CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES

(a) Conduct of Case Management Conferences. Case management conferences shall be presided over by a judicial officer who, in furtherance of the scheduling order required by L.R. 16.1(f), may: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) explore the possibility of settlement; identify or formulate (or order the attorneys to formulate) the principal issues in contention; prepare (or order the attorneys to prepare) a specific discovery schedule and discovery plan that, if the presiding judicial officer deems appropriate, might: (A) (B) (C) identify and limit the volume of discovery available in order to avoid unnecessary or unduly burdensome or expensive discovery; sequence discovery into two or more stages; and include time limits set for the completion of discovery; establish deadlines for filing motions and a time framework for their disposition; provide for the “phased resolution” or “bifurcation of issues for trial” consistent with Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(b); and explore any other matter that the judicial officer determines is appropriate for the fair and efficient management of the litigation. (b) Obligation of Counsel to Confer. The judicial officer may require counsel for the parties to confer before the case management conference for the purpose of preparing a joint statement containing: (1) (2) an agenda of matters that one or more parties believe should be addressed at the conference; and a report advising the judicial officer whether the case is progressing within the allotted time limits and in accord with the specified pretrial steps.

This statement is to be filed with the court no later than 7 days before the case management conference. 24 (c) Additional Case Management Conferences. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent the convening of additional case management conferences by the judicial officer as may be thought appropriate in the circumstances of the particular case. In any event, a conference should not terminate without the parties being instructed as to when and for what purpose they are to return to the court.

Adopted effective October 1, 1992, amended effective December 1, 2009. 25