Opinion
No. 3:11-1232
08-10-2012
RAY N. THOMPSON, Plaintiff v. DARON HALL, et al., Defendants
Judge Trauger/Brown
ORDER
This case has been returned to the undersigned for further proceedings. The Magistrate Judge notes that the Plaintiff has yet to identify or seek service of process for John Doe #4. The Plaintiff is given until September 28, 2012, to identify and request service of process on John Doe #4.
The Clerk will send the Plaintiff a blank service of process form, which the Plaintiff should fill in once John Doe #4 has been identified. The Plaintiff is specifically cautioned that failure to identify John Doe #4 and return a service packet for that individual will result in a recommendation by the Magistrate Judge that the case against John Doe #4 be dismissed for failure to prosecute and to obtain service of process under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).
The following scheduling order is entered in this matter.
SCHEDULING ORDER
I. GENERAL COURT RULES AND PROCEDURES
Any filing made with the Court must comply with Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires that a copy of any filing made with the Court be sent to the opposing party or their counsel and that the filing contain a certification stating that a copy has been sent, to whom, at what address, and on what date. Any filing which does not comply with this requirement will be returned and/or stricken from the record.
Each party is responsible for making and obtaining copies of any documents or filings they send to the Court. It is not the Court's responsibility to provide free copies of any documents to the parties. If a party desires to obtain a copy of a document in the official court file, the party should contact the Clerk's office, with the docket entry number of the document if possible, about obtaining copies. The cost of copying is .50ḉ per page.
Each party is required to keep both the Court and the opposing party or their counsel informed of their current address. A plaintiff's failure to keep the Court informed of his current address may result in a recommendation that the action be dismissed for failure to prosecute and for failure to comply with the Court's order.
II. PRETRIAL DEADLINES
Amendment of Pleadings
The parties shall have until December 10, 2012, to move to amend the pleadings.
Discovery
All discovery shall be completed by February 11, 2013. By this, the Court means that all written discovery should be served far enough before the discovery completion date, i.e., at least 30 days prior to the discovery completion deadline, so that responses or objections to any written discovery can be made prior to the completion deadline. For example, serving written discovery upon an opposing party a few days prior to the discovery completion deadline does not comply with this scheduling order and may result in discovery being denied to the requesting party.
Any party seeking to serve written discovery upon another party which would result in responses being served after the discovery completion deadline must obtain leave of the Court to serve untimely discovery requests.
Written discovery should be sent to the opposing party and should not be filed with the Court, nor should a copy of the written discovery be sent to the Court unless it is sent as an attachment to a discovery motion. A Court order is not required for a party to engage in discovery and discovery in an action is not stayed upon the filing of any motion unless specifically ordered by the Court.
Discovery Motions
All discovery motions must be filed by February 11, 2013. All discovery motions must comply with the applicable requirements contained in Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 37.01 of the Local Rules of Court, or any other relevant Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Dispositive Motions
All dispositive motions to dismiss and for summary judgment shall be filed by March 11, 2013. Plaintiff is forewarned that dispositive motions must be responded to within 28 days unless an extension is granted by the Court, and that failure to respond to the motion and to statements of facts may result in the Court taking the facts alleged in the matter as true and granting the relief requested. In responding, plaintiff may not just rely on his complaint. Plaintiff must show there is a material dispute of fact with citation to the record, affidavits or other matter of evidence. Plaintiff should read and comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and Local Rule 56.01. Any replies, limited to five pages, are due seven days after a response.
If dispositive motions are filed earlier, the response and reply dates for that motion shall be moved up accordingly.
Other Motions
Any other motions (other than in limine or related to trial matters) must be filed by March 11, 2013.
It is so ORDERED.
______________________
JOE B. BROWN
United States Magistrate Judge