In most cases commenced by the filing of a complaint, the court will set a deadline to file a joint initial status report within approximately sixty days after the complaint is filed.  The deadline in a case removed from state court is ordinarily thirty days after removal.  If all defendants have not been served, an email message should be sent to Chambers_Gottschall@ilnd.uscourts.gov to request a thirty-day extension of the initial status report deadline.  Counsel in cases removed from another court should follow these procedures to the extent applicable.

The court requires that plaintiff's counsel schedule a preliminary meeting with opposing counsel, approximately fourteen days prior to the initial status report deadline, to explore settlement opportunities and identify areas of agreement.  Plaintiff's counsel shall advise opposing counsel to review Judge Gottschall’s case procedures located on the court’s website at:

/judge_display.php?LastName=Gottschall. The court recognizes that in some cases counsels’ preliminary meeting may take place before defendants have filed an answer to the complaint.  However, the court expects all defendants who have been served to participate in this process regardless of whether they have filed an answer.

The joint initial status report serves as the report of the parties’ Rule 26(f) planning conference and must:

1. Identify the attorney(s) of record for each party (including the lead attorney).  List only the attorney’s name and, if applicable, law firm name;
2. State the basis for this court’s subject matter jurisdiction;
3. Identify —

(a) Any party who has not been served in accordance with Rule 4 and indicate when service is expected to be completed;

(b) Any party who has not filed a notice of affiliates required by Local Rule 3.2; and

(c) Any party who has not filed a jurisdictional disclosure statement required by Rule 7.1(a).

  4. Describe the nature and scope of the case in no more than one paragraph;

5. Identify settlement opportunities; and

6. Propose a discovery schedule complying with Rule 16(b)(3) and a deadline for     filing the next status report (45-60 days).  A suggested format follows:

(a) Deadline to join parties:                                        [proposed date];

(b) Deadline to amend pleadings:                              [proposed date];

(c) Deadline to complete fact discovery:                    [proposed date];

(d) Deadline to complete expert discovery:               [proposed date];

(e) Deadline to file dispositive and other motions:     [proposed date]; and

(f) Deadline to file the next status report:                   [proposed date].