Free Certification and Report of FRCP 26 (f) Conference and Discovery Plan - North Carolina

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA __________ DIVISION CIVIL NO. ____________

_______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ Plaintiff[s],

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) vs. ) ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) _______________________ ) Defendant[s]. ) ______________________________)

CERTIFICATION AND REPORT OF F.R.C.P. 26(f) CONFERENCE AND DISCOVERY PLAN

Please fill in or check the appropriate blanks (print legibly) to certify completion of the Rule 26(f) Attorney's Conference and provide the required information to the Court. Where the parties were unable to agree on a specific provision or item, please so note and attach any necessary explanation. Please note that this information will be used as a guideline by the judge conducting the Initial Pretrial Conference or issuing the Initial Pretrial Order. 1. Certification of Conference. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f), a meeting was held on _____________ (date) [ ] at __________________________________ (place) or [ ] by telephone and was conducted by the undersigned counsel for the designated parties in the abovecaptioned case.

2. Pre-Discovery Disclosures. The information required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) (check one) [ ] has been exchanged [ ] will be exchanged by______________(date).

3. Discovery Plan. The parties jointly propose to the court the following discovery plan: [Use separate paragraphs or subparagraphs as necessary if parties disagree.] a) All discovery shall be commenced in time to be completed by __________________________(date). [if needed] Discovery on __________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (identify any issues requiring early discovery) will be completed by ______________________ (date). b) Discovery Limits: 1) Maximum of _____ (ordinarily 20) interrogatories by each party to any other party . 2) Maximum of _____ (ordinarily 20) requests for admission by each party to any other party. 3) Maximum of _____ depositions by plaintiff(s) and ______ by defendant(s) (ordinarily 6 each) [or ____ by each plaintiff and _____ by each defendant]. Reports from retained experts under Rule 26(a)(2) will be due: -from plaintiff(s) by _______________________(date) -from defendant(s) by _______________________(date) Supplementations under Rule 26(e) due _______________ (list time(s) or interval(s))

c)

4.

Other Items. [Attach separate paragraphs as necessary if parties disagree.] a) The parties [ ] request [ ] do not request a conference with the court before entry of the scheduling order. b) All potentially dispositive motions should be filed by ______________ (date, ordinarily one month after the close of discovery) Settlement: [ ] is likely [ ] is unlikely [ ] cannot be evaluated prior to ____________________(date) [ ] may be enhanced by use of the following ADR procedure: [ ] Mediated Settlement Conference [ ] binding arbitration [ ] judicial settlement conference [ ] other _____________________

c)

The parties agree that the above selected ADR procedure would be most useful if conducted: [] [] [] [] [] after resolution of any outstanding dispositive motions, but prior to further discovery; after an initial round of preliminary discovery to be completed by _______________ (date); after the completion of discovery; after resolution of summary judgment motions, if any not applicable.

d)

Final lists of witnesses and exhibits under Rule 26(a)(3) are due: from plaintiff(s) by ____________(date) from defendant(s) by __________(date) If the case is ultimately tried, trial is expected to take approximately ________ days. [] The parties have discussed the issue of consent to the jurisdiction of a U.S. magistrate judge.

e)

f)

5.

Please identify any other matters regarding discovery or case management which may require the Court's attention (e.g., concerns re: confidentiality, protective orders, etc., unmovable scheduling conflicts) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

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Plaintiff's Counsel Party Date

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Defendant's Counsel PartyDate

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Plaintiff's Counsel Party Date

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Plaintiff's Counsel Party Date

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(attach additional sheets if necessary)