Initial Status Report; Final Pretrial Order for Civil Jury Trial Cases; Final Pretrial Order for Civil Bench Trial Cases; Initial Reassignment Status Report; Waiver of Appearance form

=== Initial Status Report ===

[CASE CAPTION] [JOINT] INITIAL STATUS REPORT 1. The Nature of the Case: A. Identify (names and contact information) for all attorneys of record for each party, including the lead trial attorney. B. Briefly describe the nature of the claims asserted in the complaint and any Counterclaims and/or third party claims. C. Briefly identify the major legal and factual issues in the case. D. State the relief sought by any of the parties. 2. Jurisdiction: Explain why the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiff(s)’ claim(s). A. Identify all federal statutes on which federal question jurisdiction is based. B. If jurisdiction over any claims is based on diversity or supplemental jurisdiction: (1) State whether/why the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional threshold or whether there is a dispute regarding the amount in controversy (and, if so, the basis of that dispute). (2) Identify the state of citizenship of each named party. For unincorporated associations, LLC’s, partnerships and other business entities that are not corporations, the state(s) in which any individual members of the business unit are citizens must be identified. NOTE 1: Individuals are citizens of the state where they are domiciled; that may or may not be the state where they currently reside. See Heinen v. Northrop Grumman Corp., 671 F.3d 669 (7th Cir. 2012). NOTE 2: The report must address whether there is diversity in any case in which pendent jurisdiction over state law claims is asserted, so that the Court may exercise informed discretion about whether to resolve such claims in the event that the federal question claims are resolved or dismissed. 3. Status of Service: Identify any defendants that have not been served. 4. Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge: Confirm that counsel have advised the parties that they may proceed before a Magistrate Judge if they consent unanimously and advise whether there is, or is not, unanimous consent. Do NOT report whether individual parties have so consented. 5. Motions: A. Briefly describe any pending motions. B. State whether the defendant(s) anticipate responding to the complaint by filing an Answer or by means of motion. NOTE 3: If the latter, counsel should be prepared to discuss at the Initial Status Hearing the basis of the anticipated motion. 6. Status of Settlement Discussions: A. Indicate whether any settlement discussions have occurred; B. Describe the status of any settlement discussions; and C. Whether the parties request a settlement conference. NOTE 4: Do NOT provide the particulars of any demands/offers that have been made. 7. Proposed Case Management Schedule to include at least the following dates: A. Initial disclosures per Rule 26(a)(1) and 26(e)(1) B. Deadline to join parties or to seek leave to amend C. Close of fact discovery D. Close of expert discovery (if contemplated) E. Deadlines to file class certification, Daubert motions, and summary judgment motions (if contemplated)

=== Waiver of Appearance form ===

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. _____________________________, Defendant. No. __ CR _____ Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. WAIVER OF APPEARANCE I, ________________________, hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive my right to attend the [status / motion] hearing scheduled on _______________. I acknowledge that I have read this waiver form in its entirety, have discussed it with my attorney, and understand that: 1. I have the right to personally attend all hearings in this case. 2. With the Court’s consent, I may waive my right to appear for specific status and motion hearings in this case. 3. If I choose not to attend a hearing in this case, the hearing will go forward in my absence, and my absence will not limit the matters addressed during the hearing or affect the nature or scope of the rulings that the Court may enter at the hearing. 4. Decisions that my attorney makes in my absence at such hearing will be binding upon me. 5. No transcript of the hearing will be prepared solely on account of my absence. 6. My waiver to appear at the hearing identified on this form does not waive my appearance at any other hearing. Accordingly, I request that the Court accept my waiver of appearance at the hearing presently scheduled for __________________. Dated: ______________________ ____________________ Defendant ___________________ Attorney for Defendant