The Court issues a Rule 16(b) Scheduling Order following the scheduling conference after the Answer to the Complaint is filed. Status conferences are held on a case-by-case basis. Settlement conferences are held upon parties' request and at final pretrial conference. Parties generally are required to attend pretrial/settlement conferences. Scheduling and status conferences, but not pretrial/settlement conferences, may be conducted by telephone for out of state counsel if arranged in advance. All conferences are generally held on Monday afternoons.