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Middle District of Florida |
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| Location of Chambers:
801 N. Florida Avenue, Chambers 15B, Tampa, FL 33602 |
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| Phone Number:
(813)301-5350 |
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| Assigned Courtroom:
15B |
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| 1. | Staff: |
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| Scheduling Assistant/Secretary:
Sandra Hartman
Phone:
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| Courtroom Deputy:
Rita J. Cole
Phone:
(813) 301-5354 |
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| Court Reporter:
Phone:
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| Docket Clerk:
N/A - The USMD Clerk's office in Tampa utilizes the terminal digit in determining who dockets a specific case.
Phone:
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| Law Clerks: |
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| (1) Name:
Cynthia C. Bedell (Odd) Civil Only
Term Ending:
Career |
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| (2) Name:
Douglas M. Bates, Jr. (Even ) Civil Only
Term Ending:
Career |
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| (3) Name:
Term Ending:
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| Policy regarding communication with staff (i.e., do you permit counsel to contact assigned law clerks?):
Comments:
I permit counsel to contact law clerks on a limited basis. |
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| Is it appropriate to telephone Chambers regarding questions of procedure on pending matters?
Yes
Comments: |
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| Is it appropriate to telephone Chambers regarding the status of pending matters?
Yes
Comments: |
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| 2. | Pretrial Procedure (Civil): |
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| A. | Preliminary Pretrial Hearings: |
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| Do you conduct preliminary pretrial hearings?
No
If YES, what matters do you typically discuss during preliminary pretrial hearings? If NO, do you refer preliminary pretrial hearings to a United States Magistrate Judge? |
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| B. | Motion Practice: |
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| Should courtesy copies of pleadings and motions be forwarded to Chambers?
Yes
Comments: |
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| Should copies of cases cited in motions and memoranda be forwarded to Chambers?
Yes
Comments: |
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| Is it appropriate to cite unpublished opinions in motions or memoranda?
Yes
Comments: |
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| If so, should copies be attached to the motions or memoranda?
Yes
Comments: |
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| If copies of cases are submitted, do you accept copies that have portions highlighted by counsel?
Comments:
I don't care |
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| Under what circumstances do you allow telephonic hearings?
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| Will you entertain motions in limine prior to trial?
Yes
If you will consider motions in limine prior to trial, how far in advance should they be filed?
3 days before the beginning of the trial term. |
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| Do you regularly set aside time during a given week/month for hearings on motions?
No
If YES, when is your normal hearing date/time? |
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| What are your procedures concerning ex parte temporary restraining orders?
TROs are treated as an emergency. Parties should deliver a courtesy copy to the judge at time of filing. Based on the submissions of the parties, the court will determine whether a hearing is appropriate and render its decision. |
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| Do you hear preliminary injunction motions yourself?
If YES, do you limit the hearing to argument of counsel?
No
If NO, do you routinely refer preliminary injunctions for report and recommendation by a U.S. Magistrate Judge?
Comments: |
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| What is your practice concerning oral arguments of dispositive motions?
Oral arguments are set on an as-needed basis. |
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| Do you prefer that the moving parties submit proposed orders granting all motions filed before your court?
Comments: |
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| C. | Settlement: |
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| What is your policy/practice regarding the use of alternative dispute resolution devices such as court-annexed, non-binding arbitration and mediation, and do you have a preferred method of alternative dispute resolution?
Cases not previously mediated are referred six months prior to trial.
Arbitration is handled by the Clerk's office pursuant to their standard operating procedure. |
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| D. | Discovery: |
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| Do you refer discovery matters to a U.S. Magistrate Judge?
Yes
Comments: |
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| When a dispute arises during a deposition, is it appropriate to call the Magistrate Judge's Chambers to seek an immediate ruling?
Comments: |
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| Do you have special discovery deadlines or procedures for certain types of cases (ERISA, FLSA, etc.)?
If YES, what types of cases and what are the deadlines or procedures? |
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| E. | Pretrial Conference: |
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| Do you personally conduct pretrial conferences in your cases?
No
If YES, do you have a standing order regarding pretrial conference? (If YES, please attach a copy at the bottom of the page.)
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| 3. | Pretrial Procedure (Criminal): |
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| A. | Preliminary Pretrial Hearings: |
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| Do you personally conduct preliminary pretrial conferences in criminal cases?
If YES, what matters do you typically discuss during a preliminary pretrial conference?
At status conference (which is essentially a pretrial) the possibility of plea is discussed, pending motions, readiness for trial, and the length and complexity of the case.
If NO, do you refer preliminary pretrial conferences to a U.S. Magistrate Judge?
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| Do you personally conduct hearings on non-evidentiary substantive pretrial motions (to dismiss, sever, or for other relief)?
Comments: |
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| Do you personally conduct hearings on evidentiary substantive pretrial motions to suppress evidence or for other relief?
Comments: |
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| B. | Pleas: |
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| What is your policy concerning nolo contendere or Alford pleas?
This court will not accept a nolo or Alford plea. |
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| What is your policy concerning plea arrangements that involve sentencing recommendations?
This court will consider, but not be bound by same. |
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| 4. | Trial: |
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| A. | Trial Dates: |
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| Do you grant trial dates certain?
Yes
If YES, under what circumstances will you grant trial dates certain?
Limited.
If NO, what is your practice or procedure regarding rescheduling trials that are not reached on a trial docket? |
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| If a case is not reached during the scheduled trial term, will the trial date be automatically rescheduled on your next trial docket?
Comments:
Yes |
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| What is your policy regarding notice of being called for trial during a trial docket (e.g., 48 hours)?
Parties are provided a trailing calendar with counsel for the cases before provided. They are at liberty to check with counsel to see how their case is progressing and to consult with the Courtroom Deputy. Parties are generally provided in excess of 48 hours notice. |
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| Do you automatically set civil cases for trial or do you wait for counsel to propose a time period in which a case should be scheduled for trial?
Comments: |
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| B. | Trial Briefs: |
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| Do you require trial briefs in jury trials?
Yes
Comments: |
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| Do you require trial briefs in bench trials?
Yes
Comments: |
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| What are your requirements for trial briefs?
Trial briefs must conform to Local Rule 1.05. |
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| When are trial briefs due?
Five days prior to the commencement of the trial term. |
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| Do you require proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to be filed in bench trials?
Yes
If YES, when do you require the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to be filed?
Five days prior to the commencement of the trial term. |
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| Should findings of fact and conclusions of law filed in connection with a bench trial also be submitted to Chambers on a disk?
Yes
Comments: |
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| When do you require parties to file proposed jury instructions?
Five days prior to the commencement of the trial term. |
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| When standard jury instructions are available, do you prefer that attorneys submit condensed versions of the standard instructions?
Yes |
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| Should jury instructions also be submitted to Chambers on a computer disk?
Yes
Comments: |
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| C. | Voir Dire: |
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| Do you permit counsel to perform voir dire?
No
If YES, what guidelines or restrictions must counsel follow when conducting voir dire? |
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| If the judge conducts voir dire, can parties submit proposed voir dire questions?
Yes
If YES, when should such questions be submitted?
Five days prior to the commencement of the trial term, (beginning of the first full week of the month). |
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| What are your peremptory challenge procedures?
I follow the Federal Rules of Civil/Criminal Procedure. I do allow backstriking. |
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| In multiple party cases, do you grant each party three peremptory challenges?
No
If NO, do you limit each side (i.e., plaintiff/defense) to a total of three peremptory challenges to be shared?
Yes |
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| Do you allow back striking during jury selection?
Comments: |
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| D. | Opening Statement: |
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| Do you impose any standard time limits on counsel?
No
If YES, what are the time limits? |
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| Can exhibits be used in opening statements?
Yes
Comments:
With leave of court. |
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| Do you allow plaintiffs to make a rebuttal during opening statements?
No
Comments: |
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| E. | Use of Expert: |
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| Do you conduct Daubert hearings prior to trial?
Yes
Comments:
occasionally. |
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| F. | Procedure for Use of Videotapes, Trial Graphics, Depositions, and Demonstrations: |
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| What, if any, procedural requirements do you have regarding the use of videotapes, trial graphics, depositions, and demonstrations?
Prior arrangements should be made with the Courtroom Deputy. |
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| G. | Procedure for Objections: |
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| What, if any, procedures do you have concerning objections at trial?
Reason for the objection shall be stated contemporaneously with the objection. |
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| H. | Jury Procedures: |
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| Do you permit jurors to take notes?
Yes
Comments:
On extended, complex cases. |
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| Do you permit jurors to ask questions?
No
If YES, under what constraints and restrictions? |
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| 5. | Review Procedures (For Bankruptcy Appeals and Social Security Cases): |
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| A. | Oral Argument: |
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| Under what circumstances do you grant requests for oral argument? |
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| What, if any, comments or suggestions do you have regarding effective oral advocacy before you? |
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| B. | Questions from the Bench: |
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| What, if any, comments or observations do you have regarding questions from the bench during oral argument? |
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| C. | Appellate Briefs: |
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| What, if any, comments or suggestions do you have regarding effective appellate briefs? |
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| D. | Comparison of Successful Advocacy in Trial and Appellate Courts: |
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| What, if any, comments or observations do you have concerning the differences and similarities between successful advocacy before you as a trial court and successful advocacy before you as an appellate court? |
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| E. | Other Observations and Suggestions: |
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| What, if any, other observations or suggestions do you have for lawyers about appellate practice in your court? |
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| 6. | Other Questions: |
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| What are your "pet peeves" for the information of the lawyers appearing before you? |
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| What, if any, other observations or suggestions do you have for members of the Bar appearing before you? |
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| Attachments: |
|  Biography |