UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
CHAMBERS OF CLARKSON S. FISHER BLDG. &
RUKHSANAH L. SINGH U.S. COURTHOUSE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 402 E. STATE STREET
TRENTON, NJ 08608
(609) 989-0502
CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER
The following shall apply to civil matters assigned to Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L.
Singh. Failure to comply with the terms of this Order may result in sanctions pursuant to the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 16(f) and 37.
1. Communications with the Court. All communications to the Court shall be in
writing via CM/ECF, unless otherwise directed or permitted by the Court. Telephone calls to
chambers will be permitted as to administrative matters only or as otherwise directed by the
Court. Email and fax communications will not be accepted or considered unless expressly
authorized by the Court.
2. Adjournments. Conferences are scheduled with ample notice to the parties.
Adjournment requests shall only be considered if made at least two (2) business days prior to a
scheduled conference. The party seeking an adjournment should attempt to gain the consent of
all other parties before submitting said request. The request should be made in writing via
CM/ECF as a letter request. The request must set forth: (a) the date of the conference; (b) the
length of adjournment requested; (c) the basis for the adjournment request; (d) whether all parties
consent to or oppose the request; and (e) whether the adjournment request, if granted, would
impact other scheduled dates or deadlines. Absent exigent circumstances, adjournment requests
made after two (2) business before a conference shall not be granted.
3. Extensions. Requests for extensions of time shall only be considered if made at
least two (2) business days prior to a scheduled deadline. The party seeking an extension of time
should attempt to gain the consent of all other parties before submitting said request. The request
should be made in writing via CM/ECF as a letter request. The request must set forth: (a) the
currently scheduled deadline(s) sought to be extended; (b) the length of extension requested; (c)
the basis for the extension request; (d) whether all parties consent to or oppose the request; and
(e) whether the extension request, if granted, would impact other scheduled dates or deadlines.
4. Courtesy Copies. One (1) copy of all filed papers exceeding ten (10) pages per
individual document shall be provided to Chambers by mail or personal delivery. Exhibits to
any papers should be separated with corresponding exhibit tabs. All documents provided to
Chambers shall be filed-stamped.
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5. Formal Motions. Other than motions filed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12, motions to remand within the time provided by 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c), and motions expressly
permitted by this Case Management Order, formal motions shall not be filed without prior leave
from this Court.
6. Discovery Disputes and Applications. Discovery disputes and applications shall
proceed in accordance with Local Civil Rules 16.1 and 37.1. Should counsel fail in their good
faith efforts to resolve the dispute by conferring pursuant to Local Civil Rule 37.1, the matter
shall be brought to the Court’s attention through a joint letter that sets forth:
(a) the request;
(b) the response;
(c) efforts to resolve the dispute;
(d) the position of the complaining party;
(e) the position of the responding party; and, if applicable,
(f) the efforts of a party to contact a non-responsive party to meet and confer and
submit the joint letter.
No further letter submissions regarding the dispute may be submitted without leave of
Court. All letters should be double-spaced and submitted via CM/ECF, unless such letters
contain information subject to a Discovery Confidentiality Order, in which case they may be
submitted via email to
[email protected].
Formal discovery motions may be filed only upon leave of Court and only after the parties
have proceeded in accordance with Local Civil Rules 16.1 and 37.1.
Motions to secure enforcement of a subpoena or to quash a subpoena involving third
parties must be made with notice to the relevant third party.
7. Motions to Amend. Motions to amend must comply with Local Civil Rule 15.1
and shall be accompanied with a proposed amended pleading with black- or red-lined edits that
clearly indicate the proposed changes.
8. Motions to Seal. Motions to seal must comply with Local Civil Rule 5.3(c) and
must include a proposed order and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. In addition,
the proposed order must include reference to the docket entries the party seeks to seal. Counsel
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shall make every effort to secure the consent of all parties regarding the request to seal and the
movant shall certify as to whether all parties consent in its application.
9. Confidentiality Orders. The parties are encouraged to use the form discovery
confidentiality order found at Appendix S of the Local Civil Rules. If the parties submit their
own version of a confidentiality order, which differs from Appendix S, they must submit: (1) a
clean version of the proposed order that is ready for signature; and (2) an additional version that
shall indicate in what respect(s) it differs from Appendix S by bracketing or striking through
materials to be deleted and underlining materials to be added.
10. Confidential Submissions. Settlement letters and discovery dispute letters
containing information subject to a Discovery Confidentiality Order may be submitted to the
Court via email to
[email protected].
11. Pro hac vice Applications. Requests for pro hac vice admission should be made
by informal letter application filed via CM/ECF. The application shall comply with Local Civil
Rule 101.1(c) and include a proposed form of order. The applicant shall set forth whether all
parties consent to the application. Any party opposing an application for pro hac vice admission
must submit a letter stating forth its basis for the opposition within two (2) business days of the
filing of the initial application for admission.
12. Settlement Conferences. Trial counsel as well as persons with full settlement
authority must appear at settlement conferences, unless prior permission has been granted to
participate by telephone. The parties must exchange a demand and offer before the settlement
conference.
Each party shall submit, by email to
[email protected], a confidential settlement
memorandum of no more than ten (10) double-spaced pages no later than five (5) business days
before the conference. The settlement memorandum shall: outline the party’s respective
position(s); identify information on what is important to the client and any barriers to settlement;
identify the contemplated terms material to a settlement; and detail the demand(s) and offer(s)
made to date.
If trial counsel and clients do not comply with this Order, the settlement conference may be
canceled or rescheduled and the noncompliant party and/or attorney may be sanctioned, which
may include an assessment of the costs and expenses incurred by those parties who appeared as
directed.
13. Final Pretrial Conferences. The Court conducts final pretrial conferences
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(e). The parties shall contact Chambers for a
model version of the joint final pretrial order applicable to the District Judge assigned to the
matter. The Court expects to engage in meaningful settlement discussions at final pretrial
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conferences. Therefore, trial counsel as well as persons with full settlement authority must attend
the conferences, unless prior permission has been granted to participate by telephone. The Final
Pretrial Conference will proceed even if there are dispositive motions pending.
The parties shall submit, by email and regular mail, one (1) copy of the joint proposed final
pretrial order no later than three (3) weeks before the conference.
If the parties do not comply with this Order, the final pretrial conference may be canceled
or rescheduled and the attorney may be sanctioned, which may include an assessment of the costs
and expenses incurred by those parties who appeared as directed.
/s Rukhsanah L. Singh
RUKHSANAH L. SINGH
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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