The Court will set all new 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 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 16(b). See also 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 five single-spaced 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.