Free Magistrate Judge Crocker's Standing Order Governing Preliminary Pretrial Conference (pdf) - Wisconsin

STANDING ORDER GOVERN ING PRELIM INARY PRETRIAL CONFEREN CES SUBSTAN TIVELY REVISED OCTOBER 2008 Pursuant to F. R. Civ. P. 26(f), not later than one week before the preliminary pretrial conference all parties in this case shall confer about all matters listed in that rule. Not later than three business days before the preliminary pretrial conference, the parties shall file with the court their proposed discovery plan, including any proposals concerning topics listed in Rule 26(f)(1)-(6). In preparing their plan, the parties should note that: 1) Pursuant to Rule 26(d), a party may not seek discovery from any source prior to the meeting required by this order. The parties may stipulate out of the disclosure requirements of Rules 26(a)(1) and 26(a)(2)(B) by unanimous agreement. In the absence of such an agreement, the court will enforce these rules. Trial shall be held nine to twelve months after the preliminary pretrial conference, slightly later for extremely complex cases. The court requires dispositive m otions to be filed not later than 4½ months before trial, prior to the close of discovery.

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The parties' report to the court m ust contain the following information, which should be provided in a joint statement. If the parties disagree on a point, then each party shall state its position on that point separately within the joint report. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) A concise statement of the nature of the case. The names of any related cases. A specific statement of the material factual and legal issues to be resolved at trial. A description of any amendments to the pleadings that any party intends to make. The identity of any new parties to be added, including an explanation as to why these parties must (or should) be added. The estimated trial length. Any other matter affecting the just, speedy and inexpensive disposition of this case, or which the court should take into account in setting the schedule.

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CASES ASSIGNED TO THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE: for case management purposes, the court must know prior

to setting the trial schedule whether the parties in cases assigned to the magistrate judge are consenting or declining to consent. Therefore, not later than three days before the preliminary pretrial conference the parties shall submit either an executed consent or declination form. Failure timely to submit an executed consent or declination form will cause the court to postpone the pretrial conference until the parties have reported. BY THE COURT:

STEPHEN L. CROCKER M agistrate Judge
REV. 10/08