Case-Related Inquiries via Telephone
Counsel may call chambers to check on the status of a pending matter or for other procedural information.

Pro Se Litigants
Pro se litigants are exempt from Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) requirements. Pro se litigants will make any filings via hand delivery or United States mail to the clerk's office and by mailing a copy to the opposing party or counsel for the opposing party if represented. Court orders will be provided to pro se litigants by United States mail at the current address on the docket sheet. Pro se litigants must keep current contact information on file with the court, or risk dismissal or other sanctions.

Audio-Visual Equipment
Counsel are encouraged to make use of the technology available in the courtroom. Counsel may schedule an appointment with the courtroom deputy clerk to attain familiarity with the electronic equipment and confirm compatibility prior to the date of the hearing or trial.

Citations to Docket Entries
Parties must cite to exhibits and docket entries in the following format: (Doc. [docket number]-[exhibit number], p. [page number(s)]). Citations to multiple docket entries must be separated by a semicolon within the parenthetical.

Discovery Motions
Before filing or responding to any motion in a civil case, the parties should review and comply with the standards in the Middle District of Florida Handbook on Civil Discovery Practice and confer with counsel for the opposing party in a good-faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion. M.D. Fla. R. 3.01(g). Unilateral demands and lackluster attempts to confer do not satisfy the good-faith conference requirement.

Disputes During a Deposition
If a dispute arises during a deposition, the parties may call chambers to request a telephone conference after consulting the Middle District of Florida Handbook on Civil Discovery Practice for guidance. However, the parties should not expect Judge Sansone's immediate availability.

Confidentiality Agreements and Stipulated Protective Orders
Parties may reach an agreement governing the use and disclosure of discovery materials designated as confidential. The court need not endorse, adopt, or enter such agreement. The court will generally enforce stipulated and signed confidentiality agreements. Absent compelling justification, the court generally disfavors stipulated protective orders that purport to require the court to retain jurisdiction to enforce the order for an indefinite period after the conclusion of the litigation.

Trial Date
A date certain will be given for trial at the final pretrial conference. Vacations and other scheduling conflicts will be accommodated.

Filings Immediately Prior to Trial
For jury trials, motions in limine, proposed voir dire questions, proposed jury instructions, and a proposed verdict form must be filed on dates established at the final pretrial conference. For non-jury trials, motions in limine and trial briefs must be filed on dates established at the final pretrial conference.

Juror Voir Dire and Selection
Judge Sansone will conduct the initial voir dire. If counsel wish to conduct additional voir dire, each side will have equal time to examine the panel. Typically, eighteen prospective jurors are summoned for voir dire with the goal of having seven to eight jurors (all jurors remaining at the end of trial deliberate). During juror selection, Judge Sansone requires each side to take turns going first with strikes and permits back strikes.

Exhibits and Demonstrative Aids
All exhibits must be listed in an exhibit list attached to the pretrial statement. The parties are expected to exchange exhibits before filing the joint pretrial statement and should be prepared to state a position by the final pretrial conference about the authenticity and admissibility of the opponent's exhibits. All exhibits must be marked before trial. No later than a week before trial, the parties must make available for inspection all marked exhibits and proposed demonstrative aids. On the first day of trial, the parties must provide the courtroom deputy with their exhibit lists, exhibits, and witness lists, as well as two courtesy binders containing same. Additionally, on the first day of trial, each party must provide the courtroom deputy clerk with a USB drive containing PDF versions of each exhibit separately scanned or email the same to chambers. Exhibits may be introduced out of sequence. Demonstrative aids are permitted during trial, with the court's prior approval.

Examination of a Witness Out of Sequence
In appropriate circumstances, Judge Sansone will permit the examination of a witness out of sequence.

Videotaped Testimony
Judge Sansone has no special procedures or requirements on the use or admission of videotaped testimony. Counsel, however, must inform the court at the pretrial conference of the intention to use such evidence, so Judge Sansone and parties may discuss the procedures to be used.