(a) Motion to Consolidate
If a party seeks to have its case consolidated with one or more cases pending in this district, the
party may file a motion to consolidate the cases. If possible, the motion to consolidate should be
filed in the earliest filed case, with a notice of the motion filed in the later filed case(s). If a party
is unable to file the motion to consolidate in the earliest filed case, for example because it is not a
party to that case, it may file the motion in its own case. The motion will be heard by the judge
to whom the earliest filed case is assigned. Unless all cases are pending before the same judge,
the court will consider, as a preliminary matter, whether to transfer the cases to ensure that all
related cases are pending before the same judge.
(b) Meet and Confer Requirement
Prior to filing a motion to consolidate, the parties must meet and confer and attempt to reach
agreement regarding whether the cases should be consolidated and whether consolidation should
extend through trial. If they agree, the parties must file a stipulation to consolidate in all of the
cases to be consolidated. The stipulation should also address, to the extent possible, any
scheduling issues implicated by consolidation such as which case schedule should govern in the
consolidated action.
Civil Rules
