UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
CHAMBERS OF CLARKSON S. FISHER BLDG. &
JUSTIN T. QUINN U.S. COURTHOUSE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 402 E. STATE STREET
TRENTON, NJ 08608
(609) 989-2144
CIVIL CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER
The following shall apply to civil matters assigned to Magistrate Judge Justin
T. Quinn. 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 either 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.
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4. Courtesy Copies. Judge Quinn does not require parties to submit
courtesy copies of filings.
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 in the following manner:
a) The party(ies) seeking relief shall file a letter with the Court,
which shall be double-spaced shall not exceed ten (10) pages,
regardless of the number of disputed issues. The letter must
identify the relevant request(s), the response(s) to the request(s),
and the efforts taken to resolve the dispute.
b) The party(ies) opposing the relief sought shall file a response
within five (5) days. The response shall be double-spaced and is
limited to ten pages.
c) Replies are not permitted without leave of Court.
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 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.
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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. Only settlement memorandum shall 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 five (5) 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.
Exhibits to settlement memorandum are not required, but if included should not
exceed twenty (20) pages.
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.
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13. Final Pretrial Conferences. The Court conducts final pretrial
conferences pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(e). The form of final
pretrial order the Court utilizes for each District Judge can be downloaded from this
link: https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/sample-pre-trial-orders. The Court expects to
engage in meaningful settlement discussions at final pretrial 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.
14. Oral Argument. Judge Quinn will schedule oral argument on an as-
needed basis. That said, if a party believes oral argument is necessary, the party
shall file a letter with the Court explaining why oral argument is either needed or
would be helpful. Circumstances where the Court may grant such an application
include, but are not limited to, the briefing involves a novel issue of law and/or a
junior associate will argue the application.
s/ Justin T. Quinn
JUSTIN T. QUINN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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