High success rates for e-file draw praise

Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett and the Third Judicial Circuit Court have succeeded in delivering an innovative and effective e-filing system to Wayne County’s legal community. Due to this achievement, Garrett and the court were granted a highly revered order by the Michigan Supreme Court on March 19.

The order allows for all civil division cases (except for “asbestos” and “appeals”) in Wayne County to be filed via e-file come May 20. Additionally, the Wayne County Clerk’s Office led in efficiency and speed when it came to obtaining this order, as it only took a mere 18 months for it to be granted by the Michigan Supreme Court.

“I continue to be wholly dedicated towards fully modernizing the largest court system in the State of Michigan. Receiving this order from the Michigan Supreme Court was a huge win for my office, and we look forward to working with the District Court on vastly expediting the process litigants follow in filing appeals via our acclaimed e-filing system. Over 90% of all Civil Division cases will be e-filed come May 20th, and Wayne County currently leads in the number of judges that take part in the e-filing process,” stated Wayne County Clerk, Cathy M. Garrett.

As of now, a hefty 155,725 electronic filings have taken place in Wayne County, while a whopping 76  of all filings within the Third Judicial Circuit Court’s Civil Division are done via e-file.
Additionally, all Wayne County judges within the Civil Division are on board with the e-filing system.  

In conjunction with the courts, the Wayne County Clerk’s Office has set up numerous informational kiosks to better serve the public, as well as an automated help desk, which generates answers for both broad and specific inquiries regarding the e-filing system.

Extremely positive feedback for Wayne County has been garnered from both the Michigan Bar Association and the Michigan Supreme Court regarding the system’s efficiencies and capabilities. 

This innovative e-filing system now allows for the Third Judicial Court to fully maximize its resources by enabling attorneys within Wayne County to submit filings electronically in nearly any format, 24 hours a day, and from virtually any PC with internet access. 

The system’s prowess ensures that court services are efficiently streamlined, and it also cuts down on the extraneous time and waste associated with solely keeping paper-based records. Additionally, this system does not cost taxpayers a single dime, as it pays for itself through nominal user-fees.

Per this order, the Wayne County Clerk’s Office will be expanding its e-filing pilot project to include the following case types: 

• ND (Property Damage / Auto Negligence);

• NF (No Fault Automobile Insurance);

• NH (Medical Malpractice);

• NI (Personal Injury Auto Negligence);

• NM (Professional Malpractice);

• NO (Other Personal Injury);

• NP (Product Liability - Non-Asbestos);

• NS (Liquor Control);

• NZ (Other Damage Suits);

• CB (Business Claims);

• CC (Condemnation);

• CD (Employment Discrimination);

• CE (Environment);

• CF (Forfeiture Claims);

• CH (Housing and Real Estate, Except Tax Foreclosures);

• CK (Contracts);

• CL (Labor Relations);

• CP (Antitrust, Franchising, and Trade Regulations);

• CR (Corporate Receivership);

• CZ (General Civil);

• PD (Claim and Delivery);

• PR (Receivers in Supplemental Proceedings);

• PS (Supplemental Proceedings); and

• PZ (Miscellaneous Proceedings, Except Tax Foreclosures).

This innovative e-filing system now allows for the Third Judicial Court to fully maximize its resources by enabling attorneys within Wayne County to submit filings electronically in nearly any format, 24 hours a day, and from virtually any PC with internet access. 

The system’s prowess ensures that court services are efficiently streamlined, and it also cuts down on the extraneous time and waste associated with solely keeping paper-based records. Additionally, this system does not cost taxpayers a single dime, as it pays for itself through nominal user-fees.

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