In Pennsylvania, defendants are given a timeframe of 10 days to file a motion for reconsideration in the clerk's office of the same court where the case was originally heard. Once a motion is filed, it is sent to all parties involved in a case.
A motion for reconsideration shall point out specifically the findings or conclusions of the judgment or final order which are not supported by the evidence or which are contrary to law, making express reference to the testimonial or documentary evidence or to provisions of law alleged to be contrary to such findings ...
After a trial, there are several types of motions that can be filed to address possible trial errors. The most common type of post-trial motion is a Motion for Reconsideration in which you are asking the judge to reconsider his/her ruling and change one specific part of the court order or the court's overall ruling.
Hearings will only be continued for a valid reason. To request a continuance, send a letter to Patricia R. McDermott, Deputy Court Administrator, 34 S. 11th Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, with a copy to the other parties at least ten days before the hearing date.
8.2A. Rule 8.2A - Motion For Reconsideration (a) Any motion for reconsideration filed pursuant to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Orphans' Court Rule 8.2 must be filed within twenty (20) days after the date of the filing of any order, decree or adjudication as to which reconsideration is sought.
Rule 1037.2 - Judgments by Default-Assessment of Damages (A) In order for the Office of Judicial Records to assess damages pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1037(b)(1) upon default for failure to answer, a complaint in an action must pray for specific items and amounts.
This is roughly a 5 percent success rate for all motions.
Other than as provided in Phila. Civ. R. 208.3(a) and except for Summary Judgment Motions (which have a thirty (30) day response period, all Motions have a twenty (20) day response period.
(d) When default judgment is entered in a matter involving a complaint for civil penalties, the Board may assess civil penalties in the amount of the plaintiff's claim or may assess the amount of the penalty following an evidentiary hearing, as directed by the Board, at which the issues shall be limited to the amount ...