(a) Initial Attorney’s Conference. As soon as practicable, and in any event not later
than fourteen (14) days from joinder of the issues (as defined in Section (d) below), the parties or
their counsel must confer as provided by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and conduct an “Initial Attorney’s
Conference” (“IAC”). Counsel must also discuss at the IAC each party’s willingness to consent
to jurisdiction of the United States Magistrate Judge. See LCvR 73.1(c). Where the parties believe
the filing of an amended complaint or other amended initial pleading justifies changing the
Scheduling Order, the parties must conduct a supplemental attorney’s conference and file an
appropriate motion with the Court.
(b) Deadline for Filing the Certificate of Initial Attorney’s Conference. Within seven
(7) days of the IAC, the parties must file the Certificate of Initial Attorney’s Conference which
must include a proposed discovery plan. The Certificate of Initial Attorney’s Conference will
serve as a guideline for the Court in issuing a Scheduling Order as provided by Fed. R. Civ. P.
16(b). Parties stipulating out of, or objecting to, the mandatory initial disclosure procedure under
Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) must so indicate in the discovery plan.
(c) Filing of Joint Stipulation of Consent to United States Magistrate Judge
Jurisdiction. Where all parties consent to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge, a
separate Joint Stipulation of Consent to Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate
Judge must be filed either with the Certificate of Initial Attorney’s Conference as provided in
