The Court will set all newly-filed and reassigned cases for an initial status hearing approximately 60 days after the filing of the complaint. The initial status hearing will be the scheduling conference as required by Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b); Local Rule 16.1. The parties must meet and conduct a planning conference as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f). If the defendant(s) have not been served by the initial status date, counsel for plaintiff is to contact the Courtroom Deputy to reschedule the status hearing and the date for filing an initial status report. If plaintiff is seeking a default, no status report is required.

The parties must file a Joint Initial Status Report, not to exceed seven pages, at least seven days before the initial status hearing. If defense counsel has not yet filed an appearance, plaintiff’s counsel should prepare the status report. The Joint Initial Status Report shall follow the format in this link.

The purpose of the initial status report is to inform the court of the main issues in the case in order to have a productive discussion at the initial status conference regarding deadlines to be set for the parties.

Every case has an assigned Magistrate Judge, and in civil cases the parties may consent to have the assigned Magistrate Judge try the case. In many cases, consent to refer the entire case to the Magistrate Judge may offer significant efficiencies and greater certainty in scheduling the trial. All counsel in civil cases should inform their clients of this option and discuss it with opposing counsel. The Court strongly encourages counsel to inform their clients of this option, and to discuss it with opposing counsel. Click here for the Form.