## ELECTRONIC FILING OF PLEADINGS DURING PANDEMIC

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [ELECTRONIC FILING OF PLEADINGS DURING PANDEMIC](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/imfat/electronic-filing-of-pleadings-during-pandemic.pdf)

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### Decision and scope
- The Registrar of the International Monetary Fund Administrative Tribunal, in consultation with the President of the Administrative Tribunal, decided that until further notice all pleadings shall be filed by secure electronic means in the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent remote working arrangements of the Office of the Registrar.
- The decision was made by Celia Goldman, Registrar, Washington, D.C., June 30, 2020.
- Filing procedures by electronic means do not suspend or extend any filing deadlines, which remain governed by the Tribunal’s Statute and Rules of Procedure.
- Parties who consider electronic filing an impediment may consult with the Registrar about alternative arrangements.

### Communication of intention to file and contact details
- Applicant (or Applicant’s duly authorized counsel or representative) must notify the Registrar of the intention to file an Application and the intended filing date at least three working days prior to the intended date of filing.
- Notification methods: phone 202-623-6008 or email ATBReception@imf.org.
- The notifying party must provide an email address to be used for the proceedings and for access to the IMF Box system.

### Use of the IMF Box system for filing and transmittal
- All filings and transmittals between parties and the Office of the Registrar shall be made using the IMF Box system, the IMF’s electronic document repository and transmittal system for secure collaboration.
- External parties must establish their own Box account. A free Box account may be obtained at https://www.box.com by choosing “Individual” plans, “Free.”
- The Registrar and the Registrar’s Assistant will be “Co-owners” of the Box folder (“IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder”) and will have full access to its contents; Office of the Registrar personnel shall not disclose confidential information received in performance of their duties (Statute, Article IX(2)).
- Parties to a case will be designated as “Viewer Uploaders,” enabling them to upload to and download from the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder when invited.

### Format, authentication, and suspended hard-copy requirements
- All pleadings shall be filed in PDF format.
- Electronic pleadings and annexes shall either be “bookmarked” or each pleading and its annexes submitted as separate PDF documents; inclusion of a table of contents is strongly encouraged.
- All pleadings shall be authenticated by scanned signature of the party or the party’s duly authorized counsel or representative (Rule VII(4)(a); Rules VIII(2), IX(3), and X(3) for subsequent pleadings).
- The requirement that “[f]our additional copies of the application and its attachments shall be submitted” is suspended; parallel requirements for four additional copies of subsequent pleadings are likewise suspended.
- Except for the suspended copy requirement, the requirements of Rules VII – X continue to apply.

### Filing, confirmation, and review procedure
- Once the intention to file and email address are communicated, the Registrar shall invite Applicant to upload the Application to the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder.
- The date on which Applicant uploads the Application to the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder will be the date of filing.
- The Registrar shall print, date stamp, and re-scan the first page of each filed pleading (Application, Answer, Reply, Rejoinder) and upload that scanned first page to the Box folder to confirm the date of filing.
- The Registrar shall review each pleading for compliance with the applicable Rule (Rule VII for Application; Rule VIII for Answer; Rule IX for Reply; Rule X for Rejoinder). If deficiencies are found, the Registrar shall advise the filing party and provide a reasonable period to correct or add required material.
- Upon ascertaining formal compliance with the relevant Rule, the Registrar shall notify the filing party.

### Transmittal and procedural time limits
- After confirming compliance with Rule VII for the Application, the Registrar shall remove Applicant from the Box folder and transmit the Application by opening the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder to Respondent.
- On the date the folder is opened to Respondent, the Registrar shall notify Respondent by email that the Application has been transmitted via the IMF Box system.
- Respondent will have 45 days from that notification in which to file its Answer (Rule VIII(1)). The Box folder will remain open for three working days for Respondent to download the Application; the filing period runs from the date of notification.
- Unless Respondent advises otherwise, the Registrar will open the folder to Respondent three working days in advance of the Answer due date. Respondent must advise the Registrar at least three working days prior to the intended date of filing of the name and email address of the representative designated to file the Answer.
- The date on which Respondent uploads the Answer to the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder will be the date of filing; the Registrar will confirm as described above.
- Upon transmittal of the Answer to Applicant, Applicant will have 30 days from notification in which to file any Reply (Rule IX(1)). The Box folder will remain open for three working days for Applicant to download the Answer; the filing period runs from the date of notification.
- Unless Applicant advises otherwise, the Registrar will open the folder to Applicant three working days in advance of the Reply due date.
- Upon transmittal of the Reply to Respondent, Respondent will have 30 days from notification in which to file any Rejoinder (Rule X(1)). The Box folder will remain open for three working days for Respondent to download the Reply; the filing period runs from the date of notification.
- Unless Respondent advises otherwise, the Registrar will open the folder to Respondent three working days in advance of the Rejoinder due date. Respondent must advise the Registrar at least three working days prior to the intended date of filing of the name and email address of the representative designated to file the Rejoinder.
- The date on which Respondent uploads the Rejoinder to the IMFAT Depository/Transmittal Folder will be the date of filing; the Registrar will confirm as described above.
- After transmission of the Rejoinder to Applicant, the Box folder will remain open for three working days for Applicant to download the Rejoinder for information. The transmittal of the Rejoinder to Applicant concludes the exchange of the regular pleadings (Rules VII – X).

### Additional pleadings and special motions
- The filing of any additional pleadings (Rule XI), pleadings in relation to a motion for summary dismissal (Rule XII), an application for intervention (Rule XIV), a request to communicate views as an amicus curiae (Rule XV), or requests for revision of judgment (Rule XIX) or interpretation of judgment (Rule XX) shall be done mutatis mutandis in accordance with the procedures set out above for the regular pleadings.

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/imfat/electronic-filing-of-pleadings-during-pandemic.pdf_