Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Branch:
The Practitioner’s Guide to 851 Grand Concourse.

851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY.

Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Branch, 12th Judicial District. Administrative Judge for 2026: Hon. Joseph Capella, who emphasizes ADR and is focused on clearing the post-2020 case backlogs.

Security. The security screening at 851 Grand Concourse is rigorous and time-consuming. During peak hours (9:00 to 10:30 AM), lines routinely extend down the steps and onto the sidewalk. You must arrive at least 45 minutes before any scheduled calendar call. This is not a suggestion. If you arrive at 9:25 for a 9:30 calendar call, you will not make it through security in time.

The “Bronx jury” factor. Bronx juries have historically been perceived as more empathetic toward plaintiffs, which translates to higher verdict potential. Insurance carriers assign higher reserve values to Bronx cases for this reason. This affects settlement negotiations, case valuation, and litigation strategy throughout the life of a Bronx County matter. It is background knowledge every attorney appearing here should have.

Three Things That Will Catch You If You Don’t Know Them.

1. Summary Judgment Deadlines.
The CPLR allows 120 days after Note of Issue to file a summary judgment motion. Many Bronx IAS judges shorten this to 60 or 90 days in their individual Part Rules. If you calculate your SJ deadline based on the CPLR alone, your motion will be dismissed as untimely regardless of its merit. Always check the specific Part Rules for your judge before calculating any deadline.

2. Working Copies.
Despite mandatory NYSCEF e-filing, many Bronx judges still require physical working copies delivered to their courtroom or chambers. These copies must be properly tabbed with the NYSCEF confirmation notice attached. Filing electronically and assuming the judge will read it on screen is a mistake in this courthouse.

3. Oral Argument.
Do not assume your motion will be decided on papers. Several Bronx judges require oral argument for all substantive motions, including summary judgment and discovery sanctions. If your per diem attorney shows up unprepared to argue because they assumed it would be “on submission,” you have a problem.

CCP, City, Med-Mal, and MVA.

Central Compliance Part (CCP).
The central hub for discovery management in the Bronx. Judges in this part expect counsel to have full knowledge of the file. If you send per diem coverage for a CCP appearance, the attorney must have authority to bind the firm on discovery stipulations. “I’ll have to check with the partner” is not acceptable.

Part 40 (City Part).
Actions against the City of New York, NYPD, FDNY, and DOE. This part handles a significant portion of the Bronx docket. General Municipal Law Section 50-h requirements apply. Familiarity with the procedural requirements specific to municipal defendants is essential.

Part 19 (Medical Malpractice).
Hon. Alicia Gerez presides. Intensive judicial oversight with strict specialized discovery timelines. “Stryker” orders and expert disclosure deadlines are enforced without exception. E-filing required.

Part 22 (Motor Vehicle Accidents).
The highest-volume part in the Bronx courthouse. “Serious Injury” threshold motions under Insurance Law Section 5102(d) are a constant. Differentiated case management pushes smaller claims toward mediation. Be prepared for the threshold arguments that define MVA practice in this part.

A User-Friendly Part, But Come Prepared.

When your case reaches the TAP in the Bronx, settlement is the court’s primary focus. Here is what to expect:

Cases may appear in TAP multiple times before a trial slip is filed. It is not unusual for a matter to come on four or more times. The court will continue to conference the case and push for settlement at each appearance. If settlement is not possible, the parties will eventually be directed to put in a trial slip.

Both sides choose trial dates. Unlike some other boroughs, the Bronx TAP allows parties to select trial dates that work for their schedules. This is a practical approach, but do not assume it means the dates are flexible once set.

CPLR 325(d) designations. Cases with low-value insurance policies (e.g., $25,000) may be designated for expedited handling under CPLR 325(d). If your case receives this designation, expect a compressed timeline to trial.

Come with settlement authority. The TAP expects meaningful settlement discussions. Have a clear demand or offer, know the current status of all negotiations, and be prepared to explain the impasse if settlement is not possible.

Part-Specific Rules That Matter.

Bronx judges maintain individual Part Rules that vary significantly. The following intelligence comes from actual appearances at 851 Grand Concourse.

Hon. Llinet Socorro. Reviews motion papers personally before hearing from counsel. On discovery motions, she asks if the dispute can be resolved between the parties. If not, she marks the matter submitted. For substantive motions, expect Judge Socorro to set a briefing schedule and then schedule oral argument, which she conducts on the record in the afternoon, virtually. Plan for potential wait times: her calendar can run well past noon.

Hon. Matthew Parker-Raso, Room 706. Strict on discovery compliance. At conferences, expect the court to ask specifically why discovery responses are delayed and to impose firm deadlines. If responses are overdue, the court will grant leave for the opposing party to file a motion. Do not appear without full knowledge of the discovery status.

Hon. Frishman, Room 705. Handles medical malpractice matters. Conferences are conducted with close judicial oversight. If a defendant’s attorney has withdrawn, the court will conference the matter with remaining parties and address next steps.

Hon. Guzman. Motion practice. Appearances are in-person.

Hon. Goldbourne. Status conferences. Discovery-focused, tracks progress on authorizations and depositions. May not schedule the next compliance conference automatically; counsel should request one if needed to keep the case on track.

Justice	Part/Room	What to Know
Hon. Joseph Capella	Administrative Judge	Emphasizes ADR. Focused on clearing post-2020 backlogs.
Hon. Llinet Socorro	IAS	Reviews papers personally. Oral argument on the record, afternoon, virtually. Long wait times possible.
Hon. Matthew Parker-Raso	Room 706	Strict on discovery timelines. Will ask why responses are delayed. Grants leave for motions if deadlines missed.
Hon. Frishman	Room 705 (Med-Mal)	Close judicial oversight on med-mal cases. Conferences with remaining parties when counsel withdraws.
Hon. Alicia Gerez	Part 19 (Med-Mal)	Strict on “Stryker” orders and expert disclosure deadlines. Requires e-filing.
Hon. Goldbourne	IAS	Discovery-focused conferences. Tracks authorizations and deposition scheduling.
Hon. Guzman	IAS	Motion practice. In-person appearances.

Expect the Court to Push Settlement.

The Bronx trial calendar is heavily congested. The court pushes ADR aggressively. Many high-stakes cases are settled in the “Trial Ready” part under Special Master or Judicial Hearing Officer supervision rather than going to trial. If your case is approaching trial readiness in the Bronx, be prepared for the court to direct you toward settlement discussions.

Out-of-State? We’re Your Bronx Local Counsel.

If you are litigating in the Bronx on a pro hac vice admission, you need local counsel who knows the Bronxisms: shortened summary judgment deadlines, working copy requirements despite mandatory e-filing, and security screening that requires arriving 45 minutes early. We serve as local counsel for out-of-state firms in the Bronx and handle PHV motions, court appearances, and local procedural compliance.

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$250 per half-day session (morning or afternoon). If your appearance runs past 1:00 PM, an additional $250 applies for the afternoon session.

Service	Rate
Conference (PC, CC, Status)	$250
Motion argument	$250
Order to Show Cause	Starting at $250
EBT (up to 3 hours)	$550
EBT (full day)	$800
50-H Hearing	$550
Interpreter surcharge	+$100

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