Offering Oversized Exhibits & Documents into Evidence in Florida Federal Courts:
When preparing for your next Federal case in Florida, make sure you or your paralegal discuss the document and exhibit needs with the clerk. The requirements for copies of exhibits being offered in evidence can vary from court to court.
One rule to consider if you have small or oversized exhibits that need to be offered into evidence in the Middle District of Florida is Rule 5.04.
Let’s take a look at Rule 5.04 for the courts:
Rule 5.04 – Disposition of Exhibits and Discovery Materials
(b) Documentary Exhibits Larger than 8-1/2″ x 11″: When offering into evidence a documentary exhibit larger or smaller than 8-1/2″ x 11″, counsel shall also offer an 8-1/2″ x 11″ reduction or enlargement of the exhibit. Counsel will be deemed by the Court to stipulate to the substitution of the 8-1/2″ x 11″ reduction or enlargement for the exhibits in the record on appeal, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
Link: https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/local-rules/rule-504-disposition-exhibits-and-discovery-materials
When your original exhibit is oversized or smaller than 8 ½” x 11”, you will need to enlarge or reduce the layout to meet the court’s requirements. Some different kinds of evidence that we frequently work with that are larger than 8 ½” x 11” are industrial blueprints, engineering drawings, and maps. With our oversized document scanning services, we can assist with the document processing and formatting to ensure you have the correct size per the court’s orders.
Let’s say you didn’t read the rules beforehand and you find yourself at the Sam Gibbons United States Courthouse in Tampa with a rolled up 30” x 40” blueprint. Sure, the jury will like to the see the original, but the clerk is not going to be happy unless its submitted in the proper evidence format. Luckily, Legal Images, Inc. is your local copying and scanning company, only a quarter of a mile away. That’s a 5 minute walk! Your paralegal won’t even need to lose their prime parking spot in order to have that blueprint scanned reduced, printed, and submitted in time.
