Suffolk County Supreme Court Per Diem | Riverhead Court Coverage

Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building, 1 Court Street, Riverhead, NY 11901.

Suffolk County Supreme Court operates within the 10th Judicial District, which is shared with Nassau County. The District Administrative Judge is the Honorable Andrew A. Crecca.

A critical point: Civil matters are heard in Riverhead, not Central Islip. Many attorneys are unaware of this distinction, which results in missed appearances or incorrect calendaring.

Three Separate Facilities Serve Suffolk County

1 Court Street, Riverhead

All civil (non-matrimonial) matters. This is where per diem appearances are conducted.

Discovery conferences, motions, oral arguments, and trial support occur at this facility. This is the building you need to know.

Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex, 210 Center Drive, Riverhead

Additional Supreme, County, Family Court, and Law Library space. Overflow and supplemental matters are handled here.

Some judges maintain chambers in both locations.

John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex, 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip

Matrimonial and guardianship matters. If your civil case appears on a Central Islip calendar, you are in the wrong courthouse.

Verify all calendars on WebCivil Supreme.

Distance and Travel: Riverhead is approximately 75 miles east of Manhattan. Travel time is 90 minutes to 2 hours via the Long Island Expressway, depending on traffic and time of day. This distance is the primary reason firms retain per diem coverage.

Amenities and Logistics

Parking: Available on the left side of Court Street, immediately adjacent to the courthouse.
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available inside the courthouse.
Facilities: Standard courthouse facilities, including attorney conference areas, law library access, and document handling.

Long Island Procedures Are Not Manhattan Procedures.

Suffolk County Supreme Court operates under specific procedural rules that differ substantially from typical New York County practice. Familiarity with these rules is essential.

Discovery Conference Requirement

Before filing any discovery motion, you must attempt informal resolution through a discovery conference. This requirement is enforced strictly.

Every discovery motion must include an affidavit documenting:
- Date and time of the discovery conference
- Participants present
- Length of the conference
Failure to comply results in motion dismissal without prejudice.
Virtual conferences are accepted.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program

Suffolk County operates a free ADR program for qualifying cases. Schedules vary by case track:

Personal Injury Track:

Document exchange: 20 days
Plaintiff deposition: 90 days
Settlement conference: 120 days

Commercial Non-CD Track:

Document exchange: 15 days
Settlement conference: 30 days

ADR is free to all parties.

Calendar and Submission Rules

Fridays are typically "submission only." Oral argument is rarely scheduled on Fridays. Check the individual judge's calendar.
Use WebCivil Supreme to access all calendars. This is your only reliable source for accurate calendar information.
Calendar changes occur frequently. Verify immediately before traveling.

Preliminary Conference

In Suffolk County, the preliminary conference is sometimes referred to as the "8-A conference." Scheduling follows state rules, with case-specific modifications.

Commercial Division Practice in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County hosts a Commercial Division as part of the Statewide Commercial Division Program. Commercial cases are assigned to dedicated justices with commercial law expertise.

Judges and Parts

Two justices preside over Commercial Division matters:

Honorable John J. Andrews

IAS Part 44 (Commercial Division)

IAS Part 8 (General Civil)

Judge Andrews brings extensive commercial experience to both parts. In practice, he manages his calendar in a practical, order-focused manner. When a receiver or party raises substantive grievances (for example, missing revenue or housekeeping disputes), he directs counsel to file the appropriate motion (an accounting motion, for instance) rather than granting contempt or broad relief from the bench. Prepare to walk into Part 44 with motion papers ready, not expectations of summary rulings.

Honorable Paul E. Hennings

IAS Part 43 (Commercial Division)

Judge Hennings maintains a robust commercial docket.

Applicable Rules

All Commercial Division cases in Suffolk County follow the Statewide Commercial Division Rules. These rules are enforced uniformly across all jurisdictions. The Suffolk threshold is $100,000.

Commercial cases are excluded from the general ADR Program. Parties may request ADR, but it is not automatically assigned.
Expedited discovery and motion schedules apply.
Early motion schedules are enforced.

For procedural detail, see the Commercial Division Playbook. For the causes of action that travel through the Commercial Division, see Business Disputes, Breach of Contract, Partnership and LLC Disputes, and Shareholder Disputes.

Conferences, Motions, Depositions, and Trial Support.

The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson provides comprehensive per diem coverage for civil litigation matters at Suffolk County Supreme Court. Our network includes experienced Long Island practitioners with deep knowledge of Suffolk County procedures and the judges.

Services Provided

Discovery and Compliance Conferences: Representation at preliminary conferences, discovery conferences, and compliance conferences with detailed contemporaneous notes and conference affidavits.
Motion Practice: Oral argument on all motion types, including motions to dismiss, for summary judgment, to compel discovery, and in limine motions.
Depositions and Examinations Before Trial (EBTs): Witness examination and cross-examination, both in-person at our Riverhead facility and by videoconference.
Trial Support: Trial assistance including witness examination, cross-examination, and courtroom advocacy (note: we handle support roles; all trials are conducted by trial counsel).

Senior Network Attorney: Our Suffolk County coverage is handled by a senior network attorney with extensive Long Island Supreme Court experience. This ensures consistency, professional representation, and familiarity with local judges and procedures.

Flat Rates. No Surprises.

Flat-rate per diem coverage for Discovery and Compliance Conferences, motion appearances, Orders to Show Cause, EBTs (half or full day), 50-H property examinations, and interpreter add-ons. Rates quoted on confirmation.

Process and Confirmation

Confirmation within 15 minutes: Upon receipt of your request, we confirm availability and lock in your appearance.
Report by end of business day: A detailed report covering all proceedings, decisions, and next steps is delivered the same day.
No hidden fees: Rates cover attorney time, travel, and preparation. Extraordinary expenses (rush appearance, complex matter) are discussed in advance.

Suffolk County Supreme Court: Per Diem Coverage in Riverhead.