2009,

grand jurors are empaneled in each of the four active points of holding court within the

district (i.e., Clarksburg, Elkins, Martinsburg and Wheeling). The jurors drawn from

those counties assigned to the four active points of holding court typically review

evidence to determine whether to issue indictments for crimes allegedly committed in

their respective counties.

Occasionally, due to issues that may arise and affect the statute of limitations, the

Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161, et seq., criminal complaints and other matters, it

may be necessary for the United States Attorney to present matters to a grand jury in

one point of holding court that arose from another point of holding court.

LR Cr P 10.01. Duties of the Magistrate Judge.

(a) Jurisdiction: The United States Magistrate Judges in this judicial district are

hereby specially designated and, with the consent of the parties, shall have jurisdiction

to try persons accused of, and sentence persons convicted of, misdemeanors committed

within this judicial district, in accordance with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3401, Fed. R.

Crim. P. 58 and 28 U.S.C. § 636.

(b) Arraignments: All magistrate judges are specially designated to handle

arraignments in criminal cases pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 10, including acceptance of

“not guilty” pleas; scheduling of motions hearings, pretrial conferences and trials; and

issuance of bench warrants for the arrest of defendants who fail to appear for

arraignment.

present at their arraignment. Waivers must be submitted in writing and signed by the

defendant not later than four (4) days before the arraignment to permit the Court or the

government sufficient time to order the defendant’s appearance if required. No hearing

shall be necessary to determine the providence or voluntariness of the defendant’s

written, signed waiver of the right to appear at the arraignment.

(d) Additional Duties: As an additional duty under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), all

magistrate judges are designated to take pleas in felony criminal cases under Fed. R.

Crim. P. 11. With written consent of the parties, the magistrate judge may take the plea

and enter it on the record. Such pleas, conducted with the consent of the parties, do

not require de novo review by the district judge if no exceptions are made to the

recommendation of the magistrate judge. See United States v. Osborne, 345 F.3d 281

(4th Cir. 2003). If a defendant does not consent to a magistrate judge taking the plea,

the magistrate judge may conduct the proceeding and make a recommendation to the

district judge.

Discovery

LR Cr P 16.01. Pretrial Discovery and Inspection.

(a) Do Not File Discovery With the Court: Parties shall not file discovery with the

Court. Parties shall serve discovery on other parties to the criminal action and will file

with the Court only the Certificate of Service.

(b) Standard Discovery Request Form: Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a),

counsel for the defendant may request standard discovery at arraignment or upon filing

of an information or indictment.

Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a), the defendant must provide reciprocal discovery to the

government under Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(b).

(d) Time for Government Response: The government must provide the standard

discovery under Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a) within seven (7) days of the standard discovery

request.

(e) Reciprocal Discovery Response: The defendant must provide all reciprocal

discovery due to the government within seven (7) days of receiving discovery materials

from the government.

(f) Defense Discovery Request Deemed Speedy Trial Motion: Any request made

by the defendant pursuant to this Rule will be deemed a motion under the provisions of

the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161, et seq.

(g) Duty to Supplement: All duties of disclosure and discovery under this Rule

are continuing. The parties must produce any additional discovery as soon as they

receive it, and in no event later than the time for such disclosure as required by law,

rules of criminal procedure or order of the Court, and without the necessity of further

request by the opposing party.

(h) Modification for Complex Cases:

(1) At any time after arraignment, the Court, on its own or upon motion by

any party, and for good cause shown, may designate a case as complex.

(2) In all cases designated as complex, not later than seven (7) days

following such designation, the parties shall confer to develop a Proposed

Complex Case Schedule addressing the following:

(i) the scope, timing and method of the disclosures required by federal

statute, rule or the United States Constitution, and any additional

disclosures that will be made by the government;

(ii) whether the disclosures should be conducted in phases, and the timing

of such disclosures;

(iii) discovery issues and other matters about which the parties agree or

disagree, and the anticipated need, if any, for motion practice to

resolve discovery disputes;

(iv) proposed dates for the filing of pretrial motions; and

(v) stipulations with regard to the exclusion of time for speedy trial

purposes under 18 U.S.C. § 3161, et seq.

(3) The parties shall file the Proposed Complex Case Schedule no later than

seven (7) days after conferring under this section.

(4) As soon as practicable after the filing of the Proposed Complex Case

Schedule, the Court shall enter an order fixing the schedule for discovery,

pretrial motions and trial, and determining exclusions of time under 18 U.S.C.

§ 3161, et seq., or shall conduct a pretrial conference to address unresolved

scheduling and discovery matters.

LR Cr P 16.02. Declination of Disclosure.

If, in the judgment of the United States Attorney, it would not be in the interests of

justice to make any one or more disclosures set forth in LR Cr P 16.01 and requested by

the defendant’s counsel, the United States Attorney may decline disclosure. A

declination of any requested disclosure shall be in writing, set forth specific reasons

therefor, be directed to the defendant’s counsel, signed personally by the United States

Attorney or the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the case and shall specify

the types of disclosures that are declined. If the United States Attorney invokes

declination, the United States Attorney or the Assistant United States Attorney assigned

to the case shall immediately notify the magistrate judge for the purpose of expediting a

hearing thereon.

LR Cr P 16.03. Additional Discovery or Inspection.

If additional discovery or inspection is sought, the defendant’s attorney shall

confer with the appropriate Assistant United States Attorney within fourteen (14) days of

the arraignment (or such later time as may be set by the Court for the filing of pretrial

motions) to satisfy the requests in a cooperative atmosphere without recourse to the

Court. The request may be oral or written, and the United States Attorney shall respond

in like manner.

In the event the defendant thereafter moves for additional discovery or inspection,

the motion shall be filed within the time set by the Court for the filing of pretrial motions.

The motion shall contain:

(a) a statement that the prescribed conference was held;

(b) the date of the conference;

was held;

(d) a statement that an agreement could not be reached concerning the

discovery or inspection that is the subject of the defendant’s motion; and

(e) the pertinent facts and law bearing upon the issues raised by the motion, as

required by LR Cr P 47.01.

LR Cr P 16.04. Additional Evidence.

If, prior to or during trial, a party discovers additional evidence or material

previously requested or ordered that is subject to inspection or discovery under the

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, this Local Rule, court order or other judicial or

statutory obligation, that party shall promptly notify the other party, or opposing counsel,

and the Court of the existence of the additional evidence or material.

LR Cr P 16.05. Exculpatory Evidence.

Exculpatory evidence, as defined in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), as

amplified by United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667 (1985), shall be disclosed at the time

the disclosures described in LR Cr P 16.01 are made. Additional Brady material not

known to the government at the time of its disclosure of other discovery material, as

described above, shall be disclosed immediately upon discovery in writing setting forth

the material in detail.

LR Cr P 16.06. Rule 404(b), Giglio and Roviaro Evidence.

No later than fourteen (14) days before trial, the government shall disclose

notice of any evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b), Giglio material and

notice of any Roviaro witness not previously turned over in discovery. See Giglio v.

United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972); Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53 (1957).

LR Cr P 16.07. List of Witnesses.

No later than fourteen (14) days before trial, counsel for each party shall file, with

service on counsel of record (via CM/ECF or other acceptable means), a list of probable

and possible witnesses (identified as such). The witness list should not include whether

the defendant will testify. The parties shall include in the list the full name and address

of each witness and a brief statement of the subject matter to be covered by each

witness. Expert witnesses and records custodians shall be expressly identified.

“Witnesses,” as used in this paragraph, mean probable and possible witnesses,

including experts and records custodians, which the parties intend to call in their

cases-in-chief.

LR Cr P 16.08. List of Trial Exhibits.

No later than fourteen (14) days before trial, counsel for each party shall file, with

service on opposing counsel (via CM/ECF or other acceptable means), a list of exhibits

to be offered during trial. In addition, counsel for each party shall number the listed

exhibits with evidence tags available from the Clerk of Court and shall exchange a

complete set of marked exhibits with opposing counsel (except for large or voluminous

items or exhibits that cannot be reproduced easily).

LR Cr P 16.09. Protective and Modifying Orders.

Upon a sufficient showing, the Court may at any time order that discovery,

inspection or disclosure be denied, restricted or deferred, or make such other order as is

appropriate. Upon motion by a party, the Court may permit the party to make the

showing, in whole or in part, in the form of a written statement to be inspected by the

Court alone. Upon written request, either party may be entitled to an evidentiary

hearing on this issue. If the Court enters an order granting relief following an ex parte

showing, the entire text of the party’s statement shall be sealed and preserved in the

records of the Court to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an

appeal.

LR Cr P 16.10. Failure to Comply With Discovery.

If, at any time during the course of the proceedings, it is brought to the Court’s

attention that a party has failed to comply with LR Cr P 16, the Court may order the party

to permit the discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, prohibit the party from

introducing evidence not disclosed or enter any other order as it deems just under the

circumstances, up to and including dismissal of the indictment with prejudice. The

Court may specify the time, place and manner of making the discovery, inspection or

disclosure, and may prescribe such terms and conditions as are just.

LR Cr P 16.11. Continuing Disclosure.

Any duty of disclosure or discovery is a continuing one. Up to and including the

end of trial, all parties shall immediately produce any information which has been

subsequently acquired.

LR Cr P 16.12. Effect of Disclosure by the Government.

Any disclosure filed by the government shall be considered as relief sought by the

defendant and granted by the Court unless the defendant files a pleading within five (5)

days of arraignment stating that he or she is refusing and not seeking such disclosures

pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 16.

Motions in Limine

LR Cr P 24.01. Motions in Limine, Jury Instructions and Voir Dire.

Ten (10) days before the pretrial conference, all motions in limine (which must be

limited to matters actually in dispute), jury instructions and voir dire shall be filed by

counsel with service on opposing counsel, and responses filed at least one (1) day

before the pretrial conference. If no pretrial conference is conducted, then all motions

in limine, jury instructions and voir dire (which must be limited to matters actually in

dispute) shall be filed by counsel, with service on opposing counsel, seven (7) days

before trial. Pursuant to Fed. R. Cr. P. 47, any responses are due at least one (1) day

before trial.

Petition for Disclosure of Presentence, Pretrial or Probation Records and

Guideline Presentence Reports

LR Cr P 32.01. Disclosure of Presentence Reports

(a) Disclosure: Any disclosure of the presentence report to the defendant,

defendant’s counsel, attorney for the government or any party other than the Court shall

not include any recommendation as to sentencing.

(b) Time: The Court may modify the time requirements of Fed. R. Crim. P.

32(e)(2) for good cause, but may not, without the defendant’s consent, reduce the

thirty-five (35) day period from the initial disclosure of the presentence report until the

sentencing hearing.

date of the initial presentence report disclosure to the parties, after which a sentencing

hearing will be scheduled. In the alternative, the Court may set a date when the

presentence report will be initially disclosed, after which time the sentencing hearing will

be scheduled. The presentence report shall be deemed to have been disclosed:

(1) when a copy of the report is physically delivered to the defendant, the

defendant’s counsel and the attorney for the government;

(2) three (3) days after a copy of the presentence report is mailed to the

defendant, counsel for the defendant and the attorney for the government; or

(3) three (3) days after a copy of the presentence report is electronically sent in

a secure manner to the defendant, counsel for the defendant and the attorney for

the government.

(d) Objections: Within fourteen (14) days after receiving the presentence

report, counsel may provide to the probation officer written objections thereto, and shall

provide a copy to opposing counsel. Counsel shall not, however, file objections to the

presentence report electronically in CM/ECF or with the Clerk’s Office in any manner.

(e) No Objections Form: Counsel shall not file the “no objections” form with the

Court. If counsel provides a “no objections” form to the probation office, counsel must

also provide a copy to opposing counsel. Nonetheless, counsel shall not file the form

with the Court either electronically or in paper.

(f) Sentencing Memoranda: The Court will accept sentencing memoranda

received in the Clerk’s Office no later than three (3) days before the sentencing hearing.

This three (3) day time period shall exclude holidays and weekends. To file a

sentencing memorandum with the Court, counsel may present the document for filing to

the Clerk’s Office in person, via mail, or fax, to be filed under seal. In the alternative,

counsel may file the sentencing memorandum in CM/ECF using the “Sentencing

Memorandum” event, which is a sealed event. Regardless of the means of transport,

the sentencing memorandum must be received by the deadline.

(g) Presentence Report After Sentencing: When a term of imprisonment is

imposed during a trial or hearing on revocation of supervision, the probation officer shall

forward the presentence report to the United States Marshals Service and the Clerk of

Court, but shall not, under any circumstance, file the presentence report on the docket

via CM/ECF. The Clerk of Court shall file the presentence report on CM/ECF under

seal to assure its confidentiality. Immediately upon receiving the presentence report,

the United States Marshals Service shall forward it, along with the United States

Marshals Service designation form and the judgment and commitment order, to the

Bureau of Prisons. The presentence report will not be opened by anyone other than the

Bureau of Prisons, except by order of the Court.

LR Cr P 32.02. Disclosure of Records or Testimony.

Except as otherwise provided, no confidential records of the Court maintained

by the probation office, including presentence reports, pretrial services records,

probation records or testimony, shall be disclosed or provided unless a written

application is made to the Court in compliance with the Rules for Disclosure adopted by

the Judicial Conference of the United States in March of 2003. No disclosure shall be

made or testimony provided until an order is entered. However, the probation officer

shall release necessary probation records to other federal, state, county and municipal

law enforcement agencies, as required by 18 U.S.C. § 4042, without petitioning the

Court or obtaining a court order directing the disclosure of those records. The probation

officer shall immediately provide the Court with notice of the disclosure.

When a demand for a disclosure of presentence records, pretrial services

records, probation records or testimony is made to a probation officer by subpoena or

other judicial process, the Chief Probation Officer or Deputy Chief Probation Officer shall

request an order from the sentencing judge . The probation officer shall make no

disclosure until an order is entered.

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Videoconference in Criminal Cases

LR Cr P 43.01. Matters That May Be Conducted by Videoconference.

In criminal proceedings, the Court may use video telecommunications to conduct:

(a) Initial appearances pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(a), with the consent of the

defendant;

(b) Arraignment pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 10, with the consent of the

defendant;

release, with the consent of the defendant;

(d) Hearings to determine whether probable cause exists to revoke supervised

release, with the consent of the defendant;

(e) Any postconviction proceedings under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2254 or 2255 or any

prisoner case under 42 U.S.C. § 1983;

(f) The taking of a plea of guilty to a misdemeanor charge;

(g) Detention hearings with the consent of the defendant;

(h) Returns by the grand jury;

(i) Removal hearings;

(j) Final pretrial conferences; and

(k) Any other proceeding in which the parties consent.

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Deadlines

LR Cr P 45.01. Deadlines.

The deadlines set forth in LR Cr P 16.07, 16.08 and 47.01 are deadlines for hand

delivery, delivery by fax or electronic delivery via CM/ECF. If the items required to be

served on opposing counsel are served by mail, the deadline for mailing shall be three

(3) days earlier than the deadline for hand delivery, delivery by fax, or electronic delivery

via CM/ECF.

All deadlines contained in this Rule may be shortened or lengthened sua sponte

or by the Court on motion and for good cause shown to the satisfaction of the Court.

Any party, including the government, may be relieved from the performance of any of the

obligations described in this Rule, in advance of any applicable deadline, upon motion

and for good cause shown. Good cause may include, but is not limited to, the safety or

security of witnesses or protection of the identity of informants.

Motions

LR Cr P 47.01. Motions.

(a) Pretrial Motions: Unless otherwise ordered, all motions, including motions

for a bill of particulars under Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(f), shall be filed within fourteen (14) days

after receipt by defense counsel of LR Cr P 16.01 materials unless the Court, for good

cause shown, extends the time upon written application made within the fourteen (14)

day period. Such application shall set forth the grounds upon which the motion is made

and shall be served on the opposing party.

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All pretrial motions and accompanying memoranda shall contain the reason and

legal support for granting the motion. Within seven (7) days of service, the opposing

party shall file a response to all such motions with legal support or memoranda. All

pretrial motions, responses and memoranda shall be filed with the Court and served

upon all other counsel of record and any person appearing pro se.

Pretrial motions, responses and memoranda shall cite reasons and provide points

of authority and legal support, either in the body or in a separate brief, when their

complexity requires more than a short statement of authorities.

(b) Post-trial Motions: Unless the court extends the time, all post-trial motions

shall be filed within fourteen (14) days from the return of the verdict by the jury or the

Court. Unless the Court extends the time, the non-moving party shall file a response

within fourteen (14) days following the filing of post-trial motions.

Continuance of Trial

LR Cr P 50.01. Continuances.

The Court will grant a continuance of a trial date, hearing or deadline only for

good cause. When a party requests a continuance, that party must first meet and

confer with all other parties in an attempt to reach an agreement as to three (3)

possible non-consecutive dates to which the trial date, hearing or deadline may be

continued. If an agreement is reached, the moving party must specify the three (3)

possible non-consecutive dates within the motion to continue. If the parties cannot

reach an agreement, then each party must advise the Court of their suggested dates.

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If no agreement to continue can be reached and the party requesting the

continuance is relying on the Speedy Trial Act, that party must provide the provision of

the Speedy Trial Act in its motion to continue.

Forfeiture of Collateral in Lieu of Appearance for Certain Misdemeanor Offenses

LR Cr P 58.01. Forfeiture of Collateral.

(a) Posting Collateral: Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 58(d)(1), a person charged

with certain petty offenses, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 19 and described in a schedule of

collateral offenses that will be published and announced by court order, may, in lieu of

an appearance, post collateral in the amount indicated for the offense, waive

appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge and consent to forfeiture of

collateral. The schedule of collateral offenses will also describe certain petty offenses

that require a mandatory appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. The

current schedule of collateral offenses will be reflected by the latest order appearing on

the court docket. The Clerk of Court will distribute copies of the order to all offices,

agencies and individuals involved in the forfeiture of collateral program and shall make

copies available upon request.

(b) Petty Offense: The provisions of this Rule do not create or otherwise define

an offense. This Rule applies to petty offenses that have otherwise been created or

defined by federal statutes, regulations or applicable state statutes lawfully assimilated

by virtue of 18 U.S.C. § 13, which are committed within the jurisdiction of the United

States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

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from arresting a person for committing any offense, including those for which collateral

may be posted and forfeited, and requiring the person charged to appear before a

United States Magistrate Judge or, upon arrest, immediately taking the person charged

before a United States Magistrate Judge.

(d) Failure to Post Collateral: If a person charged with a petty offense not

requiring a mandatory appearance fails to post and forfeit collateral, the Court shall

issue a notice directing the defendant to appear before a United States Magistrate

Judge and shall impose any penalty within the limits established by law upon conviction,

including fine, imprisonment or probation.

(e) Collateral Posted: If collateral is posted for any offense in which forfeiture of

collateral is authorized by this Rule, the collateral shall be forfeited to the United States

and shall signify that the defendant neither contests the charge nor requests a hearing.

Such action shall be tantamount to a finding of guilty and the defendant shall be deemed

convicted of any offense for which collateral is paid and forfeited.

(f) Violation Notices: The Clerk of Court shall establish a procedure for the

processing of violation notices, citations and collateral. The procedure may include use

of automated facilities located in other United States District Courts.

(g) Certification of Record of Traffic Violations: Either the Clerk of Court or

United States Magistrate Judge shall certify the record of any traffic violation conviction,

as required by applicable state law, to the proper state authority.

(h) Non-Collateral Forfeiture Cases: No collateral forfeiture will be permitted for

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the following violations:

(1) Offenses denominated in the schedule of collateral offenses for which

appearance is mandatory;

(2) Offenses resulting in an accident with personal injury or property damage in

excess of $500.00; or

(3) Subsequent offenses not arising from the same facts or sequence of events

that resulted in the original charges.

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IV. LOCAL RULES OF PRISONER LITIGATION PROCEDURE

All litigation brought in the Northern District of West Virginia by, or on behalf of,

incarcerated individuals shall be governed by the Rules and Procedures set forth herein.

Part 1 - General Provisions

LR PL P 1. Scope.

These Rules shall govern the procedure for the filing of the following actions by,

or on behalf of, prisoners in the United States District Court for the Northern District of

West Virginia:

(a) Petitions for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (common

law habeas corpus);

(b) Petitions for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (state

prisoner attacking conviction or sentence);

2255 (federal prisoner attacking conviction or sentence);

(d) State civil rights complaints pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (prisoner alleging a

constitutional deprivation under color of state law);

(e) Federal civil rights complaints filed pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown

Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971) (prisoner alleging a

constitutional deprivation under color of federal law);

(f) Complaints filed pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act; and

(g) Any other civil action filed in the Northern District of West Virginia by an

incarcerated person, or on behalf of an incarcerated person.

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These Rules are intended to supplement the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the

United States District Courts (“Section 2254 Rules”) and the Rules Governing Section

2255 Proceedings in the United States Districts Courts (“Section 2255 Rules”)

promulgated by the United States Supreme Court.

Except to the extent that they are inconsistent with these Local Rules of Prisoner

Litigation Procedure, the LR Gen P and LR Civ P are applicable to these proceedings.

LR PL P 2. Prisoner Cases Assigned to Magistrate Judges.

All petitions, applications, complaints and motions to vacate or modify sentences

filed by, or on behalf of, prisoners are assigned to the magistrate judges. The

magistrate judges are authorized to consider the record and do all things proper to

recommend the disposition of any dispositive motions filed in these actions and to

decide any nondispositive motions, including, without limitation, conducting a hearing

and entering into the record a written order setting forth the disposition of the motions or

recommendation for disposition.

LR PL P 3. Pro Se Prisoner Petitions. Applications, Motions and Complaints are

to be Filed on Court-Approved Forms.

LR PL P 3.1. Generally.

All pro se prisoner petitions, applications, complaints and motions to vacate or

modify sentences must be submitted on the designated forms approved by this Court

and signed by the prisoner under penalty of perjury.

LR PL P 3.2 Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.

(a) Application and Required Documentation: In the event that a prisoner

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believes he or she cannot afford the filing fee for an action covered by these Rules, he

or she must file an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, on

the form provided by the Court, requesting permission to proceed in forma pauperis. A

certified Prisoner Trust Account Report, signed by an authorized official from the

institution where the prisoner is confined must also be filed, together with ledger sheets

from the preceding six months. In addition, a Consent to Collection of Fees from Trust

Account must be filed in all cases other than habeas petitions.

(b) Eligibility: A prisoner shall be entitled to proceed in forma pauperis if the

prisoner’s financial affidavit or certified trust account statement, or both, demonstrates

that the prisoner is unable to pay or prepay for the costs of the action and the Court

determines that the prisoner has not deliberately depleted his or her assets in order to

become eligible for in forma pauperis status.

either on its own or on the motion of any party, review and rescind, wholly, or in part,

leave to proceed in forma pauperis if the prisoner who was granted leave becomes

capable of paying the full filing fee, is found to have willfully misstated information in the

Application or for any other lawful ground.

(d) Requirements for In Forma Pauperis Applicants: The specific procedures

required for prisoners seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis in habeas actions are

set forth below in LR PL P 17. The specific procedures required for prisoners seeking

leave to proceed in forma pauperis in all other civil actions are set forth below in LR PL P

25.

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LR PL P 3.3. Obtaining Copies of the Local Rules of Prisoner Litigation.

A prisoner who wishes to obtain a copy of the Local Rules of Prisoner Litigation

may do so by sending a written request to: Office of the Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 471,

Wheeling, WV 26003, ATTENTION: INMATE LITIGATION CLERK. The following items

must be included with the request:

(a) A letter requesting a copy of the Local Rules of Prisoner Litigation and

(b) A large (at least 8 ½ by 11 inch) self-addressed envelope.

Subsequent requests by any prisoner for additional copies of the Local Rules of

Prisoner Litigation must be accompanied by a check in the amount of $5.00, made

payable to the Clerk of the United States District Court.

LR PL P 3.4. Use of the Court-Approved Forms.

(a) Pro se petitions, applications, complaints and motions to vacate or modify

sentences shall be in English and typed or legibly printed on the Court-approved forms.

(b) Prisoners shall follow the instructions provided with the forms and complete

the forms using only one side of the page. Every section of the form must be fully

completed and all information required by the form must be included.

pages containing additional information as permitted by the instructions on the form.

The information contained in any additional pages must specifically relate to the

information provided in a designated section of the Court-approved form, must be

permitted by the instructions and must be identified as supplementing the information

contained in that section.

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(d) No more than five (5) typewritten pages or ten (10) legibly printed pages

may be attached to any Court-approved form unless accompanied by a motion for leave

to file excess pages.

(e) Additional pages shall be printed or typed on standard white 8 ½ by 11

inch-size, lined notebook or legal pad paper. Only one side of the page shall be

used. Each page shall be numbered consecutively. The printing or typewriting shall

be no smaller than the standard elite type and shall contain numbered paragraphs which

correspond to the numbered paragraphs on the Court-approved form. The typing or

printing on each page shall be double-spaced. Exhibits submitted for filing shall be on 8

½ by 11 inch paper.

(f) Every pro se petition, motion, application or complaint must be signed by the

prisoner under penalty of perjury.

All petitions, motions, applications and complaints that do not comply with this

Rule, and are not corrected after notice, will be stricken by the Court.

LR PL P 4. Filing Pro Se Prisoner Petitions, Applications, Motions and

Complaints.

(a) Points of Holding Court: The four active points of holding Court for the

Northern District of West Virginia and the addresses for each of the

Clerk’s Offices are as follows:

(1) Wheeling Point of Holding Court:

Address: Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 471, Wheeling, WV

26003.

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(2) Clarksburg Point of Holding Court:

Address: Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 2857, Clarksburg,

WV 26302.

(3) Elkins Point of Holding Court:

Address: Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, P.O. Box 1518, Elkins, WV

26241.

(4) Martinsburg Point of Holding Court:

Address: Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, 217 W. King St., Room 207,

Martinsburg, WV 25401.

(b) Mailing Petitions, Motions, Applications and Complaints to the Clerk of Court:

Prisoners shall file a petition, motion, application or complaint by mailing the completed

forms in a sealed envelope to the Clerk of Court at any point of holding court. Every

envelope containing any type of inmate filing shall be marked: “ATTENTION: INMATE

LITIGATION CLERK.”

presented for filing by prisoners shall contain proof of service in the form of a statement

of the date and the manner of service and the names of the persons served, certified by

the person who made service. Proof of service may appear on, or be affixed to, the

documents filed and shall be designated by title as “Certificate of Service” in the

following format:

“I, (your name here), appearing pro se, hereby certify that I have served the

foregoing (title of the document being served) upon the defendant(s) or respondent

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(choose one) by depositing true and exact copies of the same in the United States

mail, postage prepaid, upon the following counsel of record on (insert date).”

(Then list the name(s) and address(es) of counsel for the defendant(s) or respondent(s)

and sign your name.)

LR PL P 5. Notice of Deficient Pleading.

If a pleading received by the Court does not comply with the requirements of

these Rules, it will be stricken from the docket and returned to the prisoner.

LR PL P 6. Current Mailing Address.

All pro se prisoner litigants are responsible for promptly informing the Court of any

change in their addresses, monitoring the progress of their cases and prosecuting or

defending their actions diligently. Notification of a prisoner’s change of address must

be accomplished by filing a Notice with the Clerk of Court and serving that Notice upon

all other parties within ten (10) days of the change of address. The envelope containing

the Notice shall state on its face: “ATTN: CHANGE OF ADDRESS.”

Failure to notify the Clerk of Court of an address change will result in

dismissal of the prisoner’s case.

LR PL P 7. Discovery.

No discovery pursuant to Rules 26 through 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure shall be conducted with respect to petitions, motions, applications and

complaints filed under these provisions without leave of the Court.

LR PL P 8. Prisoners May Not Utilize This Court’s CM/ECF System.

Unless and until the administrative rules are changed, pro se litigants are

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prohibited from using CM/ECF in the Northern District of West Virginia. Accordingly,

all filings by pro se prisoners must be submitted on Court-approved forms or as

otherwise provided in these Local Rules.

LR PL P 9. Court Personnel Cannot Provide Legal Advice.

Court personnel are forbidden from interpreting any rules of procedure or giving

any legal advice. This includes offering interpretations of rules, recommending a course

of action, predicting a decision a judicial officer might make on any given matter or

interpreting the meaning or effect of any Court order or judgment.

Prisoners are prohibited from having oral or written communications with the

Court or Court personnel on matters in a pending case, other than to request copies of

documents.

LR PL P 10. Procedures for Cases Where a Prisoner is Represented by Counsel.

(a) Use of Court-Approved Forms: In cases where a prisoner is represented by

a licensed practicing attorney who is admitted to practice in the Northern District of West

Virginia, use of the Court-approved forms is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory

for the filing of a motion, petition, application or complaint under these Rules.

(b) Required Information: Whether or not a Court-approved form is utilized by a

licensed practicing attorney when filing a motion, petition, application or complaint on

behalf of an incarcerated individual pursuant to these Local Rules, all information

required by such forms must be included.

Failure to comply with the Local Rules may be grounds for dismissal.

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LR PL P 11. Motions Practice and Court Deadlines.

(a) A party named as a Respondent or Defendant by a pro se prisoner litigant

may comply with the Court’s order to answer or show cause why a petition, application,

complaint or motion to vacate or modify sentence should not be granted by filing a

dispositive motion, exhibits and a supporting memorandum of law. The memorandum

of law submitted in support of a dispositive motion shall not exceed twenty-five (25)

pages.

(b) Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, memoranda and other materials in

response to a dispositive motion by the opposing party shall be filed within twenty-one

(21) calendar days from the date of service of the motion. Memoranda filed in

response to a motion shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages.

within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of service of the memorandum in

response. Memoranda filed in reply to a response shall not exceed fifteen (15)

pages.

(d) Surreply and surrebuttal memoranda may not be filed.

(e) The Court, for good cause shown, may modify any of the time limitations set

forth in these Rules or by Court order.

Failure to comply with the page limitations set forth in these Rules will,

upon Court order, result in the entire document being stricken from the docket.

LR PL P 12. Objections to a Magistrate Judge’s Recommended Disposition.

(a) Any party may object to a magistrate judge’s recommended disposition by

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filing and serving written objections within fourteen (14) calendar days after being

served with a copy of the magistrate judge’s recommended disposition.

(b) The written objections shall identify each portion of the magistrate judge’s

recommended disposition that is being challenged and shall specify the basis for each

objection.

calendar days after being served with a copy thereof.

(d) Objections to a magistrate judge’s recommended disposition, or any response

to the opposing party’s objections, shall not exceed ten (10) typewritten pages or

twenty (20) handwritten pages, including exhibits, unless accompanied by a motion

for leave to exceed the page limitation.

LR PL P 13. Filing of Pleadings or Papers Not Authorized by the Rules.

Prisoners shall not file pleadings or papers not authorized by these Rules.

Pleadings or papers not authorized by these Rules will be stricken from the docket

by the Court and returned to the prisoner.

LR PL P 14. Filing Fee for Appeals.

A Notice of Appeal must be accompanied by the required filing fee. In the event

that a prisoner believes he or she cannot afford the fee, he or she must file a new

Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit on the form provided

by the Court, requesting permission to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis. A new

certified Prisoner Trust Account Report, signed by an authorized official from the

institution where the prisoner is confined, must also be filed, together with ledger sheets

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from the preceding six months.

LR PL P 15. Sanctions.

Pro se prisoner litigants are subject to sanctions that include, but are not limited

to, those available to the Court under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for

the submission of false, improper or frivolous filings in the Court.

LR PL P 16. Appointment of Counsel.

Pro se prisoners who file civil actions, including habeas petitions, do not have an

absolute right to appointed counsel. The Court may, in its discretion, appoint an

attorney to represent a pro se prisoner at any point in the proceedings if it finds that a

particular need or exceptional circumstance exists.

Part 2 - Habeas Corpus Petitions and Motions to Vacate or Modify Sentence

(28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254 and 2255)

LR PL P 16. Filing Fee.

No filing fee is required for filing a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

However, a petition filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 or 2254 must be accompanied

by the required filing fee .

LR PL P 17. Applications by Prisoners to Proceed In Forma Pauperis in § 2254

and 2241 Petitions.

In the event that a prisoner believes he or she cannot afford the fee, he or she

must file an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, on the

form provided by the Court, requesting permission to proceed in forma pauperis. A

certified Prisoner Trust Account Report, signed by an authorized official from the

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institution where the prisoner is confined must also be filed, together with ledger sheets

from the preceding six months.

Failure to send the fee with the petition or submit the necessary Application with

supporting Prisoner Trust Account Report and ledger sheets will result in the Clerk of

Court sending the petitioner a deficiency notice. Failure to comply with the deficiency

notice within twenty-one (21) calendar days of entry will result in the petition being

dismissed without prejudice.

In the event that the magistrate judge assigned to the case determines that the

petitioner has the ability to pay the fee, an order will be entered requiring the petitioner to

pay the fee within twenty-eight (28) calendar days. Failure to comply with the order

will result in the case being dismissed without prejudice.

All payments by or on behalf of prisoners must be by money order or United

States Treasury check. Cash and personal checks will not be accepted.

LR PL P 18. Separate Petitions are Required for Judgments Entered by Different

Courts.

A petition or motion filed pursuant to § 2241, 2254 or 2255 shall be limited to a

challenge against one judgment, except that a claim may be asserted against more

than one judgment if the trial or proceeding in which the judgments were entered were

heard or tried in one court at the same time in consolidated proceedings. Prisoners

seeking to challenge judgments entered by different courts or by the same court at a

separate time must file separate petitions as to each court and judgment.

LR PL P 19. No Responses Required Without Court Order.

The named respondent need not respond unless or until directed to do so by the

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Court.

LR PL P 20. Filing a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2241.

(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241: A petition for a writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to § 2241 may be filed by a prisoner being held in federal or state custody who

wishes to challenge the manner in which his or her sentence is being executed.

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms: To properly file a petition for a § 2241 writ of

habeas corpus, pro se prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled “Application for

Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 2241” and must answer every question

and complete the form in its entirety.

LR PL P 21. Filing a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2254.

(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254: A petition for a writ of habeas corpus

pursuant to § 2254 may be filed by a prisoner in state custody who wishes to challenge

the validity of his or her state conviction or sentence on the ground that it violates the

Constitution, federal statutes or treaties of the United States.

(b) Use of Court-Approved Form: To properly file a Petition for a § 2254 writ of

habeas corpus, pro se prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled: “Petition

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State Custody” and

must answer every question and complete the form in its entirety.

corpus pursuant to § 2254 in either the judicial district in which the prisoner is presently

confined or the judicial district where the prisoner was sentenced. It is the practice of

this Court, in cases where the Northern District of West Virginia is the district of

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confinement, to transfer habeas petitions challenging state convictions to the district in

which the prisoner was sentenced.

(d) Successive Applications for Writ of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to § 2254 or §

2255: Before a second or successive petition or application may be filed in this Court, a

prisoner shall file a “Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2244 for Order Authorizing District Court

to Consider Second or Successive Application for Relief Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 or

2255” in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This Court may not

consider a second or successive application without an order from the United States

Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit authorizing it to do so.

LR PL P 22. Filing a Motion to Vacate or Modify Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2255.

(a) Proceeding Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255: A Motion to vacate, set aside or

correct a sentence may be filed pursuant to § 2255 only by a prisoner in custody who

wishes to attack or challenge a federal sentence or conviction imposed by the United

States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms: To properly file a § 2255 motion, pro se

prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled “Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to

Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody” and must

answer every question and complete the form in its entirety.

where the sentence was imposed.

(d) Filing Fee: No filing fee is required for a motion filed under 28 U.S.C. §

2255. Therefore, an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit

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is not necessary.

LR PL P 23. Appeals.

(a) Appealing the Denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petition: A federal prisoner who

desires to appeal the denial of a § 2241 petition must file a Notice of

Appeal in the District Court within sixty (60) calendar days from the date

of the adverse ruling.

A state prisoner who desires to appeal the denial of a § 2241 petition must file a

Notice of Appeal in the District Court within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of

the adverse ruling.

(b) Appealing the Denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2254 Petition: To appeal the denial of

a § 2254 petition, a prisoner must file a Notice of Appeal in the District Court within thirty

(30) calendar days from the date of the adverse ruling. Pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. §

2253 and FRAP 22, prisoners must also file an application for a “certificate of

appealability” in the District Court in order to proceed with an appeal. If the District

Court denies a certificate of appealability, then the prisoner may reapply for the

certificate from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

a § 2255 petition, a prisoner must file a Notice of Appeal in the District Court within sixty

(60) calendar days from the date of the adverse ruling. Pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. §

2253 and Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22, prisoners must also file an

application for a “certificate of appealability” in the District Court in order to proceed with

an appeal. If the District Court denies a certificate of appealability, then the prisoner

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may reapply for a certificate from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth

Circuit.

Part 3 - All Other Civil Causes of Action

(Including, but not limited to, civil rights complaints filed by state prisoners pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983 or Bivens, and complaints filed by federal prisoners pursuant to the

Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”).)

LR PL P 24. Filing Fee for Civil Causes of Action.

Civil complaints filed under this section must be accompanied by the required

filing fee.

LR PL P 25. Applications by Prisoners to Proceed In Forma Pauperis in Civil

Actions Other Than Those Filed Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 or 2254.

(a) Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees: In the event that a

prisoner believes he or she cannot afford the fee, he or she must file an Application to

Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, on the form provided by the Court,

requesting permission to proceed in forma pauperis. A certified Prisoner Trust Account

Report, signed by an authorized official from the institution where the prisoner is

confined, must also be filed, together with ledger sheets from the preceding six months

and a Consent to Collection of Fees from Trust Account.

Failure to send the fee with the complaint or submit the necessary Application

with supporting Prisoner Trust Account Report and ledger sheets will result in the Clerk

of Court sending the prisoner a deficiency notice. Failure to comply with the deficiency

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notice within twenty-one (21) calendar days of entry will result in the complaint being

dismissed without prejudice.

In the event that the magistrate judge assigned to the case determines that the

prisoner has the ability to pay the fee, a Report and Recommendation will be entered

recommending that the Application be denied. If, upon review of the Application, the

magistrate judge finds that it should be granted, an order will be entered setting forth the

specific terms and conditions for payment of the filing fee. In the event that an initial

partial filing fee is ordered, failure to pay the fee within twenty-eight (28) days of the

entry of the order will result in the case being dismissed without prejudice. Subsequent

payments shall be made until the filing fee is paid in full.

All payments by or on behalf of prisoners must be by money order or United

States Treasury check. Cash and personal checks will not be accepted.

Regardless of whether the complaint is eventually dismissed upon order of the

Court, or the prisoner voluntarily withdraws the complaint, the entire fee will be collected

through the prisoner’s trust account. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY FEE

OR PARTIAL FEE BE REFUNDED.

If, while incarcerated, a prisoner has had three or more civil actions or

appeals in federal court dismissed as frivolous, malicious or based upon a failure

to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, a new civil action or appeal of a

judgment in a civil action cannot be filed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. §

1915(g).

123

(b) Objections: Objections to any filing fee ordered by the Court shall be filed

with the Clerk’s Office within fourteen (14) days of the order and shall specifically

demonstrate a factual basis for the prisoner’s alleged lack of ability to pay the filing fee.

the costs of filing and serving the complaint. It does not waive the prisoner’s

responsibility to pay the expenses of litigation which are not waived by 28 U.S.C. §§

1825 and 1915.

LR PL P 27. Service of the Complaint.

(a) Service Without Prepayment of Fees: If the prisoner has been granted

leave to proceed without prepayment of fees, the Clerk of Court, upon order of the

Court, will complete and issue a summons form for each defendant, complete the Form

USM 285 -- Process Receipt and Return -- and forward these documents, along with

copies of the complaint and order directing service, to the United States Marshals

Service.

(b) Service After Prepayment of Fees: In cases where the prisoner has not

been granted leave to proceed without prepayment of fees, the Court will enter an order

directing the plaintiff to serve the complaint on each defendant after payment of the

fees has been made in full.

named federal defendants, the United States Attorney General and the United States

Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia must also be served with a copy of

the complaint.

124

(d) Service on the Federal Government and Federal Agencies: In cases where

the United States or federal agencies are the named defendants, the United States

Attorney General, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia

and the head of the named federal agency must all be served with a copy of the

complaint.

LR PL P 28. Consent to Trial by Magistrate Judge.

On the date the Court receives a responsive pleading from the defendant(s), the

Clerk of Court shall provide all parties with Form AO 85 -- Notice, Consent, and Order of

Reference -- Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge, notifying them

that they may consent to have a magistrate judge conduct any or all proceedings in the

case and order the entry of a final judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636.

Within thirty (30) calendar days of the filing of the responsive pleading, each

party shall advise the Clerk of Court in writing whether or not it will consent to having the

United States Magistrate Judge assigned to conduct any and all proceedings in the

action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636. Consent may be given by completing and returning

Form AO 85 -- Notice, Consent, and Order of Reference -- Exercise of Jurisdiction by a

United States Magistrate Judge to the Clerk’s Office.

LR PL P 29. Appeals from an Adverse Decision in a Civil Action.

(a) Appeal of Adverse Decision Against an Individual Defendant: To appeal an

adverse decision in a civil action against an individual defendant (or defendants) a

prisoner must file a Notice of Appeal in the District Court within thirty (30) calendar

125

days from the date of the adverse ruling.

(b) Appeal of Adverse Decision Against a Federal Defendant: To appeal an

adverse decision in a civil action against the federal government or a government

agency, a prisoner must file a Notice of Appeal in the District Court within sixty (60)

calendar days from the date of the adverse ruling.

LR PL P 30. Filing a Pro Se State Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983.

(a) Proceeding Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983: Generally, a complaint pursuant to §

1983 may be filed by a state prisoner against a person or persons acting under the

authority of state law who violates the prisoner’s constitutional or federal statutory rights

or to challenge prison conditions that violate the prisoner’s constitutional or federal

statutory rights. In addition, a current federal prisoner who was in the custody of state

authorities may also file a complaint pursuant to § 1983 for the same reasons.

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms: To properly file a complaint pursuant to §

1983, pro se prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled “State Civil Rights

Complaint Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983” and must answer every question and complete

the form in its entirety.

LR PL P 31. Filing a Pro Se Federal Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to Bivens v.

Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).

(a) Proceeding Under Bivens: A Bivens complaint may be filed by a federal

prisoner, against a person or persons acting in his or her individual capacity, under color

of federal authority, for violations of a prisoner’s constitutional rights.

126

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms: To properly file a complaint pursuant to

Bivens, pro se prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled “Federal Civil Rights

Complaint (Bivens Action)” and must answer every question and complete the form in its

entirety.

LR PL P 32. Filing a Pro Se Complaint Pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act

(“FTCA”).

(a) Proceeding Under the FTCA: An FTCA complaint may be filed by a

prisoner against the United States for claims for property damage, personal injury or

death caused by the negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of an employee of the

federal government while acting within the scope of his or her office of employment.

(b) Use of Court-Approved Forms: To properly file a complaint pursuant to the

FTCA, pro se prisoners must use the Court-approved form titled “Complaint Pursuant to

the Federal Torts Claims Act (FTCA)” and must answer every question and complete the

form in its entirety.

LR PL P 33. Filing a Pro Se Complaint Pursuant to Any Statutory Authority Not

Specifically Designated Above.

To properly file a civil action other than those described above, pro se prisoners

must use the Court-approved form titled “Pro Se Prisoner Civil Complaint” and must

answer every question and complete the form in its entirety.

127

The Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court

for the Northern District of West Virginia are available at

http://www.wvnb.uscourts.gov

Appendix L.R. Civ. P. 26.06A – CHECKLIST

United States District Court

for the Northern District of West Virginia

CHECKLIST FOR RULE 26(f) MEETING

REGARDING ELECTRONICALLY STORED INFORMATION

In cases where electronically stored information will be exchanged between the parties,

the Court encourages the parties to engage in on-going discussions and use the

following Checklist to guide those discussions. These discussions should be framed in

the context of the specific claims and defenses involved. The usefulness of particular

topic on the checklist, and the timing of discussion about these topics, may depend on

the nature and complexity of the matter. Parties may obtain discovery of such

materials, and on such terms, as permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the

Local Rules, and the applicable orders of the court.

I. Preservation

 The ranges of creation, last modified, last accessed, or receipt dates for any

known ESI to be preserved.

 The description of data from sources that are not reasonable accessible and

that will not be reviewed for responsiveness or produced, but that will be

preserved pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(2)(B).

 The description of data (including source and volume) from sources that (a)

the party believes could contain relevant information but (b) has determined,

under the proportionality factors, should not be preserved.

 Whether or not to continue any interdiction of any document destruction

program, such as ongoing erasures of e-mails, voicemails, and other

electronically-recorded material and/or ongoing preservation requirements

(i.e. “evergreen”).

 The names and/or general job titles or descriptions of custodians for whom

ESI will be preserved (e.g. “HR head,” “scientist,” “marketing manager,” etc.).

 The number of custodians for whom ESI will be preserved.

 The lists of systems, if any, that contain ESI not associated with individual

custodians and that will be preserved, such as enterprises databases, legacy

data, and human resource records.

 Any disputes related to scope or manner of preservation.

 Any non-party to consult regarding ESI, including entities over which a party

has control.

II. Resource Person

 The identity of each party’s e-discovery resource person(s).

III. Informal Discovery About Locations of Data and Types of Systems

 Identification of systems from which discovery will be prioritized (e.g. email,

structured databases, database types, and unstructured data).

 Description of systems in which potentially discoverable information is

stored.

 Location of systems in which potentially discoverable information is stored.

 How potentially discoverable information is stored.

 How discoverable information can be collected from systems and media in

which it is stored.

 Whether there are known relevant file paths or data locations.

IV. Proportionality and Costs

 The amount and nature of the claims being made by either party.

 The nature and scope of burdens associated with the proposed reservation

and discovery of ESI.

 The likely benefit of the proposed discovery.

 Costs that the parties will share to reduce overall discovery expenses, such

as the use of a common electronic discovery vendor or a shared document

repository, or other cost-saving measures.

 Limits on the scope of preservation or other cost-saving measures.

 Whether there is potentially discoverable ESI that will not be preserved

consistent with proportionality concerns.

V. Search

 The search method(s), including specific words or phrases or other

methodology (cluster technology/predictive coding), that will be used to

identify discovery ESI and filter our ESI that is not subject to discovery.

 The quality control method(s) the producing party will use to evaluate

whether a production is missing relevant ESI or contains substantial amounts

of irrelevant ESI.

VI. Phasing

 Whether it is appropriate to conduct discovery of ESI in a phased or iterative

approach (e.g. by issue, timeframe, custodians, databases, liability v.

damages).

 Sources of ESI most likely to contain discoverable information and that will

be included in the first phases of Fed. R. Civ. P. 34 document discovery (i.e.

known relevant file paths, email between specific parties during a given

period of time).

 Sources of ESI less likely to contain discoverable information from which

discovery will be postponed or avoided.

 Custodians (byname or role) most likely to have discoverable information

and whole ESI will be included in the first phases of document discovery.

 Custodians (byname or role) less likely to have discoverable information and

from whom discovery of ESI will be postponed or avoided.

 The time period during which discoverable information was most likely to

have been created or received.

 The issues that are relevant to pay party’s claim or defense.

VII. Production

 The formats in which structured ESI (database, collaboration sites, etc.) will

be produced.

 The formats in which unstructured ESI (email, presentations, word

processing. Etc.) will be produced.

 The extent, if any, to which metadata will be produced and the fields of

metadata to be produced.

 The production format(s) that ensure(s) that any inherent searchability of ESI

is not degraded when produced.

VIII. Privilege

 How any production of privileged information or trial preparation material will

be handled.

 Whether the parties can agree upon alternative ways to identify documents

withheld on the grounds of privilege or protection of trial preparation

materials to reduce the burdens of such identification.

 Whether the parties will enter into a Fed. R. Evid. 502(d) Stipulation and

Order that addresses inadvertent or agreed production, and if so, the form

and content of such order.

IX. E-Discovery Special Maters and/or E-Mediators

 Would it be helpful to the parties for the court to appoint an E-Discovery

Special Master and/or E-Mediator?

X. Expedited or Limited Discovery

 Are the parties willing to engage in limited discovery or an expedited

discovery schedule?

Appendix L.R. Civ. P. 26.06B – GUIDELINES

United States District Court

for the Northern District of West Virginia

GUIDELINES FOR THE DISCOVERY OF

ELECTRONICALLY STORED INFORMATION

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Guideline 1.01 (Purpose)

Discovery often now includes the review and production of electronic information. The

discovery of electronically stored information (“ESI”) provides many benefits such as

the ability to search, organize, and target the ESI using the text and associated data.

At the same time, the Court is aware that the discovery of ESI is a potential source of

cost, burden, and delay. These Guidelines should assist the parties as they engage in

electronic discovery. The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage reasonable

electronic discovery with the goal of limiting the cost, burden, and time spent, while

ensuring that information subject to discovery is preserved and produced to allow for

fair adjudication of the merits. At all times, the discovery of ESI should be handled

consistently with Fed. R. Civ. 1 to “secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive

determination of every action and proceeding.”

These guidelines also promote, when ripe, the early resolution of disputes regarding

the discovery of ESI without Court intervention. These guidelines are a supplement to

LRCivP 26.06.

Guideline 1.02 (Cooperation)

The court expects cooperation on issues relating to the preservation, collection,

search, review, and production of ESI. The court notes that an attorney’s

representation of a client is not compromised by conducting discovery in a cooperative

manner. Cooperation is reasonably limiting ESI discovery requests on the one hand,

and in reasonably responding to ESI discovery requests on the other hand, tends to

reduce litigation costs and delay. The court emphasizes the particular importance of

cooperative exchanges of information at the earliest possible stage of discovery,

including during the parties’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) conference.

Guideline 1.03 (Discovery Proportionality)

The proportionality standard set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1) and 26(g)(1)(iii)

should be applied to the discovery plan and its elements, including the preservation,

collection, search, review, and production of ESI between parties.

To assure

Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(B) outlines a different standard with regard to non-parties through its direction to

courts to protect, through measures that include fee-shifting, such non-parties from significant discovery

reasonableness and proportionality in discovery, parties should consider factors that

include the importance of the issues at stake in the litigation, the burden or expense of

the proposed discovery compared to its likely benefit, the amount in controversy, the

parties’ resources, the parties’ relative access to relevant information, and the

importance of the discovery in adjudicating the merits of the case. To further the

application of the proportionality standard, discovery requests for production of ESI

and related responses should be reasonably targeted, clear, and as specific as

practicable.

Guideline 2.01 (Preservation)

(a) At the outset of a case, or sooner if feasible, counsel for the parties should

discuss preservation. Such discussions should continue to occur periodically

as the case and issues evolve.

(b) In determining what ESI to preserve, parties should apply the proportionality

standard referenced in Guideline 1.03. The parties should strive to define a

scope of preservation that is proportionate and reasonable and not

disproportionately broad, expensive, or burdensome.

the Checklist for Rule 26(f) Meeting Regarding Electronically Stored

Information set forth in Appendix L.R. Civ. P. 26.06A-CHECKLIST to the

Local Rules. At the discretion of the court, or at the request of a party or the

parties, a court order concerning preservation may be submitted for court

approval providing a framework for applicable provisions.

Guideline 2.02 (Rule 26(f) Initial Planning Meeting)

At the required Rule 26(f) Initial Planning Meeting, when a case involves electronic

discovery, the topics that the parties should consider discussing include:

a) Preservation;

b) Systems that contain discoverable ESI;

c) Search and production;

d) Phase of discovery;

e) Protective orders (including application of Fed. R. Evid. 502); and

f) Opportunities to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

In order to be meaningful, the meeting should involve direct communications between

counsel (preferably, in person and/or by telephone) and be as sufficiently detailed on

these topics as is appropriate in light of the specific claims and defenses at issue in the

case. Some or all of the details set forth in L. R. Civ. P. 26.06 and the Checklist for

Rule 26(f) Meeting Regarding Electronically Stored Information set forth in Appendix

L.R.Civ. P. 26.06A-CHECKLIST to the Local Rules may be useful to discuss, especially

in cases where the discovery of ESI is likely to be a significant cost or burden. The

expenses.

court encourages the parties to address any agreements or disagreements related to

the above matters in the Rule 26(f) Meeting Report. At the direction of the court, the

parties may be required to submit a draft of a Stipulated Order re: Discovery of

Electronically Stored Information for Standard Litigation such as the model order set

forth in Appendix LRCivP26.06C-MODEL ORDER to the Local Rules.

Guideline 2.03 (Information Discovery Regarding ESI)

Consistent with Guideline 1.02, the court strongly encourages an informal discussion

about the discovery of ESI (rather than deposition) at the earliest reasonable stage of

the discovery process. Counsel, or others knowledgeable about the parties’ electronic

systems, including how potentially relevant data is stored and retrieved, should be

involved or made available as necessary. Such a discussion will help the parties be

more efficient in framing and responding to ESI discovery issues, reduce costs, and

assist the parties and the court in the event of a dispute involving ESI issues.

Guideline 2.04 (Disputes Regarding ESI Issues)

Disputes regarding ESI that counsel for the parties are unable to resolve shall be

presented the court at the earliest possible opportunity, such as at the initial Scheduling

Conference. The court may require additional discussions, if appropriate. The court

may appoint and/or the parties may seek the appointment of an E-Discovery Special

Master or E-Discovery Mediator to assist the court in resolving ESI disputes.

EDUCATION GUIDELINES

Guideline 3.01 (Judicial Expectations of Counsel)

It is expected that counsel for the parties, including all counsel who have appeared, as

well as all others responsible for making representations to the court or opposing

counsel (whether or not they make an appearance), will be familiar with the following in

each litigation matter:

a) The electronic discovery provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, including Rules 26, 33, 34, 37, and 45, and Federal Rules of

Evidence 502 (including applicable Advisory Committee Reports); and

b) L. R. Civ. P. 26.06, these Guidelines and the court’s Checklist for Rule

26(f) Meeting Regarding ESI set forth in Appendix L.R.Civ.P. 26.06A-

CHECKLIST and Stipulated E-Discovery Order for Standard Litigation set

forth in Appendix L.R.Civ.P. 26.06C-MODEL ORDER to the Local Rules.

Appendix L.R. Civ. P. 26.06C – MODEL ORDER

United States District Court

Northern District of West Virginia

Plaintiff(s),

v. Case No.

MODEL STIPULATED ORDER RE:

DISCOVERY OF ELECTRONICALLY

Defendant(s). STORED INFORMATION FOR

STANDARD LITIGATION

1. PURPOSE

This order will govern discovery of electronically stored information (“ESI”) (including

scanned hard-copy documents) in this case as a supplement to the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedures, this court’s Guidelines for the Discovery of Electronically Stored

Information, and any other applicable orders and rules.

2. COOPERATION

The parties are aware of the importance the court places on cooperation and commit

to cooperate in good faith throughout the matter consistent with this court’s

Guidelines for the Discovery of ESI.

3. RESOURCE PERSON

The parties have identified to each other the resource persons who are and will be

knowledgeable about and responsible for discussing their respective ESI. Each ESI

resource person will be, or have access to those who are, knowledgeable about the

technical aspects of ESI, including the location, nature, accessibility, format,

collection, search methodologies, and production of ESI in this matter. The parties

will rely on the resource persons, as needed, to confer about ESI and to help resolve

disputes without court intervention. The resource person is not necessarily the

person who would be designated to testify related to a person or entity’s

preservation efforts, document retention policies, collection efforts, or other related

matters.

4. PRESERVATION

The parties have discussed their preservation obligations and needs and agree that

preservation of potentially relevant ESI (e.g. email, texts, voicemail, spreadsheets,

databases, etc.) will be reasonable and proportionate. To reduce the costs and

burdens of preservation and to ensure proper ESI is preserved, the parties agree

that:

a) Only ESI accessed, modified, created or received between the dates

_________________ and ______________ relating to the above-captioned

matter will be preserved

;

b) Based upon their investigation to date, the parties have exchanged a list of

the types of ESI they believe should be preserved and the custodians, or

general job titles or descriptions of custodians, for whom they believe ESI

should be preserved. The parties shall add or remove custodians as

reasonably necessary;

c) The parties have agreed/will agree on the number of custodians per party for

whom ESI will be preserved;

d) The following data sources are not reasonably accessible, and the parties

agree not to preserve the following: [e.g. backup media created before

______, ESI in foreign jurisdictions, data in slack space, digital voicemail,

instant messaging, automatically saved versions of ESI];

The parties may estimate or agree to the volume of data to be produced (i.e. number of documents, files or GB of

data).

e) The following data sources will be preserved but not searched, reviewed, or

produced: [e.g. backup media of [named] system, systems no longer in use

that cannot be accessed, etc.];

f) In addition to the agreements above, the parties agree that data from the

following sources (a) could contain relevant information but (b) under the

proportionality factors, should not be preserved: [e.g. databases that by their

nature change as new information is added to them, accessed and modified

dates, etc.]:

g) In terms of preservation, the parties agree/disagree that there is no need for

forensic images of servers, databases, computers, cell phones, etc. [except

for the following data sources:__________________]

5. SEARCH AND IDENTIFICATION

The parties agree that in responding to an initial Fed. R. Civ. P. 34 request, or earlier

if appropriate, they will meet and confer about methods to search ESI in order to

identify ESI that is subject to production in discovery and filter out ESI that is likely

not subject to discovery. The parties are permitted to use reasonable search

methods to narrow down the ESI to be reviewed for production in discovery (e.g.

search terms, technology assisted review, deduplication, elimination of

correspondence with attorneys, client self-collection efforts, etc.). However, the

parties must be prepared to discuss the reasonableness of such efforts.

6. PRODUCTION FORMATS

The parties agree to produce ESI in (check all that apply):  TIFF,  native, 

PDF, and/or  paper, or a combination thereof (check all that apply) file formats.

To the extent the parties disagree, cost-shifting may occur to the extent a party is required to expend resources

on imaging which the court determines to be unnecessary or not proportional.

To the extent production is not in native format, the parties should consider an agreement on metadata fields to

particular ESI warrants a different format, the parties will cooperate to arrange for

the mutually acceptable production of such ESI.

7. PHASING

When the parties require some discovery prior to ADR/mediation, the parties agree

to phase the production of ESI. The initial production will be from the following

sources and custodians: ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________.

This agreement will not limit the parties’ discovery if ADR/mediation is unsuccessful.

However, the parties will continue to explore appropriate and proportional phasing of

discovery throughout the discovery process.

When a party propounds discovery requests pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 34, the

parties agree to phase the production of ESI and the initial production will be from

the following sources and custodians: ____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________.

Following the initial production, the parties will continue to prioritize the order of

subsequent productions.

8. ESI PROTECTED FROM DISCOVERY OR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

a) Pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 502(b) and (d), the production of ESI which is

privileged or is protected trial preparation material is not a waiver of privilege or

protection from discovery in this case or in any other federal, state, arbitration or

be produced.

By way of example, the parties could agree to produce excel ESI in native format while providing other ESI in TIFF

format with conventional production numbering (PI 00001) and load files.

A phased or iterative approach may be used to conduct ESI (e.g. by issue, timeframe, custodians, databases,

issue, liability, or damages).

other proceeding so long as it was: [the parties may include their stipulated

agreement, if any as to waiver of privilege, in this order or in a separate order].

b) The parties may agree upon a “quick peek” process, without waiver of privilege

or protection as trial preparation material, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(5).

c) Communications involving trial counsel that post-date the filing of the complaint

need not be placed on a privilege log.

d) Communications may be identified on a privilege log by category, rather than

individually, if agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the Court.

9. MODIFICATION

This Stipulated Order may be modified by a Stipulated Order of the parties or by the

court for good cause shown.

IT IS SO STIPULATED, through counsel of record.

Dated: _______________________________

Counsel for Plaintiff(s)

Dated: _______________________________

Counsel for Defendant(s)

IT IS SO ORDERED that the foregoing Agreement is approved.

Dated: _______________________________

United States District/Magistrate Judge

This paragraph 8 can be modified to limit or entirely eliminate the situations in which a producing party (or non-

party) can be found to have failed to take (i) reasonable steps to prevent the disclosure of privileged or trial

preparation material ESI, and/or (ii) prompt and reasonable steps to rectify this error, as provided under Fed. R.

Evid. 502(b)(2)-(3). This paragraph can also be modified to address different types of produced materials to

different standards than those outlined in Fed. R. Evid. 502(b).