November 30, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., 

in Courtroom A-502, 

Fifth Floor, 

Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse, 

901 19th Street,

Denver, Colorado 80294

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe

Civil Action No. 11-cv-02296-MSK-MJW

MICHELLE HILL,

Plaintiff(s),

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; and, 

BLAKE BELL, individually and in his capacity as an employee with the United States

Department of Agriculture,

Defendant(s).

ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING/PLANNING CONFERENCE

The above captioned case has been referred to Magistrate Judge Michael J.

Watanabe pursuant to the Order of Reference to United States Magistrate Judge,

entered by Judge Marcia S. Krieger on September 7, 2011.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a Scheduling/Planning Conference pursuant to

Fed.R.Civ.P.16(b) shall be held on:

If this date is not convenient for any counsel/pro se party, he/she should confer

with opposing counsel/pro se party and file a motion to reschedule the conference to a

more convenient date.

Absent exceptional circumstances, no request for rescheduling any

appearance in this court will be entertained unless a written request is made FIVE

(5) business days in advance of the date of appearance.

THE PLAINTIFF SHALL NOTIFY ALL PARTIES WHO HAVE NOT ENTERED

AN APPEARANCE, OF THE DATE AND TIME OF THE SCHEDULING/PLANNING

Case 1:11-cv-02296-MSK-MJW Document 5 Filed 10/04/11 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 12
CONFERENCE.

IT IS ORDERED that counsel/pro se parties in this case shall hold a prescheduling conference meeting and prepare a proposed Scheduling Order in

accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P.26(f) as amended, and D.C.COLO.LCivR 26.1 and App.

F, on or before 21 days prior to scheduling conference. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.26(d),

as amended, no discovery shall be sought until after the pre-scheduling conference

meeting. No later than 5 days prior to the Scheduling/Planning Conference, counsel/pro

se parties shall submit their proposed Scheduling Order (in PDF) in compliance with

the ECF Filing Procedures. An additional copy shall be provided to chambers by e-mail

with the subject line “Proposed Scheduling Order” and case number (in WordPerfect

or Word format) to: Watanabe_Chambers@cod.uscourts.gov. In addition, on or

before 14 days after the pre-scheduling conference meeting, the parties shall comply

with the mandatory disclosure requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P.26(a)(1), as amended.

Counsel/pro se parties shall prepare the proposed Scheduling Order in

accordance with the form which may be downloaded in richtext format from the forms

section of the Court’s website at www.cod.uscourts.gov, and are also attached to this

document. Instructions for downloading the formats are posted in the forms section of

the website. Parties who are pro se or do not have access to the internet may visit the

Clerk’s Office in Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Room A-105,

Denver, Colorado. (The Clerk’s Office telephone number is (303) 844-3433.) 

Scheduling Orders prepared by parties not represented by counsel, or without access to

ECF, shall be submitted on paper.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that at least five (5) days prior to the Scheduling/

Planning Conference, counsel/pro se parties shall each submit a brief Confidential

Settlement Statement to the Magistrate Judge ONLY, outlining the facts and issues

involved in the case, and the possibilities for settlement, including any settlement

authority from the client. ECF participants shall submit their Confidential settlement

statements to chambers with a subject line “Confidential Settlement Statement” and the

case number to: Watanabe_Chambers@cod.uscourts.gov. (The Confidential Settlement

Statement should be in PDF format and sent as an attachment to the e-mail.) Counsel

should be prepared to discuss settlement at the Scheduling/Planning Conference and

should obtain settlement authority from the client, or have the client available either in

person or by telephone. Confidential Settlement Statements prepared by parties not

represented by counsel, or without access to ECF, shall be submitted on paper.

All out-of-state counsel shall comply with D.C.COLO.LCivR 83.3 prior to the

Scheduling/Planning Conference.

It is the responsibility of counsel to notice the court of their entry of appearance,

notice of withdrawal, notice of substitution of counsel, or notice of change of counsel’s

address, e-mail address, or telephone number by complying with the ECF Procedures

and, filing the appropriate document with the court.

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Please remember that everyone seeking entry into the Alfred A. Arraj United

States Courthouse will be required to show valid photo identification. See

D.C.COLO.LCivR 83.2B. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in denial of

entry into the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse.

DONE AND SIGNED THIS 4th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2011

BY THE COURT:

s/Michael J. Watanabe

_____________________________

MICHAEL J. WATANABE

United States Magistrate Judge

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Appendix F

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION 

OF SCHEDULING ORDER 

When the court has set a scheduling conference pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 and

D.C.COLO.LCivR 16.1 and 16.2 , a scheduling order shall be prepared in accordance with

these instructions. The rule 26(f) meeting shall be held at least 21 days before the proposed

scheduling order is due to be tendered. The disclosures required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)

shall be exchanged at or within 14 days after the rule 26(f) meeting. Do not file any disclosure

statements with the court. 

Five days before the scheduling conference (see Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 for all computations of

time), counsel are to tender a proposed scheduling order which shall include the signatures of

counsel and pro se parties and shall provide for approval by the court as specified on the

attached form. Counsel and pro se parties should try, in good faith, to agree upon matters

covered in the scheduling order. Any area of disagreement should be set forth with a brief

statement concerning the basis for the disagreement. The parties should expect that the court

will make modifications in the proposed scheduling order and will want to discuss all issues

affecting management of the case. 

D.C.COLO.LCivR 72.2 authorizes magistrate judges to exercise jurisdiction of civil

matters upon the consent of the parties. If all parties have consented to the exercise of

jurisdiction by a magistrate judge pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 72.2, the “Notice of Availability

of a United States Magistrate Judge to Exercise Jurisdiction and Consent to the Exercise of

Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge” form and a proposed order of reference are to

be filed promptly with the Clerk of the Court and the consent indicated in section 6. of the

proposed scheduling order. Note that D.C.COLO.LCivR 72.2D. provides, in part: "Written

consent to proceed before a magistrate judge must be filed no later than ten days after the

discovery cut-off date. In cases not requiring discovery, the parties shall have 40 days from the

filing of the last responsive pleading to file their unanimous consent." Refer to

D.C.COLO.LCivR 72.2F. if all parties have not been served or in the event additional parties are

added after the scheduling conference. 

Listed on the following pages as Appendix F.1. is the format for the proposed

scheduling order. The bracketed and italicized information on the form explains what the court

expects.

Also listed on the following pages as Appendix F.2. is the format for the

proposed scheduling order on an action for review of an administrative record. The

bracketed and italicized information on the form explains what the court expects

Scheduling orders shall be double-spaced in accordance with D.C.COLO.LCivR

10.1E., even though the instructions in the following format for the proposed scheduling

order are single-spaced. 

PARTIES AND COUNSEL ARE DIRECTED TO THE COURT’S WEBSITE,

http://www.cod.uscourts.gov/Dindex.htm, FOR ITS LOCAL RULES AND THE GENERAL

PROCEDURES OF EACH JUDICIAL OFFICER. 

(Rev. 11/20/09)

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Appendix F.1.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Civil Action No. 

Plaintiff(s)

, v.

Defendant(s).

SCHEDULING ORDER

1. DATE OF CONFERENCE

AND APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL AND PRO SE PARTIES

[Provide the date of the conference and the names, addresses, and telephone

numbers of counsel for each party and each pro se party. Identify by name the party

represented by each counsel.]

2. STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

[Provide a concise statement of the basis for subject matter jurisdiction with

appropriate statutory citations. If jurisdiction is denied, give the specific reason for the

denial.]

3. STATEMENT OF CLAIMS AND DEFENSES

a. Plaintiff(s):

b. Defendant(s):

c. Other Parties:

[Provide concise statements of all claims or defenses. Each party, in light of

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formal or informal discovery undertaken thus far, should take special care to eliminate

frivolous claims or defenses. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 and 16(c)(2)(A). Do not summarize

the pleadings. Statements such as defendant denies the material allegations of the

complaint" are not acceptable.]

4. UNDISPUTED FACTS

The following facts are undisputed:

[When the parties have the Rule 26(f) meeting, they should make a good-faith

attempt to determine which facts are not in dispute.]

5. COMPUTATION OF DAMAGES

[Include a computation of all categories of damages sought and the basis and

theory for calculating damages. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A)(iii). This should include

the claims of all parties. It should also include a description of the economic damages,

non-economic damages, and physical impairment claimed, if any.]

6. REPORT OF PRECONFERENCE DISCOVERY AND 

MEETING UNDER FED.R.CIV.P. 26(f)

a. Date of Rule 26(f) meeting. 

b. Names of each participant and party he/she represented.

c. Statement as to when Rule 26(a)(1) disclosures were made or will be

made.

[If a party’s disclosures were not made within the time provided in Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(a)(1)(C) or by the date set by court order, the parties must provide an explanation

showing good cause for the omission.]

d. Proposed changes, if any, in timing or requirement of disclosures under

Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1).

e. Statement concerning any agreements to conduct informal discovery:

[State what processes the parties have agreed upon to conduct informal

discovery, such as joint interviews with potential witnesses or joint meetings with clients

to discuss settlement, or exchanging documents outside of formal discovery. If there is

agreement to conduct joint interviews with potential witnesses, list the names of such

witnesses and a date and time for the interview which has been agreed to by the

witness, all counsel, and all pro se parties.]

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f. Statement concerning any other agreements or procedures to reduce

discovery and other litigation costs, including the use of a unified exhibit numbering system

[Counsel and pro se parties are strongly encouraged to cooperate in order to

reduce the costs of litigation and expedite the just disposition of the case. Discovery

and other litigation costs may be reduced, for example, through telephone depositions,

joint repositories for documents, use of discovery in other cases, and extensive use of

expert affidavits to support judicial notice. Counsel and pro se parties also will be

expected to use a unified exhibit numbering system if required by the practice standards

of the judicial officer presiding over the trial of this case.

g. Statement as to whether the parties anticipate that their claims or

defenses will involve extensive electronically stored information, or that a substantial

amount of disclosure or discovery will involve information or records maintained in

electronic form. 

[In such cases, the parties must indicate what steps they have taken or will take

to (i) preserve electronically stored information; (ii) facilitate discovery of electronically

stored information; (iii) limit the associated discovery costs and delay; (iv) avoid

discovery disputes relating to electronic discovery; and (v) address claims of privilege or

of protection as trial-preparation materials after production of computer-generated

records. Counsel should describe any proposals or agreements regarding electronic

discovery made at the Rule 26(f) conference and be prepared to discuss issues

involving electronic discovery, as appropriate, at the Scheduling Conference.]

[When the parties have their Rule 26(f) meeting, they must discuss any issues

relating to the disclosure and discovery of electronically stored information, including the

form of production, and also discuss issues relating to the preservation of electronically

stored information, communications, and other data. At the Rule 26(f) meeting, the

parties should make a good faith effort to agree on a mutually acceptable format for

production of electronic or computer-based information. In advance of the Rule 26(f)

meeting, counsel carefully investigate their client’s information management systems so

that they are knowledgeable as to its operation, including how information is stored and

how it can be retrieved.]

h. Statement summarizing the parties’ discussions regarding the possibilities

for promptly settling or resolving the case. 

[The parties are required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)(2) to have discussed the

possibilities for a prompt settlement or resolution of the case by alternate dispute

resolution. They must also report the result of any such meeting, and any similar future

meeting, to the magistrate judge within ten days of the meeting.]

7. CONSENT

[Pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 72.2, all full-time magistrate judges in the District

of Colorado are specially designated under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1) to conduct any or all

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proceedings in any jury or nonjury civil matter and to order the entry of judgment. 

Parties consenting to the exercise of jurisdiction by a magistrate judge must complete

and file the court-approved Consent to the Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States

Magistrate Judge form.]

[Indicate below the parties’ consent choice. Upon consent of the parties and an

order of reference from the district judge, the magistrate judge assigned the case under

28 U.S.C.§ 636(a) and (b) will hold the scheduling conference and retain settlement

jurisdiction, whereas pretrial case management, jurisdiction of dispositive motions, and

trial will be assigned to the magistrate judge drawn at random under D.C.COLO.LCivR

72.2.]

All parties [have or have not] consented to the exercise of jurisdiction of a

magistrate judge.

8. DISCOVERY LIMITATIONS

[In the majority of cases, the parties should anticipate that the court will adopt the

presumptive limitations on depositions established in Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(a)(2)(A)(i) and

33(a)(i). The parties are expected to engage in pretrial discovery in a responsible

manner consistent with the spirit and purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P. 1 and 26 through 37. 

The parties are expected to propose discovery limits that are proportional to the needs

of the case, the amount in controversy, and the importance of the issues at stake in the

action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(g)(1)(B)(iii). The court must limit discovery otherwise

permitted by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure if it determines that “the burden or

expense of the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefit, considering the needs of

the case, the amount in controversy, the parties’ resources, the importance of the

issues at stake in the action, and the importance of the discovery in resolving the

action.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(2)(C).]

a. Modifications which any party proposes to the presumptive numbers of

depositions or interrogatories contained in the Federal Rules.

[If a party proposes to exceed the numerical limits set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P.

30(a)(2)(A)(i), at the scheduling conference they should be prepared to support that request

by reference to the factors identified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(2)(C).]

b.Limitations which any party proposes on the length of depositions.

c. Limitations which any party proposes on the number of requests for

production and/or requests for admission.

[If the parties propose more than twenty-five (25) requests for production and/or

requests for admission, at the scheduling conference they should be prepared to

support that proposal by reference to the factors identified in Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(b)(2)(C).]

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d. Other Planning or Discovery Orders

[Set forth any other proposed orders concerning scheduling or discovery. For

example, the parties may wish to establish specific deadlines for submitting protective

orders or for filing motions to compel.]

9. CASE PLAN AND SCHEDULE

a. Deadline for Joinder of Parties and Amendment of Pleadings:

[Set time period within which to join other parties and to amend all pleadings.

This deadline refers to timing only and does not eliminate the necessity to file an

appropriate motion and to otherwise comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 15. Unless otherwise

ordered in a particular case, for good cause, this deadline should be no later than 45

days after the date of the scheduling conference, so as to minimize the possibility that

late amendments and joinder of parties will precipitate requests for extensions of

discovery cutoff, final pretrial conference, and dispositive motion dates. Counsel and

pro se parties should plan discovery so that discovery designed to identify additional

parties or claims is completed before these deadlines.]

b. Discovery Cut-off:

c. Dispositive Motion Deadline:

[Set time periods in which discovery is to be completed and dispositive motions

are to be filed.]

d. Expert Witness Disclosure

1. The parties shall identify anticipated fields of expert testimony, if

any.

2. Limitations which the parties propose on the use or number

of expert witnesses.

3. The parties shall designate all experts and provide opposing

counsel and any pro se parties with all information specified in Fed.

R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) on or before , 200 

.

4. The parties shall designate all rebuttal experts and

provide opposing counsel and any pro se party with all

information specified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) on or before 

, 200 .

[Notwithstanding the provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B), no exception to the

requirements of the Rule will be allowed by stipulation unless the stipulation is in writing

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and approved by the court. In addition to the requirements set forth in Rule

26(a)(2)(B)(i)-(vi), the expert’s written report also must identify the principles and

methods on which the expert relied in support of his/her opinions and describe how the

expert applied those principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case relevant to

the opinions set forth in the written report.]

e. Identification of Persons to Be Deposed:

[List the names of persons to be deposed and provide a good faith estimate of the

time needed for each deposition. All depositions must be completed on or before the

discovery cut-off date and the parties must comply with the notice and scheduling

requirements set for in D.C.COLOLCivR 30.1.]

f. Deadline for Interrogatories:

[The parties are expected to serve interrogatories on opposing counsel or a pro

se party on a schedule that allows timely responses on or before the discovery cut-off

date.]

g. Deadline for Requests for Production of Documents and/or Admissions

[The parties are expected to serve requests for production and/or requests for

admission on opposing counsel or a pro se party on a schedule that allows timely

responses on or before the discovery cut-off date.]

10. DATES FOR FURTHER CONFERENCES

[The magistrate judge will complete this section at the scheduling conference if

he or she has not already set deadlines by an order filed before the conference.]

a. A settlement conference will be held on________________________ at

______ o'clock __.m. It is hereby ordered that all settlement conferences that take

place before the magistrate judge shall be confidential.

( ) Pro se parties and attorneys only need be present.

( ) Pro se parties, attorneys, and client representatives with authority to settle

must be present. (NOTE: This requirement is not fulfilled by the presence of counsel. If

an insurance company is involved, an adjustor authorized to enter into settlement must

also be present.)

( ) Each party shall submit a Confidential Settlement Statement to the

magistrate judge on or before _______________ outlining the facts and issues, as well

as the strengths and weaknesses of their case.

b. Status conferences will be held in this case at the following dates and

times: 

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c. A final pretrial conference will be held in this case on 

 at o’clock m. A Final Pretrial Order shall be prepared by the parties and

submitted to the court no later than five (5) days before the final pretrial conference.

11. OTHER SCHEDULING MATTERS

a. Identify those discovery or scheduling issues, if any, on which counsel

after a good faith effort, were unable to reach an agreement.

b. Anticipated length of trial and whether trial is to the court or jury.

c. Identify pretrial proceedings, if any, that the parties believe may be more

efficiently or economically conducted in the District Court’s facility at 212 N. Wahsatch

Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado. [Determination of any such request will be made

by the magistrate judge based on the individual needs of the case and the availability of

space and security resources.]

12. NOTICE TO COUNSEL AND PRO SE PARTIES

[The following paragraphs shall be included in the scheduling order:]

The parties filing motions for extension of time or continuances must comply with

D.C.COLO.LCivR 6.1D. by submitting proof that a copy of the motion has been served

upon the moving attorney's client, all attorneys of record, and all pro se parties.

Counsel will be expected to be familiar and to comply with the Pretrial

and Trial Procedures or Practice Standards established by the judicial officer

presiding over the trial of this case.

With respect to discovery disputes, parties must comply with

D.C.COLO.LCivR 7.1A.

In addition to filing an appropriate notice with the clerk's office, a pro se

party must file a copy of a notice of change of his or her address or telephone

number with the clerk of the magistrate judge assigned to this case.

In addition to filing an appropriate notice with the clerk's office, counsel

must file a copy of any motion for withdrawal, motion for substitution of

counsel, or notice of change of counsel's address or telephone number with

the clerk of the magistrate judge assigned to this case.

13. AMENDMENTS TO SCHEDULING ORDER

[Include a statement that the scheduling order may be altered or

amended only upon a showing of good cause.]

DATED this day of , 20 .

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BY THE

COURT:

__________________________

United States Magistrate Judge

APPROVED:

________________________________

(Name) (Address) (Telephone Number)

Attorney for Plaintiff (or Plaintiff, Pro Se)

________________________________

(Name) (Address) (Telephone Number)

Attorney for Defendant (or Defendant, 

Pro Se)

[Please affix counsels' and any pro se party's signatures before submission of the final

pretrial order to the court.]

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