ORDER SETTING RULE 16 CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

DAVID C. BURY, District Judge.

IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 16, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a Pretrial Scheduling Conference is set for Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 10:30 p.m. The conference will be held telephonically with the Judge's law clerk, Greer Barkley. Plaintiffs' counsel shall initiate the conference call with all appropriate parties on the line to (520) 205-4560.

Counsel are directed to consult the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the objectives of the conference. At least one of the attorneys for each party attending the conference shall have authority to enter into stipulations and make admissions regarding all matters which may be discussed.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, counsel are directed to confer at least 21 days prior to the scheduling conference to discuss the following matters:

1. Any matters relating to jurisdiction, venue, the joinder of additional parties or amendment of the pleadings;

2. The scope of discovery. Counsel are expected to comply with Rule 26(f), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and seek to minimize the expense of discovery. The parties shall determine how to handle the disclosure or discovery of electronically stored information. The parties shall make any agreements as to how to handle claims of privilege or claims of protection for trial-preparation materials asserted after production;

3. Initial Disclosures. General Order 17-08, as amended November 1, 2018, supersedes the parties' obligations to provide initial disclosures pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1). Prior to when the parties confer pursuant to Rule 26(f), counsel should make the necessary disclosures required under the General Order. See Doc. 4: Notice to the Parties of Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Project (MIDP), MIDP Checklist, General Order 17-08 (providing requirements for initial disclosures under the Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot (MIDP) program).1 At the Rule 26(f) conference, the parties should discuss the mandatory initial discovery responses and seek to resolve any limitations they have made or intend to make. See below ¶ 10.

4. A schedule for all pre-trial proceedings;

5. Modification of pre-trial procedures due to the simplicity or complexity of the case;

6. Prospects for settlement; and

7. Any other matters which counsel may feel will help dispose of the matter in an efficient manner.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall prepare a joint Case Management Plan and file it with the Court not less than 5 days before the Rule 16 scheduling conference. The report shall include individually numbered brief statements indicating:

1. The names and telephone numbers for counsel who are appearing at the Pretrial Scheduling Conference.

2. The nature of the case, setting forth the factual and legal basis of plaintiff's claims and defendant's defenses;

3. The factual and legal issues genuinely in dispute and whether they can be narrowed by stipulation or motions;

4. The jurisdictional basis of the case, citing specific statutes;

5. The parties, if any, that have not been served or any joinder of additional parties;

6. The names of parties not subject to the Court's jurisdiction;

7. Whether there are dispositive or partially dispositive issues to be decided by pre-trial motions;

8. Whether the case is suitable for reference to arbitration, to a master, or to a magistrate for trial;

9. The status of related cases pending before other judges of this court or before other courts;

10. The date(s) of the parties' responses to the MIDP discovery requests, and a discussion of the parties' compliance to date with the MIDP, including: a description of the Rule 26(f) discussions of the mandatory initial discovery responses and the resolution of any limitations invoked by any party in its response, as well as any unresolved limitations or other discovery issues; the initial and supplemental responses and any other discovery requests, objections, and responses involved in any unresolved limitations or discovery issues, and the parties should be prepared to discuss resolution of any limitations invoked by any party. General Order § A(9). The Court shall set a deadline, if necessary, for supplementing MIDP responses to resolve any compliance issues to date.

11. Proposed deadlines for discovery, which shall also be the deadline for final supplementation of MIDP responses pursuant to General Order § A(8);2 filing dispositive motions, and a proposed pre-trial order statement;

12. Estimated date that the case will be ready for trial and the estimated length of trial;

13. Whether a jury trial has been requested;

14. The prospects for settlement, including whether any party wishes to have a settlement conference with another judge or magistrate and how settlement efforts can be assisted;

15. In class actions, the proposed dates for class certification proceedings and other class issues. Such certification will result in the case being reassigned to the complex track for case management purposes

16. Any unusual, difficult, or complex problems affecting the conduct of the case. If the parties believe that discovery will require more than six months, counsel MUST provide an explanation showing why, in the instant case, a lengthier period for discovery is necessary and essential; and

17. Any other matters which counsel feel will aid the Court in expediting the disposition of this matter efficiently.

After the scheduling conference, the Court will enter a Rule 16 Scheduling Order setting the time within which counsel may complete discovery, file pre-trial dispositive motions, and file the proposed pre-trial order. The Court's Order shall control the course of the action unless modified by subsequent Order.