Hon. Paul E. Hennings. Commercial Part 43 and Civil Part 75.

Published Part Rules

Source: nycourts.gov, Part 75 Rules and Procedures, revised February 11, 2025 | Last verified: August 5, 2026

Correction: The Part Sits at the Cromarty Court Complex, and Judge Hennings Carries Two Parts

An earlier version of this page placed Judge Hennings at 1 Court Street in Riverhead and listed him in Part 43 only. Both entries were wrong. Chambers are at the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex, 210 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901, and the published rules document on nycourts.gov is titled for Commercial Part 43 and Civil Part 75. We corrected the page on August 5, 2026.

Part 43 Rules Are Not Reproduced Here

We were able to retrieve the Part 75 rules set out below but not the current Part 43 section of the same document, so we are not publishing Part 43 specifics rather than guessing at them. Do not assume the Part 75 practice below carries over to a Commercial Part 43 matter. Request the current rules from chambers at sufhennings@nycourts.gov or 631-852-2845 before a Part 43 appearance. Note also that a separate Part 43 exists in the New York County Commercial Division with entirely different rules, so confirm that any rules document you find is the Suffolk one.

Part 75 Motion Practice

Motions in cases assigned to Judge Hennings are calendared for submission on Tuesdays. Motions are decided on submission and no appearance is required on the return date. Unless the court adjourns the motion, everything on the motion calendar is marked submitted. A request for oral argument must be made in writing by email to the court, and if the court grants argument, counsel appear in person.

The court neither requires nor wants a statement of material facts under 22 NYCRR 202.8-g. Counsel must advise the court by email immediately when a motion or any part of a motion is settled or withdrawn, and when an underlying case settles while motions are sub judice. The rules state that failing to do so is sanctionable.

Part 75 Conferences

Motions and conferences are heard on Tuesdays, and hearings and inquests are heard on Thursdays. Conference appearances are in person, and counsel who appear must know the facts and carry authority to make binding dispositions. The rules warn that nonappearance may draw the default sanctions under 22 NYCRR 202.27 and Part 130-2.

A preliminary conference does not require an in-person appearance. Counsel may confer and submit a proposed preliminary conference stipulation and order by both email and e-filing. If counsel need a conference, they notify the court by email and the court schedules one.

Adjournments

Adjournment requests go to the court by email at sufhennings@nycourts.gov. If all parties do not consent, every party must be copied on the email. A request to adjourn an ADR conference goes to the ADR Part rather than to Part 75.

Trials

The court holds a trial conference immediately before every jury trial. Counsel bring proposed jury charges, proposed verdict sheets, a list of all pre-marked exhibits for the court and the court reporter, the number of witnesses to be called, and expert information under CPLR 3101(d)(1)(i). Hospital records and any other item in evidence longer than 10 pages must be paginated before use. In a malpractice case, each attorney must have the departure and causation testimony located in the trial transcript and available for the court. Nonjury trials follow the same procedures.

Infant and Disabled Party Compromises

An application to approve a compromise must comply with CPLR 1207 and 1208 and 22 NYCRR 202.67, and must propose a distribution of net amounts consistent with CPLR 1206. The affirmation from a medical professional must state whether the injured plaintiff has fully recovered, and if not, the nature and extent of the injuries and the course of future treatment. Because the court may direct notice to everyone holding a claim against the proceeds, including statutory lienholders, the petition must set out the name, address, and claim amount for each such person, or state that no one has asserted a claim. The court schedules an appearance date once the submissions are complete.

Ex Parte Communication

Except as the part rules and 22 NYCRR 100.3 permit, ex parte communication with the court or any member of its staff, by telephone or otherwise, is strictly prohibited.

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Court rules and procedures change frequently. Information on this page is for general reference only and may not reflect the most current rules. Verify all information with the Part Clerk before your appearance.

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