Civil Division

ADDRESS

City-County Building
7th & 8th Floors
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
directions

PHONE

412.350.5400

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

General Motions

In unison with the Rules of Civil Procedure adopted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Civil Division has established practices and procedures for conducting court operations, including but not limited to, general motions, preliminary objections, motions for summary judgment, and motions for judgment on the pleadings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

General Motions

General Motions for cases that have not been scheduled for trial are heard by the General Motions Judge in Courtroom 703 of the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m.
See Local Rule 208.3(a)(6) for information concerning Motions heard by the General Motions Judge.

General Motions for cases that have appeared on a published Trial List must be submitted to the Calendar Control Judge.  See Local Rule 208.3(a)(3) for information concerning Motions heard by the Calendar Control Judge.

General Motions Judge for January 2023 Judge Hertzberg – January 3, 2023 – February 3, 2023.

General Motions Judge for February 2023 is as follows:  Judge McVay – February 6-10, Judge Szefi – February 13-17, Judge Klein – February 21-24, Judge McGinley February 27-28.

General Motions Judge for March 2023 is Judge McGinley – March 1 – March 31.

General Motions Judge for April 2023 is as follows:  Judge Szefi 3-6, Judge Klein 10-14,17, 21, Judge Hertzberg 24-28.

General Motions Judge for May is as follows:  Judge McVay 1-26, Judge Regan 30-31.

General Motions Judge for June is as follows: Judge Regan 1-2, 5-9, Judge McVay 12-16, Judge McGinley 20-23, 26-30.

General Motions Judge for July is as follows:  Judge Hertzberg 3-7, Judge McVay 10-14, Judge Hertzberg 17-21, Judge Szefi 24-28, Judge Klein 31.

General Motions Judge for August is as follows:  Judge Klein 1-4, Judge McVay 7-11, Judge McGinley 14-18, Judge Szefi 21-25, Judge Regan 28-31.

Contested Motions

    • All motions must provide the respondent with 10 days’ notice pursuant to Local Rule 208.3 unless the matter is a true emergency. 
    • Your motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records for consideration by the Court. 
    • Please complete the Contested Civil Motions Cover Sheet in its entirety.
    • Questions regarding Contested Motions may be submitted to Civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us. 

Uncontested Motions

    • Uncontested Motions may be submitted to Civiluncontestedmotions@alleghenycourts.us or may be presented to the Motions Judge.
    • All Uncontested Motions must be sent in PDF format and must include a copy of the parties’ Proposed Order in Microsoft Word format.  Motions not meeting these specifications will not be heard.  All emailed communications must include all parties in the matter.
    • Your motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records for consideration by the Court. 
    • Please complete the Uncontested Civil Motions Cover Sheet in its entirety.
    • Questions regarding Uncontested Motions must be emailed to Civiluncontestedmotions@alleghenycourts.us.

Preliminary Objections

  • All communications related to the submission of Preliminary Objections must be sent to Civilpos@alleghenycourts.us and must be filed with the Department of Court Records for consideration by the Court.
  • All Preliminary Objections must be sent in PDF format and must include a copy of the parties’ Proposed Order in Microsoft Word format.  All emailed communications must include all parties in the matter.  
  • In addition to what is required in all civil action cover sheets, cover sheets for all Preliminary Objections must include the following information:
    • all contact information for all attorneys, or if unrepresented, parties including name(s);
    • email addresses;
    • phone numbers;
    • U.S. Mail addresses, and
    • Date P.O.s were served.
  • Motions not meeting the specifications above will not be heard.
  • In compliance with Local Rule 1028, briefs must be filed with Preliminary Objections.
  • Upon receipt and review of your motion, the Court will schedule the motion for oral argument. The Court will notify the party submitting the Preliminary Objections of the date and time for argument by email. The party submitting the Preliminary Objections is responsible for the notification of all parties and/or attorneys of record of the date and time of the oral argument.

Motions for Summary Judgment and Judgment on the Pleadings

  • All communications must be emailed to Civilmsjjops@alleghenycourts.us.
  • All emailed communications must include all parties in the matter.
  • In addition to what is required in all civil action cover sheets, cover sheets for all Preliminary Objections must include the following information:
    • all contact information for all attorneys, or if unrepresented, parties including name(s);
    • email addresses;
    • phone numbers;
    • U.S. Mail addresses, and
    • Date the Motion for Summary Judgment or Judgment on the Pleadings was served.
  • All Motions must be filed with the Department of Court Records for consideration by the Court.
  • Once the argument list is published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, the moving party is responsible for notifying all parties, and/or attorneys of record, of the date, time, and location of the oral argument on the Motion for Summary Judgment or Judgment on the Pleadings.
  • You are notified that Monday, February 27, 2023, is the last day to file Motions for Summary Judgment and Judgment on the Pleadings for listing on the Monday, April10, 2023, General Argument and Equity Argument List.  No Motions for Summary Judgment or Judgment on the Pleadings will be accepted where the case appears on a published trial list, except for Leave of Court for cause show.
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