Judge P. Casey Pitts · Standing Order Regarding Discovery Disputes
Not Referred to the Magistrate Judge
This order supplements the Federal Rules, Civil Local Rules, and Judge Pitts’s Standing Order
for Civil Cases and describes the procedure for resolving discovery disputes not referred to the
magistrate judge.
In the rare cases where Judge Pitts is overseeing discovery, the following procedures apply.
Discovery disputes should be brought to the Court’s attention as early as possible. If the parties
cannot resolve their discovery dispute after a good faith effort, they shall prepare and file a joint
letter of no longer than 5 pages stating the nature and status of their dispute. Both sides must
submit proposed orders as well. No exhibits may be submitted with the letter other than any
discovery request or response that is the subject of the letter. The letter must be filed as soon as
possible, but under no circumstances may it be filed more than 7 days after the applicable
discovery cutoff, per Civil Local Rule 37-3.
The side seeking relief from the Court should prepare its portion of the letter first, and then
provide that portion to the opposing side so that the opposing side may prepare its response.
The party seeking relief from the Court should file the letter. The Court may resolve the dispute
on the papers or schedule a hearing. The joint discovery letter process does not apply to
discovery disputes with third parties.
