Hon. Timothy Dufficy — Part 35 Rules

Part 35 – RULES, PRACTICES, AND PROCEDURES

JUSTICETIMOTHYJ. DUFFICY

SupremeCourtof theState of NewYork

Part 35, Courtroom 43

Queens County – Civil Term

88-11SutphinBoulevard,Jamaica,NewYork11435

Presiding Justice: Hon.TimothyJ.DufficyPrincipal

Law Clerk: John J. Darcy, Esq.

Assistant Law Clerk: SaoirseMoloney

PartClerk: DaisyMelendez

Chambers: 718-298-1785

PartClerk/Courtroom: 718-298-1116

Part35E-mail: QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

IAS MotionSupport Office: 718-298-1009

Ex-ParteSupportOffice: 718-298-1018

TrialSchedulingPart: 718-298-1048

DCMClerksOffice: 718-298-1140

CourtHelp Center 718-298-1024

CourtHelp CenterE-mail: CourtHelpQueens@nycourts.gov

Part35Ruleseffectiveas ofSeptember18,2023and supersedeallprevious rules.

GENERAL

IMPORTANT–IndividualCourtPartsDONOTreceiveemailnotificationswhenpapers

are uploaded to NYSCEF. Papers that require Court action, such as Subpoenas, a

StipulationofDiscontinuance,orarequestto“so-order”astipulation,shouldbeemailedto

chambers at QSCPart35@nycourts.gov in addition to being uploaded to NYSCEF.

NOTE:JusticeDufficydoesnot“so-order”stipulationsto:amendpleadings;tochangevenue;

or to consolidate cases. Parties seeking such relief should move by Notice of Motion.

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1. Allquestionsregarding motions,orderstoshowcause,adjournments,calendarcalls,and

scheduling should be made via email at QSCPart35@nycourts.gov and NOT to

chambers.

2. MotionSubmissionFormsarenolongerrequiredbyPart35.

3. PleasenotifytheCourtIMMEDIATELY,especiallywhileamotionispending,ifthe

actionorpetitionhasbeensettled,discontinued,and/orthemotionhasbeenresolved,via

email at QSCPart35@nycourts.gov, and COPYALL parties to the action.

4. ThepartiesarerequiredtofamiliarizethemselveswiththenewUniformCivilRulesfor

the Supreme Court, Queens County. Please refer to this link: Uniform Civil Rules

5. Forthemostup-to-dateinformationconcerningthehandlingofmattersbeforethe11th

Judicial District Civil Term (Queens Supreme Court), please click this link: Queens

County Supreme Court, Civil Term | New York Courts

6. Part35doesnotschedule orconductPreliminary, ComplianceorNon-Compliance

Conferences.AllquestionsregardingtheseConferencesshouldbemadeto therespective

part, NOT Part 35. See page 5 for more information.

COMMUNICATIONSWITHPART35ANDCHAMBERS

1. CounselandLitigants(representedorself-represented)areadvisedthatJusticeDufficy,

his Principal Law Clerk,Assistant Law Clerk, and Part Clerk may not engage in any

ExParte communications.

2. Absolutelynotelephoneinquiriesconcerningmotionsorapplicationsmaybemadeto

chambers, such inquiries or concerns shall be addressed to the Part Clerk at 718-298-

1116 or via email at QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

3. Donotsendanyletters,documents,papers,mail,orfacsimileunlessexpresslypermitted

by these Practice Rules or by prior approval of the Court to the part or chambers.

4. Anyandallcommunicationswithchambersmustincludeallparties.

ELECTRONIC FILING

1. All cases in Part 35 are required to be electronically filed through the New York State

CourtsE-Filing(NYSCEF)system.Attorneysareexpectedtofamiliarizethemselveswith

NYSCEF procedures. For more information on e-filing rules, parties may visit the

following link: Queens Supreme Court E-Filing | New York Courts

2. Toconvertanon-e-filedcasetoe-filing:

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a. WithConsentofallparties-thepartiescanexecutetheStipulationandConsent

to E-Filing form which can be obtained at this link: Stipulation and Consent to

Efiling Form, and send it to efile@nycourts.gov

b. Without Consent ofall parties - Ifaparty isunabletoobtainconsent from all the

parties, the party requesting conversion, not the Court, can submit an application

in the form of an Ex Parte order via an EF-28 Form, which can be found by

clickingthislink:LetterApplication to ConvertPendingAction toE-Filing.

Therequestingpartymust:(1)serveallpartiestotheactionwiththecompleted

EF 28 Form; and (2) email a copy of the completed EF 28 Form and proof of

servicetoefile@nycourts.gov.Oncesubmitted,theQueensCountyClerkwill

send the application to Justice Dufficy to approve or deny.

MOTIONS

1. MotionsassignedtoPart35,shallbemadereturnableandnoticedtobeheardbeforethe

Hon. Justice Dufficy, Part 35, on Tuesdays, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 43, at the

Jamaica Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435.

IMPORTANT:FAILURETO NOTICEAMOTIONIN COMPLIANCE

WITHTHEDESIGNATEDJUDGE,DAY,TIME,PART,ANDLOCATION

AS INCIDICATEDABOVE MAY RESULT IN THE MOTION BEING

“MARKEDOFF,”withoutprejudice.

2. ASOFOctober17,2023,ALLAPPEARANCESFORALLMOTIONSWILLBE

HELD IN-PERSON.

Part35requiresproperlymarkedcourtesyhardcopiesofallfilings;hand

delivered to Courtroom 43 on the day the motion is calendared.

Seepage5,for Discovery motions.

3. Requestsforadjournment:seeAdjournmentssection below.

4. Stipulationsregardingpendingmotionsmustbee-filedatleasttwo(2)businessdays

prior to the calendared date and time.

5. TheCourt,uponitsdiscretion,mayscheduleoral argumentsaftersubmission.

6. AllmotionpaperssubmittedtotheCourtmustcomplywith22NYCRR§202.5which

can be found at the following link: Uniform Rules for N.Y. State Trial Courts.

7. Inadditiontotherequirementsof22NYCRR§202.5,allpagesandparagraphsaretobe

numbered, and must include the Motion Sequence Number.

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FAILURE TO COMPLYWITH THE REQUIREMENTS OFTHIS SECTION

MAYRESULTINTHEREJECTIONOFTHENON-COMPLIANTSUBMISSION.

8. TheCourt will not consider papers e-filed or sent to chambers, or to the Part, after the

motion orcross motion(s) has been marked “fully submitted,”withoutpriorconsent

of the Court.

9. JusticeDufficy does not “so-order”stipulations to: amendpleadings; tochangevenue; or

to consolidate cases. Parties seeking such relief should move by Notice of Motion.

10.FormoreinformationyoucanvisittheMotionSupportwebpagebyclickingthislink:

Queens Supreme Court Motion Support | New York Courts

11.ORDERSTOSHOWCAUSEandEMERGENCYAPPLICATIONS

1. Forup-to-dateinformationregardingOrderstoShowCauseandEx-ParteOrdersplease

visit the following link: Queens Supreme Court Ex-Parte | New York Courts

ADJOURNMENTS

1. Motionsmaybeadjournedonconsentwithafullyexecutedstipulationby allpartieswith

the adjourned dated. The fully executed stipulation must be submitted to the Part Clerk,

no later than two (2) business days prior to the calendar date and time, via email at

QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

2. Applicationsforadjournmentsmadelessthantwo(2)businessdayspriortothe

scheduled date will be denied, except for a reason pursuant to Rules of Chief

AdministrativeJudgeRule125.1,medicalemergency,otherexigentcircumstance,or

unavailability of the Court.

3. Absentextenuatingcircumstances,consentadjournmentsshallbelimitedtoone(1).

Thereafter, the parties MUST contact the Part Clerk via email at

QSCPart35@nycourts.govifseekinganyfurtheradjournments.

4. All adjournmentsaresubject tofinal approval by theJusticeDufficy inadvanceof a

scheduled Court appearance as per the Part Rules. Counsel or parties are required to

confirm all adjournment requests prior to the scheduled court date via email to

QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

DISCOVERYCONFERENCESANDDISPUTES

1. Conferencesareheld at thediscretion ofthe Court.

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2. PriortobringingaDiscovery-relatedmotion,allpartiesmustseekleavefromthe

assigned Compliance Conference Judge. For more information, click this link

Queens Supreme Court Compliance Conference Part | New York Courts

3. Part35willconduct IN-PERSONconferencesonanydiscovery-relatedmotionsonthe

day the matter is calendared.

AllCounselshouldbefamiliarwiththecaseand havetheauthoritytoenterintoa

binding stipulation, that will be “so-ordered” by Justice Dufficy.

i.e.,MotionstoVacateNoteofIssue,MotionstoRestore,MotionstoStrikePleadings,

Motions to Demand Bill of Particulars, Motions to Preclude.

4. Donotsubmitstipulationsrequestedtobe“so-ordered”byJusticeDufficy without

speaking with the Principal Law Clerk or theAssistant Law Clerk beforehand.

PRELIMINARY,COMPLIANCEandNON-COMPLIANCECONFERENCES

1. Part 35 does not hold Preliminary, Compliance, or Non-ComplianceConferences. DO

NOTCALLCHAMBERS withquestionsregardingPreliminary,Compliance,and/or

Non-Compliance Conferences.

2. ForinformationregardingPreliminaryConferences,pleaseclickthefollowinglink:

Queens Supreme Civil Preliminary Conferences | New York Courts

3. FormoreinformationregardingComplianceConferences,pleaseclickthefollowinglink:

Compliance Conference Part.

a. EffectiveFebruary7,2022,ComplianceConferenceOrderswillbeautomatically

generated by the assigned Compliance Conference Part

b. The so-Ordered Compliance Conference Order will be forwarded to the County

Clerk.AcopycanbeobtainedviaNYSCEFforee-filedcasesorfromtheCounty

Clerk, for non-e-filed cases. No appearance is required.

c. Parties should refer to theassigned Justicepart rulesfor further guidance. The

following email addresses maybeused tocontact theComplianceConference

Parts:

Compliance Part1–CSP1@nycourts.gov

Compliance Part2–CSP2@nycourts.gov

CompliancePart3–CSP3@nycourts.gov

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4. FormoreinformationregardingNon-ComplianceConferences,pleaseclick thefollowing

link: Non-CompliancePart.

a. EffectiveAugust14,2023,anduntilfurthernotice,caseswhereinthepartieshave

not fully complied with the directives set forth in Compliance Conference Orders

dated prior to February 7, 2022, will be conferenced in the Non-Compliance Part

in Courtroom 314. For more information concerning the Non-Compliance Part,

pleasecontact 718-298-1089 orqnsnoncompliancepart@nycourts.gov

VIRTUALCONFERENCES–GENERALPROTOCALandDECORUM

1. AsofAugust1,2023,allappearancesarepresumedin-personunlessotherwiseexplicitly

stated by the Court. Should the Court grant a virtual appearance, all parties must adhere

to the following rules.

2. Alllawyersandlitigantsshould identifythemselvesat thebeginning ofeach appearance.

3. All microphonesshouldbemuted whennot in use.

4. Courtroomrulesapply,speakoneatatimeanddonotinterruptotherspeakers,including

the Judge.

5. RecordingtheproceedingbyanyoneotherthantheJudge,CourtReporter, orotherCourt

personnel, is PROHIBITED.

6. Allappearingpartiesshould makeevery effortto appearviavideo, with cameras

engaged.Telephonicappearancesshouldbelimitedtolitigantswhodonothaveaccessto

video equipment.

7. Ifanindividualisunabletoappearviavideo,that individualshouldcontactthepartemail

QSCPart35@nycourts.gov or call the Part Clerk at 718-298-1116.

8. Theparties are encouraged to log on early to ensureproper and punctual appearance.

9. Lawyersandlitigantsshould appearfromanofficeorquietspace.Backgroundnoiseis

detrimentaltotheconditionsnecessarytoensureanaccuratetranscriptand diminishesthe

decorum of the proceeding.

10.PARTIESARETOMAINTAINDECORUMOFANIN-PERSONCOURTROOM

TRIALS

1. UponassignmenttoPart35,allpartiesappearingfortrialmustbefamiliarwiththecase,

ready, and authorized to participate in settlement discussions and/or proceed to trial.

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2. Priortothecommencementoftrial,theparties shallprovidethecourtwith properly

marked hard copies of Pleadings, Bill of Particulars, Witness list [including their

availability], Exhibit list, Deposition Transcripts, Expert Witness Disclosure, proposed

juryinstructionsincompliancewiththe2022PatternJuryInstructions(PJI),requeststo

charge and a proposed verdict sheet.

Partiesshouldalsoprovidecourtesycopiesoftheaforementionedviaemail at

QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

3. Motionsinlimine–Onthefirst appearanceinthe Part fortrial, any partyintending to

makeamotion inlimineshall submit abriefwritten affirmation setting forth thenatureof

the application and any supporting statutory or case law. The party shall furnish the court

with an original and one copy and provide to all parties with a copy.

4. Thetrialwillbeconductedonacontinuousdailybasisuntilitsconclusion.Tortactions

are generally bifurcated. The Court expects that any trial on damages will follow

immediatelyafteraverdict infavorofplaintiffon liability.

5. Noadjournmentsordelaysduringtrial will beacceptedabsent exigentcircumstances.

VIRTUALBENCHTRIALS

ForVirtualBenchTrialProtocolsandProcedurespleaseclickthislink:VirtualBenchTrial

Protocols Manual.

SUMMARYBENCHTRIALS

FormoreinformationonSummaryBenchTrialspleaseclickthislink:Queens Supreme

Summary Trial | New York Courts

If,atanypoint,thepartiesdecidethattheywouldbenefitfromtheAlternativeDispute

Resolution Program (ADR), they should write a joint letter to the Court asking to be

referredtoADR.Inthatletter,theyshouldstatewhethertheypreferdiscovery tobe

stayed or continued during the mediation process.

1. TheCourt may also order partiestotheADR without the parties’request or consent.

2. FormoreinformationregardingtheADR,pleasevisitthefollowinglink:Queens

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) | New York Courts

SETTLEMENTSANDDISCONTINUANCES

Ifanaction is settled, discontinued, orotherwisedisposed of,themovingpartyon any pending

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motionthatremainsoutstandingisdirectedtoe-filealetterorstipulationwithdrawingthe

pending motion via the NYSCEF system ANDemail it to QSCPart35@nycourts.gov

AllstipulationofdiscontinuancesmustbeaccompaniedbyproofoffilingwiththeCountyClerk

and payment of the appropriate fee pursuant to CPLR 8020(d)(1).

SUBPOENAS

ApartyseekingtohaveasubpoenasignedbyJusticeDufficy,mustsubmitacourtesy copyof

the subpoena with an accompanying affidavit in support to chambers via the Part email at

QCSPart35@nycourts.gov

INFANTCOMPROMISEORDERS

1. ApplicationsforInfantCompromiseOrdersshall bemadepursuanttoCPLR1207(a)and

shall be supported by hard copy documentation required under CPLR 1208 and 22

NYCRR 202.67.Applications submitted without the appropriate documentation will be

denied.

2. Infantcompromisehearingswillbescheduledby theCourtandthepartieswillbe

notified of the hearing date by the email to the consenting attorney on record.

3. InstructionsforfilingInfant’sCompromiseandthechecklistofdocumentscanbefound

at the following link: Infant Compromise Order Checklist.

4. Part35requirescourtesy hardcopiesofallrequireddocumentsbedeliveredtothePart’s

courtroom at Courtroom 43.

UNCONTESTED MATRIMONIALAPPLICATIONS

1. TheCourtwill expeditiously reviewanddetermineall uncontestedmatrimonial

applicationsitreceives.Anyquestionsonuncontestedmatrimonialapplicationsassigned

to Part 35 should be submitted to QSCPart35@nycourts.gov Further information about

matrimonial actions can be found here: Matrimonial Matters.

2. Ifthematrimonial application is incompleteorneeds corrections, theCourt will notifythe

parties via a Notice of Defect – mailed to the self-represented plaintiff or to the plaintiff’s

attorney by email or phone, as to what additional information or corrections are needed.

Thepartieswillbegiventhirty(30)daystocorrect thedeficiencies.Requiredcorrections

must be uploaded to NYSCEF and an email must be sent to chambers to inform the Part

that the corrections have been made to: QSCPart35@nycourts.gov Failure to provide the

additional information or corrections will result in dismissal of the action without

prejudice.

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Revised:September19, 2023

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