The SJC recently approved various amendments to the Superior Court Rules, which took effect on September 1, 2023. These amendments affect daily practice in the Superior Courts and include the following changes (among others):
- Exhibits attached to motions, memoranda, or affidavits must be consecutively numbered and must include a table of contents or exhibit index if there is more than one exhibit.
- For motions to amend the tracking order to enlarge the time for completing discovery, such motions must identify the number of times the tracking order has been previously extended, a brief summary of discovery conducted to date, discovery remaining to be conducted, a brief summary of the nature of the claims in the case, and any other information the movants deem relevant.
- For emergency motions, the nature of the emergency must be “clearly specified in the motion.”
- The required certificates of service must specify the names and addresses of all persons served and identify which party is represented by which counsel. The Rule provides an updated sample certificate of service.
- No “list of documents” other than the notice of filing need be included with the Rule 9A package.
- The moving party must deliver a courtesy copy of an electronically-filed summary judgment appendix to the Session Clerk, if requested by the clerk.