Good Afternoon Everyone:
Attached is the NEW REQUIRED COVER SHEET for NYSCEF Essential Filings as outlined below. Also attached is Administrative Order AO 78 20 mentioned below. Please read the full message below.
Essential Filings for NYSCEF – REQUIRED COVER SHEET: Message from Supreme & County Court Clerk and Executive Director of OCA NYSCEF Office:
The purpose of this form is to assist the court and County Clerks in identifying those matters that are truly essential and being filed in accordance with AO/78/20 Exhibit A section (E). As you may recall, Administrative Order AO/78/20, issued earlier last week, limits court filings in litigation to a specified group of “essential matters”, set forth in a list attached as Exh. A to the order. Section (E) on that list is a catchall, allowing filing in “any other matter that the court deems essential.”
In order to facilitate electronic and paper filings in such cases, and in response to the concerns of the County Clerks and filing parties, we have developed a simple cover form (attached), which asks the filer to either (1) specify that a court has deemed the matter essential; or (2) the filed papers seek such designation. County Clerks and the court are permitted to reject filings under Section E of the AO which lacks this form.
We hope that this simple procedure facilitates the handling of these matters. As always – but especially in these challenging times – we thank you for your collegiality, assistance and understanding as we pursue our service to the public.
As noted on the Courts Website : Persons who believe that a specific pending or new matter should be included in this highly restrictive group should apply to the court for this designation by emergency application, including a detailed explanation of the applicant’s rationale.
The form is also now available on the NYSCEF website under the “Forms” menu, and is to be filed along with any filing and must either:
(1) specify that a court has deemed the matter essential, in which case they must indicate the method of prior approval, or
(2) that the papers being filed seek such a designation.
Also please note, County Clerks and the Court are permitted to reject filings under section of E the AO which lacks this form.
Supreme Court Forms (used in all counties, unless noted otherwise)
- NOTICE OF ESSENTIAL FILING PURSUANT TO AO-78-20(E)
This form is to be filed along with any filing pursuant to AO/78/20(E) and must either (1) specify that a court has deemed the matter essential; or (2) that the filed papers seek such designation.