Opinion
No. 12-cv-0411 JAP/SMV
05-16-2013
INITIAL SCHEDULING ORDER
This case is assigned to me for scheduling, case management, discovery, and all non-dispositive motions. Both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, as well as the Local Rules of the Court apply to this lawsuit. Civility and professionalism will be required of counsel. Counsel shall read and comply with "A Lawyer's Creed of Professionalism of the State Bar of New Mexico."
The parties, appearing through counsel or pro se, will "meet and confer" no later than June 6, 2013, to formulate a Provisional Discovery Plan. Fed R. Civ. P. 26(f). The time allowed for discovery is generally 150 to 180 days and will run from the Rule 16 initial scheduling conference. Initial disclosures under Fed R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) shall be made within fourteen days of the meet-and-confer session.
The parties will cooperate in preparing a Joint Status Report and Provision Discovery Plan ("JSR"), following the sample JSR available at the Court's web site. The blanks for suggested/proposed dates are to be filled in by the parties. Actual case management deadlines will be determined by the Court after consideration of the parties' requests. Plaintiff (or Defendant in removed cases) is responsible for filing the JSR by June 13, 2013.
Parties may not modify case management deadlines on their own. Good cause must be shown and the Court's express and written approval obtained for any modification of the dates in the scheduling order that issues from the JSR.
A Rule 16 initial scheduling conference will be held by telephone on June 27, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Parties shall call Judge Vidmar's "Meet Me" line at 505-348-2357 to be connected to the proceedings. Counsel shall be prepared to discuss the following: discovery needs and scheduling, all claims and defenses, the use of scientific evidence and whether a Daubert hearing is needed, see Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 590-92 (1993), initial disclosures, and the timing of expert disclosures and reports under Fed R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2). We will also discuss settlement prospects, alternative dispute resolution possibilities, and consideration of consent pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). Client attendance is not required.
Pre-trial practice in this case shall be in accordance with the foregoing.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the deadlines shall be as follows:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ¦Meet and Confer by: ¦June 6, 2013 ¦ +------------------------------------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦JSR filed by: ¦June 13, 2013 ¦ +------------------------------------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Initial Disclosures due within fourteen days of the ¦June 20, 2013 ¦ ¦meet-and-confer session, but in no event later than: ¦ ¦ +------------------------------------------------------------+----------------¦ ¦Telephonic Rule 16 Initial Scheduling Conference: ¦June 27, 2013, ¦ ¦ ¦at 9:00 a.m. ¦ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
______________________
STEPHAN M. VIDMAR
United States Magistrate Judge