(a) Conduct of Case Management Conferences: Case management
conferences shall be presided over by a judicial officer who, in furtherance of the
scheduling order required by LR Civ P 16.01(e), may:
(1) explore the possibility of settlement;
(2) identify the principal issues in contention;
(3) prepare a specific discovery schedule and plan that may:
(i) identify and limit the discovery available to avoid
unnecessary, unduly burdensome or expensive discovery,
(ii) sequence discovery into two (2) or more stages, and
(iii) include time limits for the completion of discovery;
(4) establish deadlines for filing motions and a schedule for their
disposition;
(5) consider the bifurcation of issues for trial as set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P.
42(b); and
(6) explore any other matter appropriate for the management of the case.
(b) Obligation of Counsel to Confer: The judicial officer may require counsel
and unrepresented parties to confer before a case management conference and
prepare a statement containing:
(1) an agenda of matters that any party believes should be addressed at
the case management conference; and
(2) a report of whether the case is progressing within the allotted time
limits and in accord with specified pretrial steps.
This statement is to be filed no later than seven (7) days before the case
management conference.
(c) Number of Case Management Conferences and Orders: The judicial officer
may convene as many case management conferences as appropriate.
After a case management conference, the judicial officer shall enter an order
reciting the action taken. The order shall control the subsequent course of the action
and may be modified in the same manner as a scheduling order under LR Civ P
16.01(f).
