The Court schedules a scheduling conference within approximately two weeks after the answer is filed. At the scheduling conference, the Court establishes dates for motion cutoff, discovery cutoff, witness list deadline, final pretrial conference, and trial. Under unusual circumstances, or upon special request by an out-of-town counsel (provided that local counsel is present), a status or pretrial conference may be conducted by telephone. Other conferences regarding special problems or a settlement conference may be scheduled upon request.