Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Branch: The Practitioner's Guide to 851 Grand Concourse
One of the highest-volume trial courts in New York. Specialized parts, strict unwritten rules, and a jury pool that changes how cases are valued. Judges who conduct oral argument virtually in the afternoon, discovery deadlines enforced to the day, and a TAP that will call your case four times before putting in a trial slip. Knowing the "Bronxisms" is not optional.
Book a Bronx County AppearanceLast verified: April 2026
Verified against nycourts.gov part assignments and confirmed by in-person appearances at 851 Grand Concourse. See revision notes at the bottom of this page.
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 Screening
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 civil litigation strategy throughout the life of a Bronx County matter. It is background knowledge every attorney appearing here should have.
The Bronxisms: Unwritten Rules
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.
Specialized Parts: 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. General Municipal Law Section 50-h requirements apply.
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.
The Trial Assignment Part (TAP)
A user-friendly part, but come prepared:
- Cases may appear in TAP multiple times before a trial slip is filed (4 or more times)
- Both sides choose trial dates
- CPLR 325(d) designations for low-value policies
- Come with settlement authority
Judges You Need to Know
| Justice | Part/Room | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. Joseph Capella | Administrative Judge / Room 711 (Med-Mal) | Emphasizes ADR. Focused on clearing post-2020 backlogs. In med-mal compliance conferences, actively enforces prior court orders. Addresses non-compliance with combined demands, bills of particulars, and insurance coverage demands directly on the record. |
| 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. Routine compliance conference management. Directs next status conference date on the record. |
| Hon. Alicia Gerez | Part 19 (Med-Mal) | Strict on "Stryker" orders and expert disclosure deadlines. Requires e-filing. In compliance conferences, actively coordinates deposition scheduling with counsel and requires named addresses for follow-up affidavits. |
| Hon. Patsy Gouldborne | IAS | Pre-trial conference part. Handles threshold motion rulings. Cases with no open motions are re-demanded to TAP and placed on the American Transit blockbuster calendar. Settlement conference date follows. |
| Hon. Mary Lynn Brewster | IAS | Discovery-phase status conferences. Standard management of EBT scheduling. In-person appearances. |
| Hon. Raymond P. Fernandez | IAS | Status conferences for cases still in discovery. Tracks pending depositions and moves cases along on a standard discovery timeline. |
| Hon. Kim Adair Wilson | Room 404 | Preliminary conference part. Standard PC procedure, in-person. |
| Hon. Guzman | IAS | Motion practice. In-person appearances. |
ADR in the Bronx
Administrative Judge Capella has made settlement and alternative dispute resolution a priority. The courthouse has dedicated ADR resources, and judges actively encourage parties to use mediation and other conflict resolution mechanisms before trial. This push toward settlement affects case trajectory throughout the Bronx system. Practitioners who understand ADR strategy and come to appearances with realistic settlement parameters will navigate Bronx County more effectively.
Booking
Flat-rate per diem coverage for conferences, motions, Orders to Show Cause, EBTs, 50-H hearings, and full-day depositions. Confirmation within 15 minutes of request. Report delivered by end of business day. Rates quoted on confirmation.
Contact Information
Phone: 212-233-0666
Text/Emergency: 917-686-3827
Email: fabramson@abramsonlegal.com
Revision Notes
- April 2026: Updated IA-33 Thursday motion calendar observations based on recent appearances.
- March 2026: Updated 2026 bench assignments for CCP, City Parts, Med-Mal Parts, and MVA Parts.
- March 2026: Added Bronxisms section and ADR procedural notes.