1. Communications A. Letters. i. Communications with the Court shall be by letter and filed on ECF. Absent a specific direction from the Court, the text of an email transmitted to Chambers does not qualify as a letter and its contents will not be addressed by the Court or Chambers' Staff. ii. All letters must contain the docket number of the action, as well as the docket number of any related action before the Judge. iii. The first paragraph of all letters must set forth the date of the next conference before the Court. B. Questions and Matters Requiring Immediate Attention. Questions or requests on matters of scheduling, substance or procedure should be presented by letter. For matters requiring immediate attention, please email Chambers at: CastelNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.

4. Confidentiality Orders. Any proposed Confidentiality Order shall contain the following language: "Notwithstanding any other provision, no document may be filed with the Clerk under seal without a further Order of this Court addressing the specific documents or portions of documents to be sealed. Any application to seal shall be accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits and a memorandum of law, demonstrating that the standards for sealing have been met and specifically addressing the applicability of Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110, 119-120 (2d Cir. 2006) and any other controlling authority. Unless otherwise ordered, a party seeking to file an opposing party's confidential information shall so advise the opposing party fourteen (14) days in advance specifying the precise portion of the information the party seeks to use, the general purpose thereof and any redactions to which the party does not object. Within seven (7) days thereafter, the party whose confidential information is sought to be used may make an application to seal..." 5. Sealing in Civil and Miscellaneous Cases: ECF Requirements B. Sealing/Redaction Requiring Court Approval. Motions or Letter Motions for approval of sealed or redacted filings must be filed electronically through the court's ECF system in conformity with the Court's Standing Order, 19-mc-00583, and ECF Rules & Instructions, section 6. The motion must be filed in public view, must explain the particular reasons for seeking to file that information under seal and should not include confidential information. Supporting papers must be separately filed electronically. The proposed sealed document must be contemporaneously filed under seal in the ECF system. Where the motion seeks approval to redact: (a) publicly file the document with the proposed redactions, and (b) electronically file under seal a copy of the unredacted document with the proposed redactions highlighted.

B. Discovery Disputes. Discovery Disputes shall be brought on by letter motion and the parties shall comply with Local Civil Rule 37.2 unless otherwise ordered. A Discovery Dispute Letter to the Court shall contain the certification required under Rule 37(a)(1), Fed. R. Civ. P., and set forth the full text of any discovery request and response or objection thereto, together with any case law support and any affidavits required to adjudicate the issue. The party from whom discovery is sought shall respond within four business days and shall include any case law support and any affidavits required to adjudicate the motion.