Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum

Templates and Forms

Request for Trial in a Limited Civil Case

A Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum (CV/E-202) is a Sacramento County Superior Court local form that tells the judge that one party is ready for trial, whether they want a jury, and how many hours they expect the trial to take.

When do I use a Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum?

When all parties have answered or been dismissed AND the relevant documents have been processed by the Court, the case is “at issue” (ready for trial). Any time after that, if you are ready to go to trial, you can file (and serve on the other parties) a Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum (CV\E-202) to set the trial date.

The Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum (CV\E-202) has its own Proof of Service form on the second page. Be sure to have someone who is over the age of 18 and not a named party to the lawsuit complete the Proof of Service.

What do I do if I get one from the other party?

If you agree that the case is “at issue” (ready for trial) and with the rest of the statements by the other party, you do not need to do anything at all. If you have any objections, you have 15 days to file and serve your own Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum (CV\E-202).

You can download Limited Civil Case Statues Memorandum (CV/E-202) from the Sacramento County Superior Court’s website.

If you think the case is not ready to go to trial, mark “Counter Limited Civil Status Memorandum” and check “Not at issue.” In the space that follows, explain why you don’t think the case is ready to go to trial and what you are doing to get the case ready. For example, if the case is not ready because you need to do more discovery, say that, and indicate when you believe your discovery will be completed.

Even if you are objecting to a trial, questions about short cause, long cause, or expedited jury trial must be answered, and the arbitration section must have at least one of the boxes marked. If you do not complete these sections, the form will be rejected by the court.

What is an “expedited jury trial” and do I want one?

If a jury trial is requested in a case expected to take under one day, the case will be set for an expedited jury trial (EJT) unless one of the parties requests to opt out.

An expedited jury trial differs from a regular jury trial in several important ways intended to streamline the trial: All parties waive the right to appeal. Each side has a limit of 3 hours to present its case. A smaller jury means faster jury selection. Parties must exchange evidence and make other agreements a few weeks before the trial. For more information, see the Judicial Council’s Expedited Jury Trial Info Sheet.  

If you want to opt out of the EJT Program at this time, check “REQUEST TO OPT OUT OF EXPEDITED JURY TRIAL PROCEDURES” box and attach the Judicial Council form Request to Opt Out of Mandatory Expedited Jury Trial Procedures (EJT-003). (You can file this form separately to opt out at any time.)

If the other party has requested to opt out, but you want to use the EJT Program, check “OBJECTION TO OPT OUT OF EXPEDITED JURY TRIAL PROCEDURES” and attach the Judicial Council form Objection to Request to Opt Out of Mandatory Expedited Jury Trial Procedures (EJT-004).

How do I serve and file the Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum?

Make four (4) copies of your Limited Civil Case Status Memorandum. Have someone (NOT YOU) over the age of 18 serve one copy on the other side’s attorney (or the other party, if the other side does not have an attorney). The person who does the service should then sign Page 3 of the original. Staple each of the copies, but leave the original unstapled.

File the original and the other three copies in the drop box at the downtown courthouse at 720 9^th St. along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There is no fee to file this form. You will receive one conformed (stamped) copy back for your records.

What’s next?

If neither party objects, the case will be set for trial. If either party objects, or other issues need to be resolved, the Court may set a hearing in the Limited Civil Pretrial Department to determine disputed matters.

Short cause civil cases (without a jury) will be set for trial in Department 47 at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays. Expedited Jury Trials will be set for trial in Department 47 at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. All long-cause limited civil cases will be referred to the Court’s Trial Setting Process.

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