When presenting a document for filing in a civil case, you must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) and the Local Civil Rules (LR) of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Caution: All applicable rules must be adhered to; the list below is not exhaustive.
Instructions for Requesting a Summons in a Civil Case
| FEDERAL RULE | RELATED LOCAL RULE |
| FRCP 3 : Commencement of Action | LR 3: Commencement of Action |
| FRCP 4: Summons | LR 4: Complaint, Summons, and Returns |
| FRCP 5: Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers | LR 5: Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Documents |
| FRCP 7: Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions | LR 7: Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions and Other Documents
LR 7 (c)(d)(f): Briefs LR 56: Summary Judgment |
| FRCP 8: General Rules of Pleading | |
| FRCP 10: Form of Pleadings | LR 10: Form of Pleadings |
| FRCP 11: Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to Court; Sanctions | LR 11: Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Documents |
| FRCP 15: Amended and Supplemental Pleadings | |
| FRCP 81: Removed Actions | LR 81: Removed Actions |
Common Filing Deficiencies
- No civil cover sheet filed with complaint [LR 4(a)]
- No signature block that sets forth the attorney’s bar number and a facsimile number and e-mail address where information may be sent to the attorney [LR 11(b)(1)]
- No certificate of service as defined in LR 5(c)
- Failure to comply with motion practice requirements of LR 7
- Document not signed [LR 11(b)]
- Removal of action from state court not in compliance with LR 81
- Admission to practice in the Eastern District of Texas [AT 1]