Nancy L. Fineman

New: Due to limited Court resources, there can be a delay between eFiling documents, and the documents being uploaded into the Court’s electronic file making them available to the Court. In order to ensure your reply brief is received by the Court in a timely manner, you must email a copy of any reply brief, or any Unlawful Detainer Opposition or Motion for Summary Judgment to lawandmotionreplybriefs@sanmateocourt.org. If you fail to do so and your reply brief is not available to the Court in a timely manner, please be advised that this may result in your matter being continued. Also, please note that this requirement is in addition to any separate requirement individual Judges have regarding the delivery of courtesy copies to their chambers, as well as the obligation to email all briefs, including reply briefs, to the complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org email address for complex matters. Thank you.

Judge Fineman now hears her Complex Law & Motion on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. or another time set by the Court. To schedule a hearing, contact Department 4 rather than the Civil Clerk's office. The clerk's office will reject the motion in complex cases if a hearing date has not been obtained first from Department 4. Please be advised that Judge Fineman requires all briefing to be completed at least three (3) weeks before the hearing date. Judge Fineman generally issues tentative rulings in her complex cases..

Unless otherwise ordered, all IDCs for cases in Department 4, are conducted by the Civil Commissioner. To schedule an IDC, please check the Court's web site. Please do not contact Department 4 to schedule an IDC. Only the Civil Commissioner can schedule an IDC.

Judge Fineman hears Ex Parte Applications at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Payment of Fees

Payment of all ex parte motions and applications for stays of eviction fees shall be paid at the Civil Clerk's Office, Room A in the Hall of Justice for Redwood City cases.

The Initial Case Management Conference is heard by the Civil Commissioner. See Local Rule 3.801.

Parties may secure their own official court reporter for any calendar where the Court does not provide an official court reporter.
More information about Court Reporting »

For non-complex cases, Judge Fineman holds her TSC/CMCs on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Lead trial counsel must attend the Conference. This conference is not scheduled until the case has had an Initial Case Management Conference before the Commissioner and the parties have engaged in an ADR process.

Judge Fineman strongly prefers that the parties file a Joint Trial Setting/Case Management Conference Statement. The Statement should comply with Local Rule 3.1000 and also address as many of the issues in her Pretrial Conference Order (see link under Pretrial Order) as possible.

Following each TSC/CMC, Judge Fineman will order one of the parties to prepare a written order consistent with the Court's rulings at the Conference.

Procedure for Zoom Appearances

Judge Fineman intends to issue the following Order for Civil Trials in all of her unlimited civil cases when she set the trial date: Pretrial Order

If any party believes that the Order for Civil Trials should not be implemented or that the Order should be modified, the party should include a description of any changes to the Order being requested and a brief explanation for the change in the parties' Joint Trial Setting/Case Management Conference Statement. Please note that Judge Fineman will be more inclined to make change(s) if the parties agree.

Judge Fineman also notices that many motions in limine are brought that are either too general or should be a subject of a stipulation between the parties. She attaches some sample motion in limine rulings that should focus the parties in their motions in limine. For stipulations that are reached on unopposed motions, Judge Fineman requests that a written stipulation and proposed order be filed when the motions in limine are filed.

• Sample Tentative Ruling on MIL December 5 2022
• Sample Tentative Ruling on MIL September 12 2022
• Sample Tentative Ruling on MIL August 13 2022
• Sample Tentative Ruling on MIL May 11 2022

The Mandatory Settlement Conference will be conducted by a Civil or Probate Judge who is not the assigned Judge in this case. The department assigned to conduct the Mandatory Settlement Conference will contact the parties directly with instructions on how to appear.

All parties and their counsel of record must comply with Local Rule 3.1100.

If a case has resolved, the parties must notify Department 4 as soon as possible.

Judge Fineman typically schedules a pretrial conference at least two (2) weeks before the trial date in her unlimited civil cases. The conference is held Mondays at 2:00 p.m. If the parties do not believe that a pretrial conference is necessary, they must explain why in their Joint Trial Setting/Case Management Conference Statement.

Judge Fineman is assigned three (3) trial days per week—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Due to a number of factors, scheduled trials may not start on the assigned date. All trials are in person. Jury selection will take place at the courthouse.

The parties should obtain a hearing date for any post-trial motions by emailing Department 4 at Dept4@sanmateocourt.org.

When Judge Fineman orders a party to prepare a written order, that party should e-file the order. Sometimes, Judge Fineman will request a Word version in addition to the e-filed document. That Word version should be emailed to dept4@sanmateocourt.org and must include the other parties.

The party preparing the order must comply with California Rule of Court 3.1312. Judge Fineman will reject proposed orders that do not inform her of the opposing party's response to the proposed order. The party preparing the written order must make a good faith effort to meet and confer with the other parties about the order before submitting it to the Court.