Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 3. Petitions and Proceedings for Coordination of Complex Actions · Last amended 2016 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.524 sets the two required contents of the order assigning a coordination motion judge — the proceeding’s special title and number, and the address for filing later papers — and requires the petitioner to serve that order on every party and file it in every court with an included action.
(a)Contents of order An order by the Chair of the Judicial Council assigning a coordination motion judge to determine whether coordination is appropriate, or authorizing the presiding judge of a court to assign the matter to judicial officers of the court to make the determination in the same manner as assignments are made in other civil cases, must include the following:
(1)The special title and number assigned to the coordination proceeding; and
(2)The court’s address or electronic service address for submitting all subsequent documents to be considered by the coordination motion judge. (Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective January 1, 1974; previously amended and lettered subd (a) effective January 1, 2005.)
(b)Service of order The petitioner must serve the order described in (a) on each party appearing in an included action and send it to each court in which an included action is pending with directions to the clerk to file the order in the included action. (Subd (b) amended and lettered effective January 1, 2005; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective January 1, 1974.)
Plain-English Summary
When someone files a petition asking the Judicial Council to coordinate several related lawsuits into one proceeding, the first formal step is an order naming the judge who will decide whether coordination makes sense. The Chair of the Judicial Council either assigns that job to a specific coordination motion judge, or authorizes the presiding judge of a court to hand the decision to one of that court’s own judicial officers, the same way any other civil assignment gets made.
Rule 3.524 tells the Chair, or the presiding judge, what the assignment order must say. It needs the special title and case number given to the coordination proceeding, so every later filing can be tracked under one heading, and it needs an address — physical or electronic — where the coordination motion judge wants to receive documents going forward.
Once that order exists, the burden shifts to the petitioner. The petitioner must serve a copy on every party who has already appeared in any of the lawsuits the petition wants coordinated, and separately send a copy to each court where one of those lawsuits is pending, with instructions for the clerk to file it in that case. That step keeps the individual trial courts in the loop even before coordination is decided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides which judge will handle a petition for coordination?
The Chair of the Judicial Council does, either by naming a specific coordination motion judge or by authorizing the presiding judge of a court to assign the matter to one of that court’s judicial officers, the same way other civil assignments are made.
What must the order assigning a coordination motion judge include?
Under Rule 3.524(a), it must state the special title and number given to the coordination proceeding and the address — physical or electronic — for submitting later documents to the coordination motion judge.
Who is responsible for serving the assignment order on the parties?
The petitioner. Rule 3.524(b) requires the petitioner to serve the order on every party who has appeared in an included action and to send it to each court where an included action is pending.
Does the assignment order have to go to the trial courts handling the individual lawsuits?
Yes. The petitioner must send the order to each court where an included action is pending, along with directions for the clerk to file it in that action.
Amendment History
Rule 3.524 amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as rule 1524 effective January 1, 1974; previously amended effective January 1, 2005; previously renumbered as rule 3.524 effective January 1, 2007.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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