Conferences

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The Court routinely issues the notice scheduling a status conference three to five weeks after the Answer is filed. Please notify the court if you have not received a notice of scheduling conference after five weeks. At the initial scheduling conference the parties are expected to be prepared to summarize the case and the issues, and to discuss the Court's subject matter jurisdiction. The parties are encouraged to exchange information informally, and to explore settlement and the possible value of facilitation/mediation. Attendance by counsel by telephone is discouraged and seldom permitted. Parties must attend. Each side starts with a cup of credibility.


Also at the initial scheduling conference, the Court's standing Scheduling Order is completed with the parties' involvement. Typically, the parties are required to exchange witness lists within two months. The deadline for the filing of dispositive motions is typically set at one month after the discovery cutoff.


Stipulated requests to extend the scheduling deadlines are liberally granted. Counsel must electronically file a stipulation to extend the deadlines as well as a proposed order.


The Final Pretrial and Settlement Conference is set approximately three months after the close of discovery. If a dispositive motion is pending, the Final Pretrial Conference is postponed until after the decision on the dispositive motion. The Final Pretrial Order is due one week before the Final Pretrial and Settlement Conference. A trial date is set at the Final Pretrial Conference. Case evaluation is ordered only if all parties agree.


Additional conferences with the Court, including settlement conferences, will be scheduled upon request. The Court encourages the parties to continue settlement discussions throughout the case.