The Clerk of Court of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania is authorized to tax allowable costs after judgment is entered in a civil action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1920, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d), and Local Civil Rule 54. The Clerk issues a taxation of costs following receipt of a Bill of Costs and related filings. To assist litigants with managing the process of securing a taxation of costs from the Clerk of Court, the Clerk has created Guidelines Governing the Taxation of Costs by the Clerk of Court (the “Guidelines”), which will be effective as of February 28, 2022. The Guidelines are available on the Attorney’s section of the Court’s website: Bill of Costs Guidelines
The Guidelines set forth both procedural requirements and deadlines, and substantive guidance concerning the costs that can be taxed by the Clerk. The Guidelines also include a listing of all CM/ECF Events related to the filing and adjudication of a Bill of Costs. Counsel should carefully review these Guidelines prior to filing or objecting to a Bill of Costs. Any party awaiting action on a previously-filed Bill of Costs shall notify the Clerk using the CM/ECF Event – Bill of Costs Request to Clerk. The party’s submission shall identify the action that the party is awaiting the Clerk to take pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Guidelines.
Note that the Guidelines apply only when the Clerk of Court is making a determination on a Bill of Costs. They do not control if the Clerk’s cost determination is submitted to the presiding judge for review or if the presiding judge is awarding costs or fees.