Rule 212.1 - Pre-Trial Procedure for All Actions in the Civil Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Notice of Earliest Trial Date. Time for Completing Discovery and Filing Pre-Trial Statement1.Pa.R.Civ.P. 212.1 through 212.3 and Local 212.1 through 212.3 apply to all civil actions, both jury and nonjury, to be tried in the Civil Division; appeals from Compulsory Arbitration shall be exempt unless such cases include a demand for a jury trial, and under such circumstances parties involved in such a case must comply with Local 212.1 through 212.3.2.Definitions. In these rules, the following words shall have the following meanings: a."pretrial conference"-a conference scheduled by the Court in accordance with Pa.R.Civ.P. 212.3 in which, in addition to matters set forth in Pa.R.Civ.P. 212.3, the Court shall: i. determine whether the parties have complied with this local rule; andii. attempt an amicable settlement of the case.b."Conciliating Judge"-the Judge assigned to conduct the pre-trial conference.3.Notice of Earliest Trial Date. Time for Completing Discovery and Filing Pre-Trial Statement. Notices required by Pa.R.Civ.P. 212.1 shall be given by publication in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal, and notice shall be provided to unrepresented parties and to those out of county counsel identified in paragraph 6 of the Praecipe to Place the Case at Issue (see FORM 214).Adopted October 4, 2006, effective 12/4/2006. Amended December 27, 2019, effective 2/19/2020; amended effective 9/13/2022; amended effective 11/13/2023. As soon as there is a published trial list, trial dates appear as docket entries in each individual case on the trial list. Docket entries are available online at: https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/ and click on Civil/Family Division, then "Case Search" (in upper right corner) and enter the docket number. Additionally, published trial lists are also available on the Civil Division's website https://apps.alleghenycourts.us/Civil/CaseScheduling.aspx
Trial lists are generally published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal 6 months prior to commencement of the trial term. Pre-trial deadlines are generally as follows: 16 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for the close of discovery; 14 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for plaintiffs' pre-trial statements; 12 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for all other parties' pre-trial statements; and 45 days prior to the commencement of the trial term for completion of mediation pursuant to Local 212.7. The general schedule set forth in this Note is only advisory and may vary from the controlling dates and deadlines published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.