Shelby D. Senn

JUDGE SHELBY D. SENN

COUNTY CIVIL AND SMALL CLAIMS JUDICIAL PROCEDURES

GENERAL INFORMATION

These procedures apply to all County Civil and Small Claims cases assigned to Judge Shelby D. Senn. Counsel and self-represented litigants are expected to familiarize themselves with and comply with these procedures.

SCHEDULING HEARINGS

All motions must be filed with the Clerk before hearing time is requested.

The party requesting the hearing shall contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant, Whitley Gist, at Wgist@circuit5.org, to schedule a hearing.

The party requesting the hearing shall coordinate available dates with all parties.

The moving party shall file and serve the Notice of Hearing.

Motions requiring testimony, exhibits, or extensive argument shall be specially set.

IN-PERSON APPEARANCE REQUIREMENT

All hearings shall be conducted in person at the Sumter County Courthouse.

Zoom appearances, video appearances, and telephone appearances are not permitted unless specifically authorized by written Court Order.

SMALL CLAIMS CASES

Attendance at all scheduled pretrial conferences is mandatory.

Mediation may be conducted at the pretrial conference.

Failure of a plaintiff to appear may result in dismissal.

Failure of a defendant to appear may result in entry of default.

COUNTY CIVIL CASES

Parties shall comply with all applicable case management deadlines.

Discovery motions shall include certification that counsel or parties have conferred in good faith before seeking court intervention.

Evidentiary hearings must be specially set.

CONTINUANCES

Motions for Continuance shall be filed promptly upon discovery of the need for continuance.

No continuance is effective without a written Court Order.

PROPOSED ORDERS

All proposed orders shall be submitted to the Court’s Judicial Assistant, Whitley Gist, at Wgist@circuit5.org.

Proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) format.

PDF proposed orders will not be accepted.

Proposed orders shall:

• Contain a complete case caption;
• Include the case number and division;
• Identify the motion heard;
• Include appropriate service language;
• Be submitted as a separate document.

Agreed orders shall indicate approval by all parties.

STANDING REQUIREMENT

All hearings shall be conducted in person.

Zoom, video, telephonic, or other remote appearances are not permitted absent a written court order.

All proposed orders shall be submitted to the court’s judicial assistant, Whitley Gist, at Wgist@circuit5.org,  in Microsoft word (.docx) format. Pdf proposed orders will not be accepted.

JUDGE SHELBY D. SENN

CIVIL TRAFFIC INFRACTION JUDICIAL PROCEDURES

These procedures apply to all Civil Traffic Infraction matters assigned to Judge Shelby D. Senn. Counsel, self-represented litigants, and witnesses shall comply with these procedures in addition to all applicable Florida Statutes, Florida Rules of Traffic Court, and administrative orders of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

Parties shall timely appear for all scheduled hearings.

All parties shall check in with courtroom staff upon arrival.

Cases may be called in a manner that promotes judicial efficiency and docket management.

Failure to appear may result in the entry of an appropriate order as authorized by law.

APPEARANCES

All hearings shall be conducted in person unless otherwise authorized by written Court Order.

Zoom, video, telephone, or other remote appearances are not permitted absent prior Court approval.

CONTESTED HEARINGS

A defendant contesting a civil traffic infraction shall appear at the scheduled hearing prepared to proceed.

Witnesses and evidence shall be available at the time of hearing.

Any exhibits intended for use at hearing shall be brought to court in sufficient copies for the Court and all parties.

PROPOSED ORDERS

Proposed orders shall be submitted only when specifically requested by the Court.

All proposed orders shall be submitted to the Court’s Judicial Assistant, Whitley Gist, at Wgist@circuit5.org unless otherwise directed.

Proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) format.

PDF proposed orders will not be accepted.

CONTINUANCES

Motions for Continuance shall be filed promptly after the need becomes known.

Agreement of the parties does not automatically entitle a case to be continued.

No continuance is effective until approved by written Court Order.

STANDING REQUIREMENTS

All civil traffic infraction hearings shall be conducted in person.

Zoom, video, telephonic, or other remote appearances are not permitted absent a written court order.

All proposed orders requested by the court shall be submitted in Microsoft word (.docx) format to the Court’s Judicial Assistant, Whitley Gist, at Wgist@circuit5.org.

PDF proposed orders will not be accepted.