Honorable Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong

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District Judge

United States Courthouse, 350 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, Courtroom 8B, 8th Floor

ALL HEARINGS SHALL PROCEED IN-PERSON, UNLESS A REQUEST FOR ZOOM IS E-FILED BY THE PARTIES AND GRANTED BY THE COURT. THE LINK BELOW MAY BE USED ONLY IF ORDERED BY THE COURT.

ANY REQUEST FOR A REMOTE ZOOM APPEARANCE MUST BE MADE BY THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE HEARING AND MUST INDICATE THAT COUNSEL HAS MET AND CONFERRED WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL CONSISTENT WITH LOCAL RULE 7-3.

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Recording, copying, photographing and rebroadcasting of court proceedings is prohibited by federal law. A violation of this prohibition may result in sanctions, including suspension of your license to practice before this court, referral to the state bar, denial of the right to appear by video or telephonically at future proceedings, criminal prosecution, contempt, denial of admission to future hearings, and any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.​​

Law and Motion Schedule: 

CALENDAR:

  • Civil Motions, Status Conferences, and Scheduling Conferences are heard on Thursdays, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
  • Criminal matters are heard on Thursdays, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
  • If Thursday is a national holiday, motions will be heard on the following Thursday.
  • It is NOT necessary to clear a motion date with the Courtroom Deputy (CRD) prior to filing the motion, except for motions for summary judgment and preliminary injunction. For these two motions, contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk via the Court’s chambers email address at [email protected] to reserve a hearing date.
  • Closed motion dates can be found on the right side of the webpage. Please note that dates not listed are open dates.

RULE 56 MOTIONS:

No party may file more than one motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, regardless of whether such motion is denominated a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, without leave of the Court. The parties shall not attempt to evade the page limitations for briefs by filing multiple motions. If a party believes this is one of the rare instances in which good cause exists for more than one motion for summary judgment or to increase page limits, the party shall seek leave by noticed motion setting forth a detailed showing of good cause. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f), when appropriate, based on undisputed facts and controlling principles of law, the Court may sua sponte enter summary judgment in favor of the non-moving party.

The Court will not entertain cross-motions that seek to adjudicate the same legal issues. If parties wish to cross-move for summary judgment, their counsel shall meet and confer to determine which party will move and which will oppose the one motion for summary judgment.

Parties need not wait until the motion cutoff date to bring motions for summary judgment or partial summary judgment. The hearing on any such motion shall be set for a date in advance of the Final Pretrial Conference. The Court recommends that parties reserve a hearing date for motions for summary judgment at least three months in advance.

Any parties intending to file or oppose a Motion for Summary Judgment shall work cooperatively to create a single, fully integrated joint brief covering all parties’ summary judgment motions, in which each issue (or sub-issue) raised by a party is immediately followed by the opposing party’s response. Each separately-represented party shall be limited to twenty-five (25) pages, exclusive of tables of contents and authorities.

This Court requires an extended briefing schedule for motions for summary judgment, calculated based on the date the motion is filed, as set forth below:

  • Motions for Summary Judgment: No later than sixty-three (63) calendar days before the hearing on the motion, the moving party shall provide to the non-moving party an electronic copy of the opening brief, together with the moving party’s portion of the evidentiary appendix and joint appendix of undisputed and disputed facts.

  • Opposition: No later than fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the opening brief, the non-moving party shall provide the moving party with an electronic copy of the integrated motion, which shall include the opposing party’s portion of the joint brief, together with the opposing party’s portion of the evidentiary appendix and joint appendix of undisputed and disputed facts. 

  • Reply: No later than seven (7) calendar days after receiving the integrated version of the motion and related papers, the moving party shall integrate their reply arguments into the joint brief and file it with the Court. The moving party shall not make further revisions to the joint brief other than integrating their reply arguments and finalizing the document for filing.​

​The above briefing schedule is the default. The parties may stipulate to a modified schedule that is reasonable for all parties. Any briefing schedule must provide the Court at least forty-two (42) days between the Reply deadline and the hearing date.

The parties should prepare papers in a fashion that will assist the Court in processing and analyzing the volume of material (e.g., tables of contents, headings, indices, bookmarks in electronic documents, pinpoint citations, etc.). Additionally, for motions for summary judgment only, parties should submit two paper copies to Judge Frimpong’s mailbox on the Fourth Floor of the First Street Courthouse. Pro se parties are exempt from this requirement. The parties shall comply with Local Rules 56-1 and 56-2, in addition to the Court’s additional requirements described below.

Counsel are further advised to refer to section IX.D of Judge Frimpong’s Civil Standing Order, linked below, for all requirements for filing a Rule 56 Motion.

DISCOVERY:

All discovery matters in civil matters have been referred to a magistrate judge, who will hear all discovery disputes. The magistrate judge’s initials follow the district judge’s initials next to the case number. All discovery documents must include the words “DISCOVERY MATTER” in the caption to ensure proper routing. Please do not deliver courtesy copies of discovery documents to Judge Frimpong’s chambers.​

Judge's Procedures: 

GENERAL PROCEDURES:

Couns​el must review and comply with the Court’s relevant Civil or Criminal Standing Order as well as the other applicable standard case orders and required templates -- which provide additional information and requirements and are found in the next section below (Orders & Additional Documents).

ELECTRONIC FILINGS:

Counsel shall e-file all civil and criminal filings pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5(d)(3), and Local Rule 5-4, as follows:

  1. All non-signature items shall be e-filed in PDF format. All proposed signature items shall be e-filed as an attachment to the main document in PDF format.
  2. All proposed signature items shall be emailed to the courtroom deputy email address at [email protected] in Word format. Only proposed order signature items should be emailed to the chambers’ email address. Do not email other associated documents and do not use this email address for communication with the Court or the Clerk.

Note for Parties Who Do Not Have an Attorney: Pro se litigants—that is, parties who are not represented by an attorney—may submit documents for filing through the Court’s Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS) instead of mailing or bringing documents to the Clerk’s Office. Only internet access and an email address are required. Documents are submitted in PDF format through an online portal on the Court’s website. To access EDSS and for additional information, visit the Court’s website at EDSS.

UNDER SEAL FILINGS:

  • Civil Matters: Counsel are ORDERED to follow the procedures outlined in L.R. 79-5.2.2. Refer to the "Guide to Electronically Filing Under Seal Documents in Civil Cases."
  • Criminal Cases: Counsel shll refer to the under Seal Instructions for Criminal Cases.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHAMBERS:

Counsel must NOT attempt to contact the Court or chambers staff by email, telephone, or by any other ex parte means. Counsel may, for appropriate matters only, contact the Courtroom Deputy via the Court’s chambers email at [email protected]. Any communication with chambers should be directed to this email address. All emails to chambers should include the case name and number in the subject line. Counsel must not contact the Courtroom Deputy regarding the status of any matter before the Court. Calls or emails regarding the status of submitted motions, stipulations, or proposed orders will not be returned. Counsel may determine the status of any submitted motion, stipulation, or proposed order by accessing the docket sheet through PACER, which can be accessed via the Central District of California website. Counsel must include on all papers their email address, telephone number, and fax number to facilitate communication with the Courtroom Deputy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • Media: All requests from the media should be directed to Kevin Reddick at (213) 894-0222. The Courtroom Deputy Clerk will not respond to media inquiries. The media are directed to review the court’s electronic record at www.cacd.uscourts.gov, the Newsworthy page on the Central District of California court website, as well as the docket on PACER for current case information.
  • INTERPRETER SERVICES: Counsel in civil actions are responsible for arranging for the services of an interpreter. The Interpreter’s Office may be reached at (213) 894-4599.
  • EXTERN POSITIONS:  See posting below.

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