Conferences

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The Court routinely schedules a scheduling conference at which the motion cutoff, discovery cutoff, final pretrials and trials dates are set in addition to due dates for the final pretrials order and jury instructions. Other status conferences are held if requested by attorneys, if an unusual number of discovery problems arise, or if there is a need to resolve procedural or legal issues. Status and/or pretrials conferences can be conducted by telephone with out-of-town counsel and occasionally in other appropriate cases with the prior approval of the Court.

Settlement is discussed at the final pretrials conference. Also, settlement conferences are conducted upon request. Amendments to pleading are permitted rather than dismissal for lack of particularity, and no particularized calculations of damages are required.

The Court's Scheduling Order is issued at the initial pretrials conference with input from the attorneys regarding the cutoff dates.