MAGISTRATE JUDGE MARIA VALDEZ
219 South Dearborn Street
Courtroom 1041 Chambers 1058
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 435-5690
PREPARATION OF FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER
AND OTHER TRIAL PREPARATION MATERIALS
FOR CONSENT CASES BEFORE MAGISTRATE JUDGE VALDEZ
THE FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER
In consent cases, the Court will require the parties to prepare jointly and submit a final
pretrial order. In each particular case, the Court will set the date on which the final
pretrial order is to be filed. The final pretrial order (including the Court’s one courtesy
copy) must include the following items:
1. Jurisdiction. A statement of the basis alleged for the Court’s jurisdiction and, if
jurisdiction is disputed, the nature and basis of the dispute.
2. Case Statement. A concise joint statement of the case, which includes the
names of the parties and the attorneys who will be representing them at trial; the
nature of the case; the claims, counterclaims and cross-claims; and the defenses
raised to those claims. In a jury case, this statement will be read to the jury
during voir dire.
3. Stipulations. A statement of any stipulations reached by the parties.
4. Witness Lists. Separate lists for plaintiff and defendant providing the names
and addresses of witnesses, including experts, divided into the following three
categories: (a) witnesses who will be called to testify at trial; (b) witnesses who
may be called to testify at trial; and (c) witnesses whose testimony will be
presented by deposition or other prior testimony (indicating whether the
presentation will be by transcript or video). In a jury case, these lists will be read
to the jury during voir dire.
All expert witnesses who will or may be called must be included on the
witness list. No more than one expert will be permitted to testify on a subject
for each party. In the event that any party identifies more than one expert
witness, a brief statement of the topic of each expert’s testimony must be
provided.
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All objections to the calling of any witnesses, and the reasons for the objections,
must be stated in the pretrial order. For witnesses who will be presented by
deposition or other prior testimony, the pretrial order must include for each such
witness a chart containing the following information: (a) the testimony that each
side seeks to present, by page and line; (b) a concise statement of objections to
any testimony and the basis for the objection; and (c) a concise statement of the
asserted basis of admissibility.
5. Exhibit Lists. Lists of the trial exhibits (including demonstratives, summaries or
other specially prepared exhibits), which are to be prepared in the following
manner:
A list of any joint exhibits, which states: (a) the exhibit number for the document
(preceded by “JX”); (b) the date of the document; and (c) a brief description of
the document.
Separate lists of plaintiff’s and defendant’s exhibits, which each state: (a) the
exhibit number for the document (preceded by “PX” for plaintiff’s exhibits and
“DX” for defendant’s exhibits); (b) the date of the document; (c) a brief
description of the document; (d) whether there is a specific objection to
admission of the document and, if so, a concise statement of the basis for the
objection; and (e) a concise statement of the asserted basis of admissibility.
In addition, one courtesy copy of all exhibits must be delivered to the
Courtroom Deputy (Room 1036) on the date the final pretrial order is due.
6. Estimate of Trial Time. A statement of whether the case will be a bench trial or
jury trial, and a realistic estimate – in numbers of hours – of the length of the
trial.
7. Damage Itemization. An itemization of damages and other relief sought.
8. Motions In Limine (including Daubert motions). A list of the titles of all
motions in limine filed by each party. The actual motions in limine are not to
be bound with the final pretrial order, but must be submitted separately
according to the following schedule: If no briefing schedule has been set,
motions in limine shall be filed no later than twenty-one (21) days before the
pretrial order is to be filed and responses no later than fourteen (14) days before
the pretrial order is to be filed. The parties are reminded that they must comply
with the Local Rules of the Northern District of Illinois and this Court’s standing
orders governing motions before filing any motions, including motions in limine.
9. Proposed Voir Dire. The Court’s general voir dire questions can be obtained
from the courtroom deputy. The parties must file in the pretrial order a joint
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document that includes both (a) each party’s proposed voir dire questions, and
(b) each party’s objections, if any, to the voir dire questions proposed by other
parties.
10. Jury Instructions. The parties are instructed to meet and attempt to agree on
jury instructions and to file proposed instructions with the pretrial order. The
Court strongly believes that agreed instructions should be presented by the
parties, and whenever possible, the parties are expected to agree on all
instructions other than those about which there is a genuine, material dispute.
The parties must file a joint document setting forth all agreed and proposed jury
instructions as follows:
• The joint document must set forth all proposed prefatory instructions,
arranged in the order that the parties propose they be given. Copies of
the Court’s general pretrial instructions may be obtained from the
courtroom deputy.
• The joint document must set forth all instructions that the parties propose
to be given at the close of trial, arranged in the order that the parties
propose they be given.
• Each proposed instruction must be identified at the top of the page by
number, and must indicate the proponent of the instruction and whether
the instruction is agreed or disputed (e.g., “Agreed Plaintiff’s Proposed
Prefatory Instruction No. ____”; “Defendant’s Disputed Proposed Final
Instruction No. ____”). The bottom of each instruction must identify
the legal authority supporting that instruction. If an instruction is
disputed, the grounds for the objection (and any proposed modification or
alternate instruction) must be concisely stated on the page immediately
following the disputed instruction; on the next immediate page, the party
proposing the instruction may state concisely the reasons supporting the
instruction as proposed.
• A “clean set” of all proposed instructions (i.e., unannotated instructions
without party or numerical identification, legal authority, or legal argument)
must also be provided.
• In addition to hard copies, counsel shall furnish the Court with a CD
containing the proposed jury instructions (both annotated and clean
versions) in WordPerfect or Microsoft Word format.
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The above-referenced materials must be submitted with a cover document setting forth
the case caption and the title FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER. The cover document: (a)
must recite that each of the foregoing categories of materials is included; (b) after that
recitation, must state that “This Order will control the course of the trial and may not be
amended except by consent of the parties, or by order of the Court to prevent manifest
injustice”; and (c) must provide spaces for the signature of counsel for each of the
parties and by the Court. The parties are strongly encouraged to work together in
drafting their Final Pretrial Order, and to come to agreement to the fullest extent
possible.
BENCH TRIALS: OTHER MATERIALS TO BE FILED BEFORE TRIAL
! Proposed Findings and Conclusions. In a bench trial, proposed findings of
fact and conclusions of law are not to be included in the final pretrial order, but
are to be separately filed (with one courtesy copy delivered to chambers) seven
(7) calendar days before trial.
! Trial Briefs. Trial briefs are not required in jury trials. The Court will advise the
parties if a trial brief is required in a bench trial. Any party who has not been
advised that a trial brief is necessary but who nevertheless wishes to file a trial
brief must seek leave of the Court to do so.
THE FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
A final pretrial conference will be held as scheduled by the Court. At or by the pretrial
conference, the Court will address pending motions in limine, objections to exhibits,
objections to designations of depositions or other prior testimony, proposed voir dire
questions and issue preliminary rulings on proposed jury instructions. The Court also
will discuss with the parties trial procedures and scheduling, including a discussion on
the prospect of settlement.
The purpose of this conference is to avoid surprises and simplify the trial. Trial
counsel, fully prepared, and with authority to discuss all aspects of the case,
must attend.
ENTER:
MARIA VALDEZ
United States Magistrate Judge
October 4, 2012
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