UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT GREENEVILLE
, )
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
) No: 2:16-cv-00010-JRG-MCLC
, )
Defendants, )
)
)
SCHEDULING ORDER
ALL PARTIES MUST THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDER,
WHICH SHALL GOVERN ALL PROCEEDINGS IN THIS ACTION UNLESS
SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED BY WRITTEN ORDER FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN. THE
PARTIES SHOULD MAKE PARTICULAR NOTE OF ALL DATES AND DEADLINES
SET BY THIS ORDER. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ORDER, INCLUDING THE
SCHEDULED TRIAL DATE MUST BE MADE WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF THE ENTRY
OF THIS ORDER. THEREAFTER, A CONTINUANCE OF THE TRIAL OR AN
EXTENSION OF ANY DEADLINES CONTAINED HEREIN WILL ONLY BE GRANTED
UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. FURTHERMORE, AGREED ORDERS
CHANGING ANY DEADLINES WILL NOT BE ENTERED.
The parties have now filed their Rule 26(f) report. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f). Therefore,
pursuant to Rule 16(b), it is hereby ORDERED as follows:
(1) PARTIES: The plaintiff, , is represented by , Esquire. The defendant, , is
represented by , Esquire.
(2) JURISDICTION: In this case, the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court has been
invoked pursuant to U.S.C. § , and is not in dispute.
(3) CONSENT TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE: The parties have not consented that all
proceedings in this case may be conducted by a United States Magistrate Judge in accordance
with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
(4) EXPERT TESTIMONY: Disclosure of any expert testimony in accordance with Rule
26(a)(2) shall be made by the plaintiff on or before (T - 56 weeks)1 , and by the defendant on
or before (T – 51 weeks) .
Any objections to a proposed expert witness's qualifications, or that witness's competency
to offer an expert opinion, or any objection to an expert's testimony under Federal Rules of
Evidence 701 through 706 and Daubert, shall be filed by (T – 47 weeks) .
(5) STATUS REPORT: The parties shall file a written status report detailing the case's
progress on (T – 56 weeks) . Failure to file this report will result in an in-person status
conference before the Court.
(6) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION/ MEDIATION: The parties have been
advised of the availability of the Federal Court Mediation Program and the parties have agreed to
consider utilization of the program. On or before (T – 47 weeks) , the parties shall jointly
notify the Court, in a pleading to be filed in the same manner as other pleadings, as to whether or
not an agreement has been reached by the parties to utilize mediation. If no agreement to utilize
mediation has been reached by the parties, the pleading must contain a statement that the matter
is not suitable for mediation and the reasons therefore. Unless the matter is shown not to be
suitable for mediation, the Court may, with or without the agreement of the parties, and except
1
In general, all dates are selected based on a trial date approximately 18 months from the filing of the Rule 26(f)
Report. This order will reflect a typical setting based on the number of weeks a deadline is usually set counting
back from the trial date. The format will be trial date minus a certain number of weeks: (T – #of weeks).
for those cases exempted pursuant to Local Rule 16.3, refer all or part of the underlying dispute
to mediation.
If this Court orders the parties to utilize mediation, THE TRIAL DATE AND
REMAINING DEADLINES WILL NOT BE CANCELLED OR EXTENDED.
(7) DISCOVERY CUT-OFF: Discovery will be completed by (T – 43 weeks) .
Discovery requests, in the absence of an agreement to extend the deadline, in writing, by the
parties, shall be made so as to permit the answering party the time permitted under the Rules
within which to respond prior to the discovery cut-off.
(8) MOTIONS:
(a) Any motions to amend the pleadings or add new parties must be filed by (T –
60 weeks) .
(b) Any motion for judgment on the pleadings filed pursuant to Rule 12(c) shall
be filed by (T – 56 weeks) .
(c) All dispositive motions will be filed by (T – 30 weeks) . Any motion for
summary judgment filed pursuant to Rule 56, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, must be
accompanied by a separate concise statement of material facts as to which the moving party
contends there is no genuine issue for trial. Each fact shall be set forth in a separate, numbered
paragraph. Each fact shall be supported by a specific citation to the record. Any party opposing
the motion for summary judgment must serve and file, along with that party's response to the
motion for summary judgment, a response to each fact set forth by the movant either (1) agreeing
that the fact is undisputed, (2) agreeing that the fact is undisputed for purposes of ruling on the
motion for summary judgment only, or (3) demonstrating that the fact is disputed. Each disputed
fact must be support by specific citation to the record. The non-moving party's response may
contain a concise statement of any additional facts that the non-moving party contends are
material and as to which the non-moving party contends there exists a genuine issue to be tried,
with each such disputed fact to be set forth in a separate, numbered paragraph with specific
citations to the record supporting the contention that such fact is in dispute. If the non-moving
party has asserted additional facts, the moving party shall be allowed to respond to these
additional facts by filing a reply statement in the same manner and within the time permitted for
replies pursuant to the Local Rules of this Court.
The Court reserves the right sua sponte to STRIKE any statements of fact or responsive
statements that fail to comply with these requirements. This likely will be done without affording
a party a second chance to comply with these requirements.
(d) There shall be no stay of discovery pending disposition of any motion absent a
showing of good cause.
(e) Failure to respond to any motion, dispositive or nondispositive, may be
deemed a waiver of any opposition to the relief sought.
(9) EXHIBITS AND WITNESS LISTS: By (T – 9 weeks) , all parties shall:
(a) Exchange lists of all exhibits and designation of depositions to be placed in
evidence and PRODUCE THOSE EXHIBITS FOR INSPECTION BY OPPOSING PARTIES.
In addition, the parties shall MARK AND NUMBER ALL EXHIBITS with exhibit stickers
obtained from the United States Clerk's Office, Greeneville Division. The parties shall place the
case number on the stickers. Also, the defendant shall begin numbering defense exhibits with the
next successive number after the last number used by the plaintiff.
Unless written objection is made by a motion in limine to the authenticity and/or
admissibility of an exhibit, or designation, the authenticity and/or admissibility of the exhibit or
designation is admitted. If a party files a motion in limine regarding an exhibit, the motion shall
refer to the exhibit by the number marked by the parties during their exchange.
(b) Furnish opposing parties a list of damages if damages are claimed.
(c) Exchange a list of witnesses who are expected to testify.
(10) COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY:
(a) The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee uses the Jury
Evidence Recording System (JERS) to capture evidence electronically during a trial. Admitted
evidence will be released to the jury during deliberations unless the Court specifically directs
otherwise, and the evidence can be played back by the jury in the deliberation room. In order to
best facilitate presentation of evidence at trial and use of the JERS, the parties are STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED to provide their exhibits to the courtroom deputy by (T – 1 week) . The
exhibits shall be the exhibits that were previously marked and numbered by the parties. The
exhibits SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT.
Information on JERS, specific requirements, and equipment supplied by the Court
is available on the Eastern District of Tennessee website (www.tned.uscourts.gov). Specific
questions about Court-supplied equipment should be direct to the courtroom deputy (directory
available on website).
(b) At least five (5) days before the final pretrial conference, the parties
shall disclose, to one another and to the courtroom deputy, technology they intend to use in the
courtroom during the trial and how they intend to use it (e.g., display equipment; data storage,
retrieval, or presentation devices). This disclosure shall list (1) equipment they intend to bring
into the courtroom to use, and (2) equipment supplied by the Court the parties intend to use. The
parties shall confirm the compatibility/viability of their planned use of technology with the
Court's equipment on or before this same date.
(11) DEPOSITIONS FOR PROOF: Depositions for evidence shall be conducted no
later than (T – 9 weeks) , unless all parties agree otherwise, which agreement shall be
memorialized in writing, or unless leave of Court is granted. However, no depositions shall be
taken after the date that motions in limine are due.
(12) MOTIONS IN LIMINE: All motions in limine in regard to exhibits, depositions,
witnesses, and/or video tapes with supporting authority must be filed by (T – 7 weeks) , with
responses to motions in limine due by (T – 5 weeks) . These motions may be heard at the
pretrial conference by the Magistrate Judge. If a motion in regard to the exclusion of a portion of
a video tape is granted, that tape must be edited before trial. A motion in limine is not a
substitute for the filing of an appropriate dispositive motion. A motion in limine that is
dispositive in nature is subject to summary denial.
(13) PROPOSED FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER: Unless counsel are otherwise directed
by the Court, the following shall govern with regard to the pretrial order in this particular case.
Five (5) days before the final pretrial conference, a proposed final pretrial order shall be filed.
The order shall contain the following recitals:
(a) Jurisdiction.
(b) Admissions and Stipulations. The parties shall set out in separately numbered
paragraphs each fact that is not in dispute. The parties are reminded that the Court, in an effort to
reduce the need for evidence at and length of trial, expects them to approach this task in a good
faith effort to agree on all relevant facts for which there is no reasonable basis for disagreement.
In a jury trial, this section will be read to the jury, and the jury will be instructed to accept these
facts as true.
(c) General Nature of the Claims of the Parties.
i. Short summary of plaintiff's theory. For each defendant, each plaintiff
shall concisely state each legal theory relied upon and shall set out the factual allegations which
the plaintiff expects to prove in support of each theory. Vague, conclusory, and general claims
and allegations are not acceptable. By this stage of the proceedings, plaintiff is expected to know
what the claims are and must state precisely and succinctly the issues expected to be tried. Each
claim must be set out in a separately numbered paragraph, appropriately labeled.
ii. Short summary of defendant's theory. For each claim against a
defendant, each defendant shall concisely state each legal theory relied upon and shall set out the
factual allegations which the defendant expects to prove in support of each such legal theory.
Vague, conclusory, and general claims and allegations are not acceptable. By this state of the
proceedings, defendant is expected to know what the defenses are and must state precisely and
succinctly the issues expected to be tried. Each defense must be set out in a separately numbered
paragraph appropriately labeled.
(d) Contested Issues of Law.
(e) Damages. If damages cannot be stipulated, each party must show the method
by which damages should be calculated if awarded.
(f) Other Trial Information and Other Matters.
i. That the pleadings are amended to conform to the pretrial order.
ii. Estimated length of trial (in working days).
iii. Possibility of settlement.
Forty-five (45) days before the final pretrial conference (47 days if service by mail),
plaintiff's counsel shall serve opposing counsel with a proposed pretrial order containing the
above items except for the theory of defendant. Within five (5) working days after receipt
thereof, opposing counsel shall furnish plaintiff's counsel with defendant's theory and advise of
any disagreement as to the issues or other matters in the proposed pretrial order. The parties shall
make diligent, good faith efforts to reconcile any differences promptly and without the necessity
of the Court's intercession. If the parties cannot agree on a pretrial order, plaintiff's counsel shall
notify the undersigned's office at least twenty (20) days before the final pretrial conference that
the parties have, in a face-to-face conference, been unsuccessful, after a good faith effort, to
agree upon a pretrial order. Thereafter, the undersigned may enter a pretrial order prior to or after
the pretrial conference. Proposed amendments to a pretrial order entered ex parte by a District
Judge or Magistrate Judge may be sought by motion filed ten (10) days following entry of the
order.
Failure to file an agreed pretrial order or to notify the undersigned's office that one
cannot be agreed upon as required herein may be deemed a failure to prosecute the action
and the action dismissed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
(14) FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE: There shall be a final pretrial conference to
be held before the Court at the United States Courthouse in Greeneville, Tennessee at (T – 4
weeks) . on . At the final pretrial conference, the parties shall produce all previously marked
exhibits for inspection by the Clerk. Any exhibit not produced will not be used at trial.
(15) PRETRIAL FILINGS: Preferably after the Magistrate Judge has entered orders on
all motions in limine, but NO LATER THAN seven (7) days prior to trial, the parties shall file
electronically:
(a) File a final witness list listing only those witnesses that will definitely be used
at trial. Rebuttal or character witnesses need not be mentioned.
(b) File a final exhibit list listing the exhibits previously marked. The list shall
refer to the exhibit by exhibit number and whether it was marked for identification purposes only
due to a ruling by the Magistrate Judge.
(c) File a list of damages preferably stipulated to by all parties. If damages cannot
be stipulated, a list must be filed by each party showing the method by which damages were
determined.
(d) File designations of depositions or portions thereof which will be read at trial.
(e) File as an exhibit résumés of all expert witnesses.
(f) File all proposed jury instructions with supporting authority. A failure to
submit a proposed special instruction that is reasonably foreseeable by this deadline may result in
a summary denial of such a request.
(g) File a proposed verdict form for consideration. It is preferable that the parties
submit a joint proposed verdict form. However, it is not required.
(16) TRIAL: The TRIAL of this cause will commence at 9:00 A.M. on (18 months from
filing Rule 26(f) Report; almost always on a Tuesday) , with a jury, at the U. S. Courthouse in
Greeneville, Tennessee.2 Parties who settle on this date will be charged with the costs of the jury.
The expected length of trial is zero (0) days. For non-jury issues, the parties shall file proposed
findings of fact and conclusions of law with citations of authorities supporting the latter and
specific references to trial testimony and evidence no more than ten (10) days after the
conclusion of the trial.
2
The demands of the Court’s docket dictate that all civil cases be scheduled for trial in Greeneville, Tennessee,
regardless of the division in which the case was originally filed. However, the Court will entertain motions to
conduct trial in another division of this Court upon a showing of good cause by the parties. Any such motions must
be filed after the dispositive motions deadline but no later than four weeks before the final pretrial conference, and
the grant or denial of the same rests in the Court’s sole discretion.
NOTE: THIS TRIAL DATE WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED
EXCEPT UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
The parties shall be prepared to commence trial on the date which has been assigned. If
the case is not heard immediately, it will be held in line until the following day or any day
thereafter during the next ten (10) available days.
(17) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER SHALL RESULT IN THE
EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES, WITNESSES, EXHIBITS, DEPOSITIONS, AND/OR
VIDEO TAPES FROM EVIDENCE AT TRIAL.
ENTER:
