(a) Conference Between Counsel Required. The Court will not entertain a request or a
motion to resolve a disclosure or discovery dispute unless, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
37, counsel have previously conferred for the purpose of attempting to resolve all
disputed issues. If counsel for the moving party seeks to arrange such a conference and
opposing counsel refuses or fails to confer, the Judge may impose an appropriate
sanction, which may include an order requiring payment of all reasonable expenses,
including attorney’s fees, caused by the refusal or failure to confer.
(b) Requests for Intervention During a Discovery Event. If a dispute arises during a
discovery event the parties must attempt to resolve the matter without judicial
intervention by conferring in good faith. If good faith negotiations between the parties
fail to resolve the matter, and if disposition of the dispute during the discovery event
likely would result in substantial savings of expense or time, counsel or a party may
contact the chambers of the assigned District Judge or Magistrate Judge to ask if the
Judge is available to address the problem through a telephone conference during the
discovery event.
