IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
STANDING ORDER REGARDING PROPER NOTIFICATION OF
SETTLEMENT TO THE COURT
WHEREAS, consistency and uniformity in both the form and substance of the method of
notification used by parties to advise the Court when a matter has been settled and resolved is of material
benefit to the Court and promotes the Court’s ability to monitor and manage its docket;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT promptly upon the settlement in principle of any
case pending before this Court, whether such settlement is reached by formal mediation, privately
between the parties or otherwise, the parties shall jointly file a motion with the Court styled as follows:
Joint Motion To Stay All Deadlines and Notice of Settlement. Such joint motion shall affirmatively state
that all matters in controversy between the parties have been settled, in principle, and shall request that
the Court stay for some specific and reasonable period of time the unreached deadlines contained in the
Court’s Docket Control Order, or stay the entry of a Docket Control Order if one has yet to be entered, so
that appropriate dismissal papers may be submitted. In most cases the Court will not afford more than
thirty. (30) days in which to submit dismissal papers but in exceptional cases the Court may grant a longer
period for such submission. A motion indicating that the parties are communicating about settlement but
one which stops short of an express indication that the matters in controversy have, in fact, settled will not
ordinarily support or prompt from the Court an order staying the existing deadlines. Other filings (such as
and for example only--a mere notice of settlement) shall not be adequate to comply with this order or to
secure a stay of existing deadlines. Such noncompliant filings shall not support later requests to reset
missed deadlines or otherwise amend the docket control order.
SIGNED this 19th day of December, 2011.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 3rd day of June, 2014.
____________________________________
RODNEY GILSTRAP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
